While it's true that the data center has evolved from a client/server approach to the Web computing model, solutions for provisioning, change, and configuration management have lagged behind. Nevertheless, there is a genuine need for data center automation solutions to help IT organizations more efficiently provision, configure, and manage today's sophisticated data center environment. For example, the process of procuring, provisioning, and updating a new server can be time-consuming and complex, and may extend over several months for some enterprises. Simply securing the necessary budget approvals to purchase a server can be a major roadblock on its own, without even considering potential delays in ordering and receiving the server. After a new server arrives, IT administrators must prepare and provision it for deployment. Manual provisioning can be time-consuming and subject to human error, often relying on individual knowledge or a lengthy series of paper checklists to ensure that each step is carried out correctly. Automated image-based processes can be well suited for desktop deployments, but they often lack the flexibility and control necessary for servers, requiring administrators to make manual adjustments to each configuration. In both cases, the inherent lack of control, repeatability, and reliability can significantly extend the time it takes to finally bring a server online. LANDesk® Process Manager and LANDesk® Server Manager are designed to streamline and automate these types of processes, and integrating these two applications into enterprise workflows allows administrators to automate many procurement, provisioning, and change and release management tasks, helping create repeatable, reliable IT processes.