Think twice before opting for SA—it almost doubles the acquisition cost of new software. As companies upgrade to current versions of Microsoft products—and with no additional versions of Windows, Office, or Exchange on the horizon—the value of SA diminishes considerably. To avoid overpaying, evaluate the business benefits before signing any new licensing agreement.
The growing cost and complexity may push some to consider open-source alternatives, such as the OpenOffice productivity suite and the Linux desktop OS. While these can't compete with Microsoft on advanced functionality and integration, they may present a low-cost alternative for basic computing requirements.
If you opt to upgrade, develop a sound migration strategy. You may want to start with Exchange, as it's transparent to the user and will significantly benefit your infrastructure without impairing productivity. Vista and Office 2007 should be deployed in tandem with desktop-hardware upgrades and should be closely tied to end-user training and support initiatives. If there's no plan to migrate to Vista, deploy Office 2007 in Windows XP environments.
Even if you're not upgrading right away, it's a good idea to test the new products for compatibility with existing applications. This way, you'll be ready to deploy when the time comes.
Nauman Haque is a research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group.
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