Microsoft Server Management: Task Planning, Allocation, Risk Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Microsoft Server Management (MSM) in the context of an IT school developing a week-long course. It explores the significance of MSM in modern education, emphasizing its role in equipping students with life-ready skills. The report delves into th...Read More

Running Head: MICROSOFT SERVER MANAGEMENT
0
Microsoft Server Management
IT Write Up
(Student Details: )
12/21/2019

Microsoft Server Management
1
Introduction
The report is based on key topics and knowledge about Microsoft Server Management
(MSM) which will be based on a scenario. In this context, as per the given scenario, IT
school is providing short-time programs within various IT topics. The report will have the
perspective of the project manager who is assigned the task of developing a week-long course
into MSM (Ma'mun et al., 2017). Here, the school administration is planning to launch the
MSM course into the next six months hence the discussion will majorly contain three major
areas of MSM include task planning, risk analysis and resource allocation (Microsoft, 2019).
In general, MSM is often used in the education field in order to unlock limitless learning. In
addition, MSM is important in this era as the world is changing faster and hence skilled
students will require being life-ready by their graduation time (Microsoft Technet, 2019). In
this way, MSM is an affordable and easy way to manage technology which can transform the
whole education system, classroom time (Sharif et al., 2015). Apart from this, with MSM
educators can easily focus on delivering personalized learning experiences in this era.
Moreover, MSM will help the school to assist better learning outcomes.
Microsoft Server Management
In this context, the MSM course will be a great way to achieve better learning outcomes in
the school for all of the learners or students (Microsoft, 2019). In addition, this course of
MSM will create interesting learning environments that empower students to be creative and
independent learners, language and STEM skills, build reading as well as prepare them for
the students’ futures (Russinovich & Soloman, 2009). It is well-aware that MSM is integrated
environs in order to manage SQL infrastructure. Apart from this, MSM can be used to access,
manage, configure, develop and administer all the components of SQL data warehouse, SQL
Server and Azure SQL database (SQL Server-DBA, 2019). It is worth knowing that MSM is
a software application that was launched with Microsoft Server 2005. The MSM was firstly
used for managing, configuring and administering diverse components in the Microsoft SQL
Server (Microsoft Technet, 2019).
Task planning
When one needs to learn about MSM, then task planning, resource allocation, and risk
analysis must be in course. First of all, the significance of task planning will be discussed and

Microsoft Server Management
2
explored (Russinovich & Soloman, 2009). In Microsoft project online, many task
management and planning features are available. Some of them are going to be discussed as
follows:
Auto-complete: this component of the task planning helps to get suggestions for resource or
task names (Nielsen & Parui, 2011).
Active and inactive tasks: as we know, whenever a task is inactivated then it always stays
within the project plan (Foster & Godbole, 2016). However inactivated tasks do not impact
things such as the project schedule, resource availability as well as how rest tasks are
scheduled. The learner will also learn about how to inactivate a task in the planning stage
only (MacLennan et al., 2011).
Automatic scheduling: MSM offers a great platform for the automatic scheduling of the tasks.
One can use this auto-schedule mode of MSM for scheduling important tasks automatically
(Larson, 2016).
Task inspector: the MSM is helpful in viewing factors which impact the task scheduling like
a changed beginning date as well as error messages (Athow, 2019).
Cross-project critical path: in the context of MSM, a critical path is the series of several tasks
that must be finished on a planned schedule for a particular project for completing on
schedule. The learners will be able to edit, create as well as delete a dependency relationship
with a task within another project.
Task path analysis: whenever one needs to see how one task associated with the rest of the
tasks through highlighting the path of their task all across the project, then MSM is the best
tool to learn on how to highlight how these tasks link with the others (Mistry & Misner,
2014).
Update progress: apart from this, in the MSM course the students will learn to update
progress on a task for showing the completed percentage (Boyce, 2009).
Feature availability: in addition, task planning and management suggest that for viewing
feature availability in MSM, standalone options, as well as an on-premises solution, an option
of feature availability will be highly helpful (SQL Server-DBA, 2019).

Microsoft Server Management
3
Manual scheduling and user-controlled: if we talk about MSM then one feature of this is
user-controlled and manual scheduling which is used to schedule tasks while planning
manually (Boyce, 2009).
Top-down summary tasks: on the other hand, the top-down summary can be used to generate
a resource assignment over a summary task which will be taught as well as learned by the
top-down planning part of the MSM course (SQL Server-DBA, 2019).
Resource Allocation
It has been found that MSM’s resource manager is used to allocate memory and processor
resources to users, remote desktop service sessions, and applications and thereby IIS
application tools (Larson, 2016). The resource allocation in MSM suggests that with the help
of a resource manager for the server operating system, an individual can easily manage and
plan server memory and processor use with the custom or standard resource policies
(Microsoft Technet, 2019). In this context, while executing resource management, MSM
helps in ensuring that all of the services offered from a sole server are always available on an
equal base (Russinovich & Soloman, 2009). Thus, resource allocation is highly helpful to
know that resources are available to high-priority apps, user as well as services (Microsoft,
2019).
On the other hand, the resource allocation method or manager manages processor resources
whenever the integrated processor load is much higher than 70% (Microsoft Technet, 2019).
When the students will require learning MSM then resource allocation will play a key role as
it is a key part of the MSM. It is because the resource manager does not actively restrict the
resources which can be utilised by every customer while the processor load is comparatively
low. It has been found by the researchers that contention for the resources can easily be
managed with resource allocation policies which help to ensure optimal resource availability
on the basis of the management profile which one has defined (MacLennan et al., 2011).
Apart from this, the resource allocation feature of the MSM can also be used for the
following listed functions:
 While creating a computer group for helping to organize remote desktop session host
servers which one wishes to manage, resource allocation is used (Foster & Godbole,
2016).

Microsoft Server Management
4
 While collecting resource used data as well as within a customized SQL database,
resource allocation is used (Larson, 2016).
 While utilising calendar rules for applying diverse policies at distinct times without
manual reconfiguration or intervention, resource allocation is used.
It is worth knowing that resource allocations are adjustable. When resource use needs to be
adjusted then simply change the resource class membership of the log in which is really
submitting the request (Larson, 2016). In addition to that, resource allocation class server
roles are named as xlargerc, mediumrc, and largerc. It can be further explained with an
example as when a large amount of system resources needs to be allocated to a request then
adding the login which is submitting the request to the largerc server role, will be an effective
method (Foster & Godbole, 2016).
Risk Analysis
In MSM, risk analysis plays an important role in security risk analysis as well as database
security (Russinovich & Soloman, 2009). In this context, Microsoft Server’s security risks
analysis adds decent value for managing the servers and DBA role in the context of SQL
(Mistry & Misner, 2014). Apart from this, managing database security, DBA offers a security
policy, and thereby monitor log files while running a regular audit for checking whether the
security policy has been implemented or not. In this way, this MSM course is going to help in
committing to a regular risk review which can definitely yield good outcomes without even a
major impact on allocated resources. In the case of Microsoft Server security, modern IT
managers most of the time ask for known risks over the database servers. In this way, it can
be said that few risks are bigger than others and hence it is important to emphasize the most
critical risk first (SQL Server-DBA, 2019). When risk analysis is done in the case of MSM,
risk analysis and its management can be done in the following steps:
 Step I: identifying risks
 Step II: mitigating risks while creating audits, policies, and reviews
 Step III: verifying those risks have been mitigated (Nielsen & Parui, 2011).
It has been found that attack surface can be minimized or optimized in MSM so that risks can
be reduced further. As we know, cybersecurity is about managing, understanding, controlling
and mitigating risks to an organization’s critical assets. MSM enables risk management
business in the modern business context (Sharif et al., 2015). It is worth mentioning that risk

Microsoft Server Management
5
analysis is needed for exploring some of the most common ways an organization can suffer
financial damage:
 Legal consequences
 Application or system downtime
 Data loss (Microsoft Technet, 2019).
In this way, risk analysis will be done in the following key steps:
1. Identifying and prioritizing assets
2. Identifying threats
3. Identifying vulnerabilities
4. Analysing controls (Ma'mun et al., 2017).
5. Determining the probability of an incident
6. Assessing the impact of a threat or high-risk factor
7. Prioritizing the info security risks
8. Recommending controls
9. Documenting the results (Athow, 2019).
In the context of contemporary businesses, the risk analysis is used as a tool that is highly
useful to any individual who requires make the optimal decisions as well as assets the risks of
projects or any important events in the modern business field in a short time. Some great
examples will be beneficial in the research and study of risk analysis, management and
theoretical materials (Boyce, 2009). The MSM risks analysis is designed for risk managers,
project managers, owners of small as well as medium enterprises. In this way, all the people
who require assessing the risks will be profited with the help of MSM risk analysis
(Campbell et al., 2010).
Conclusion
In whole, this research report has successfully covered major aspects and usefulness of
Microsoft Server Management. As per the given scenario, it has been found that MSM is a
great tool for modern business management. The report has narrated course objectives and
significance from the project manager perspective. It has been found that in an IT School
developing a week-long course in relation to Microsoft Server Management is a great thought
for developing the career and personality of the learners. While discussing so, three main

Microsoft Server Management
6
functions and aspects of MSM have been discussed. Those three aspects of MSM were
included task planning, resource allocation, and thereby risk analysis. In this way, this report
has successfully described how one would go about to accomplish the MSM course in the
selected IT school. In addition to that, this report has found that resource allocation and task
management allows modern firms to use their resource and capital in an effective as well as
optimal way so that maximum return and profit can be made. In a nutshell, MSM has been
found a tool to integrate all of the organizational and business data related to different
projects in a well-structured way with the help of resource allocation, task-planning and risk
analysis.

Microsoft Server Management
7
References
Athow, D., 2019. Why Microsoft could be dropping the ball on software piracy. [Online]
Available at: https://www.techradar.com/in/news/why-microsoft-could-be-dropping-the-ball-
on-software-piracy [Accessed 12 September 2019].
Boyce, J., 2009. Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Plain & Simple. UK: Microsoft Press.
Campbell, D., Kakivaya, G. & Ellis, N., 2010. Extreme scale with full sql language support in
microsoft sql azure. In 2010 ACM Sigmod international conference on managment of data.
New York, 2010. ACM.
Foster, E. & Godbole, S., 2016. Overview of Microsoft SQL Server. In Database Systems.
Berkeley: CA. pp.461-67.
Larson, B., 2016. Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services. London: McGraw-Hill
Educatiom.
MacLennan, J., Tang, Z. & Crivat, B., 2011. Data mining with Microsoft SQL server 2008.
London: John Wiley and Sons.
Ma'mun, N., Dhewanto, W., Ronaldi, R. & Surendro, K., 2017. ESTABLISHING
MICROSOFT RESEARCH CENTRE IN INDONESIA: A ROAD PATH TOWARD
EXPORTING INDONESIAN SOFTWARE. Jurnal Teknobisnis, 2(1), pp.49-56.
Microsoft Technet, 2019. 10 Top SQL Server Issues Uncovered By The SQL Server Risk
Assessment Program. [Online] Available at:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mspfe/2013/01/08/10-top-sql-server-issues-uncovered-
by-the-sql-server-risk-assessment-program/ [Accessed 2019].
Microsoft, 2019. Windows System Resource Manager Overview. [Online] Available at:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-
and-2012/hh997019(v%3Dws.11) [Accessed 2019].
Mistry, R. & Misner, S., 2014. Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2014. New York:
Microsoft Press.
Nielsen, P. & Parui, U., 2011. Microsoft SQL server 2008 bible. UK: John Wiley and Sons.

Microsoft Server Management
8
Russinovich, M. & Soloman, D., 2009. Windows internals: including Windows server 2008
and Windows Vista. UK: Microsoft Press.
Sharif, T., Brace, C. & Garg, N., 2015. U.S. Patent No. 9,197,630. Washington DC: US
patent and trademark office.
SQL Server-DBA, 2019. Risk Management methodology. [Online] Available at:
https://www.sqlserver-dba.com/2012/09/sql-server-security-risk-analysis-and-database-
security.html [Accessed 2019].