And server automation and virtualization software provider SWsoft (swsoft.com) is one of the companies most responsible for driving that evolution.

Taking cues from customer feedback, SWsoft just completed development on a major upgrade to its Plesk for Linux/Unix control panel, and is preparing to launch the new product next Wednesday.

Plesk 8.0 marks the first major upgrade to the control panel in two years and introduces 40 new integrated features to its existing offerings.

"It's a continual challenge to make it simple," says SWsoft CEO Serguei Beloussov, "but we are trying to make the product easier for end users of different levels."

Perhaps the most significant of these new features is Plesk Desktop, a new custom desktop capability that offers administrators and end users greater control and convenience.

Administrators and clients now have easy access to major management functions, as well as to information and statistics. And a new task-oriented design enables administrators to create "favorites" and "shortcuts."

Another notable addition to Plesk 8.0 is its improved integration with its virtualization product, Virtuozzo.

This seamless integration of Virtuozzo and Plesk makes it easier for hosting providers to manage more customers.

"We are very close to virtualization so we understand how important it is," says Beloussov. "The majority of control panel licenses that are shipped right now are shipped on the virtualization infrastructure. Integrating with Virtuozzo makes a lot of sense for control panels."

Customers can choose from purchasing Virtuozzo and Plesk together in a bundle, or individually through separate licensing.

SWsoft has also given considerable effort to keeping Plesk 8.0 consistent with its Open Fusion policy. The long-term initiative addresses many of the software integration problems in the Web hosting industry.

The upgrade also enables service providers to offer a more customized product that can stand on its own - a characteristic Beloussov knows his customers value.

"[Service providers] don't really want to develop and house control panels anymore because it's so costly and time-consuming," says Beloussov. "They want to use official control panels but have a differentiated offering. We made the user interface more customizable so that each company that uses it can present a unique interface to their user base."

Additional features of Plesk 8.0 include customizable interface templates, alternative domain aliases, updated backup utility, integrated Acronis True Image module, enhanced system monitoring and a more efficient auto-installer.

To promote Plesk 8.0, SWsoft is offering a discount of $100 for the control panel until March 31, 2006. And customers can receive 40 percent off SWsoft's antivirus application, Dr. Web, when they purchase Plesk 8.0.

In a market where IT companies race to stay a step ahead of their competitors, Beloussov is confident that Plesk is not only that step ahead, but that it can help customers to take that extra step themselves.

"Customer's needs are getting broader and broader, and the services are getting more and more complex, so we try to merge those conflicting interests with something like Plesk desktop," says Beloussov.