Johannesburg, 27 Mar 2007
The release of new guidelines for integrating ATMs into Windows Active Directory will help the retail banking industry improve the operating efficiency of ATMs says Microsoft.
The guidelines focus on the use of Microsoft System Management Server and Microsoft Operations Manager.
"ATMs are currently the most widely used digital interface within the financial channel. So much so that Microsoft believes it has a responsibility to offer guidance to its partners and customers regarding the deployment of secure, well-managed ATMs on the Windows platform," says Manoj Bhoola, server and tools business group executive for Microsoft South Africa.
Microsoft developed the three-document set from the knowledge base it built up through interacting with a number of local and international banks says Bhoola.
"The content of the documents was jointly developed by Microsoft and NCR Corporation and is based on an in-depth understanding of the challenges of deploying and managing ATMs. We are showing financial institutions how the combination of Windows XP, SMS, and MOM can address the complexities of managing a large-scale ATM rollout."
The set was tested in the NCR ATM laboratories and practically implemented in a large US bank. It combines the self-service technology expertise and experience of the ATM vendors with Microsoft's specialist expertise in Windows XP-based solutions.
"It effectively extends the power of Active Directory, SMS, and MOM management into a high-visibility, mission critical solution that, until now, has suffered from a lack of centralised manageability."
As each bank has individual requirements, Microsoft says its consulting services division will engage with services professionals from its ATM vendor partners to deliver one week introductory workshops.
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