Dell KACE appliance targets system admins
The tech giant offers turnkey software compliance and warranty management, all in one box.

Dell has updated its line of systems management technologies with the release of the Dell KACE K1000 Management Appliance.
Retaining the KACE brand acquired by Dell at the start of 2010, this latest system combines dedicated hardware and software in a single box' designed to allow systems administrators to audit and manage software license compliance issues, inventories and assets.
Building the idea there is some kind of global wastage' occurring on the desktop, Dell said businesses were losing millions of pounds each year through unused or under-utilised software licenses.
Highlighting the downtime arising from fixing security breaches due to malware and removing unapproved software on end user systems, Dell is hoping to justify the need for its control box' appliances. The company claims they are capable of harvesting and re-allocating unused or under-utilised software assets, protecting against litigation risks and equipping customers with tools to effectively avoid license violations.
This latest Dell appliance is also intended to address license management, with features to help users track software installation statistics, automatically distribute and patch software and run reports on software usage.
"As a result of our merger with Dell last year, KACE is now adding features that enable organisations who run Dell computers in their IT environment to eliminate manual tasks, such as researching warranty information, downloading hardware drivers and managing Dell images," said Rob Meinhardt, president of Dell KACE.
"In addition, we're rapidly adding new features, such as advanced software license compliance that are available for Windows, Mac and Linux end-points."
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Tony Lock, an analyst from Freeform Dynamics, added: "Software licensing is one of those tasks with which organisations have struggled for many years, if not decades."
"The fast pace at which software can now be updated, new licensing models taken up, or software drop out of use makes this much harder than many people think. In my experience, companies that don't have this in place will spend considerably more time and effort managing the problems as well as potentially exposing themselves to risks and service delivery challenges."
In terms of functionality, Dell KACE Appliances are built with a new web-based reporting engine, accessible from any browser-equipped device. Dell specified the new engine would generate custom reports to help identify license compliance violations or unapproved software installations.
The company also noted a new warranty status tool, which system administrators can use to create policies addressing warranty expiration issues related to managed assets. This option, if implemented correctly, should allow administrators to quickly determine whether they should refresh assets, buy extended warranty or retire assets all together.
-
LaunchDarkly to "double down" on observability with Highlight acquisition
News Highlight's observability tools will be integrated into LaunchDarkly's Guarded Releases software deployment service
By Daniel Todd
-
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE review
Reviews The Tab S10 FE retains the feel and core capabilities of Samsung's high-end S10 tablets, but compromises on the display and the performance
By Stuart Andrews
-
Dell names Lisa Ergun as new Client Solutions Group channel lead for the UK
News Dell Technologies has announced the appointment of Lisa Ergun as its new Client Solutions Group (CSG) channel lead for the UK.
By Daniel Todd
-
Scale of Dell job cuts laid bare as firm sheds 10% of staff in a year
News Dell Technologies’ workforce has reduced significantly in recent years, figures show, with headcount at the tech giant dropping by 10% in 2025 alone.
By Nicole Kobie
-
Dell Technologies just revamped its Partner Program for 2025 – here's what to expect
News Dell Technologies has unveiled its revamped Partner Program for 2025, offering a range of new incentives for partners.
By Emma Woollacott
-
'Nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction': Dell orders staff back into the office as the company shakes up hybrid working practices
News Dell Technologies has ordered staff to return to the office five days a week, according to reports, with some exceptions allowed for staff located too far from physical office sites.
By Emma Woollacott
-
Governance, risk, and compliance is a major growth opportunity, but how will the market develop?
Industry Insights As DORA, NIS2, and AI regulations shake up the compliance landscape, GRC could be a golden opportunity for the channel
By George Bonser
-
Meta layoffs hit staff at WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs divisions
News The 'year of efficiency' for Mark Zuckerberg continues as Meta layoffs affect staff in key business units
By Ross Kelly
-
Business execs just said the quiet part out loud on RTO mandates — A quarter admit forcing staff back into the office was meant to make them quit
News Companies know staff don't want to go back to the office, and that may be part of their plan with RTO mandates
By Nicole Kobie
-
Microsoft tells staff it won’t follow Amazon or Dell on enforcing a return to the office – but there’s a catch
News While other big tech companies are forcing reluctant workforces back into the office, Microsoft isn’t following suit
By George Fitzmaurice