DEVELOPER TOOLS
AVIcode—Intercept Studio 5.6
AVICode Intercept Studio wins for its terrific end-to-end web application troubleshooting tools. The new release offers a unique web application capture feature and full support for troubleshooting the performance of SharePoint applications.
HARDWARE & STORAGE
Brocade—Brocade DCX-4S Backbone
The Brocade DCX Backbone network switching platform wins for its robust focus on the evolving data center. Extremely scalable and reliable—far surpassing “five 9s” and entering the realm of “six and seven 9s”—the DCX-4S is a powerhouse that will grow with any business, bringing authoritative focus to the storage network. A future-aware multiprotocol architecture and intelligent traffic management functionality cap off a truly impressive backbone.
MESSAGING
Argent Software—Argent for Exchange 2.0
Argent for Exchange wins the messaging category for its comprehensive approach to monitoring and alerting. The product is both automated and highly customizable. Argent’s round-the clock support, quarterly updates to customers, and ability to monitor Exchange transport, storage, traffic logs, and account rules (among others)—through PowerShell, Exchange Management Shell, WMI, and classic Windows APIs—offer a strong value proposition to customers.
BEST MICROSOFT PRODUCT
Visual Studio 2010
Visual Studio 2010 is the Microsoft product of the year because this release of Visual Studio raises the standard for development tools. Visual Studio 2010 provides new native WPF support, as well as support for multiple monitors, a new historical debugging capability, and significantly enhanced SharePoint development and deployment capabilities.
NETWORKING
A10 Networks—64-bit AX Series
The 64-bit AX Series wins this award because of its innovative approach to network load-balancing, high availability, and health monitoring. A10 strives to “monitor the water, not the plumbing.” Site-level and global-level geographic redundancy—through a uniquely flexible architecture—provide for a truly scalable solution that boasts excellent security and 64-bit performance.
SECURITY
Symantec—Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition 12
Symantec Endpoint Protections Small Business Edition 12 provides smaller businesses with a centrally managed security system similar to what enterprises have, but with a price and ease of use suited to SMBs. This product won because of its focus on a market where there have been few choices for small businesses that need suites with these kinds of features.