In every thriving community, there are a few people whose presence makes a noticeable difference - the ones who share generously, support others, and bring knowledge that elevates everyone around them. In the BMC Community, Markus Keller is one of those people. 

With over 22+ years of IT experience, Markus has developed extensive expertise in Control-M, Windows/UNIX system administration, and ITIL practices spanning more than 15 years. He has led teams, tackled complex scheduling challenges, and consistently shared practical insights that foster growth in others. With nearly 13,000+ contribution reputation points in community, Markus is recognized as one of the most valued voices in the BMC Community.

This month, we sat down with Markus for a special Ask Me Anything (AMA) Spotlight Session. He opened about his journey, challenges, and lessons - and we’re thrilled to bring this conversation to our wider community. 

1. Can you tell us a bit about your journey with Control-M and how you got started in our BMC Community? 

After spending about 10 years in IT – the last 4 of them working with Autosys – I started a new chapter in 2010. At that time, the company was running a big project to insource the IT infrastructure and build an in-house operations department. Together with one colleague, I took on the challenge of setting up the Control-M environment (version 6.4) and migrating to all the jobs. For the next 7 years, we managed the environment side by side, doing everything from monitoring and operations to administration. We even handled migrations from other setups and upgraded to version 8 (we skipped version 7). If I remember correctly, I first visited the BMC Community around 2015 – just as a silent reader. Then, somewhere around 2017/2018, I started getting more involved and became an active member. 

2. What was an early milestone or project where you realized the true potential of Control-M in driving efficiency or solving a key challenge? 

It is always fascinating to see what kind of complex scheduling is possible without using calendars. This saves a lot of time at the end of the year when setting up next year’s calendars and reduces the risk of incorrect configurations. 

The Control-M Web interface, formerly known as Self Service, was a real game changer. It gave the business more visibility and control over their own jobs. It also reduced the time spent on actions where they previously had to call someone to release a job - now they can simply do it themselves. 

3. How has the Community contributed to your learning or problem-solving, and have there been any interesting insights or surprises along the way? 

The Community is always a great place to find solutions for current problems or questions, like how to achieve a specific scheduling request in Control-M. Often, you’ll discover that someone else has already dealt with the same issue or something very similar. And if not, you can simply start a post - most of the time you’ll get excellent input from other members. 

4. What’s one tip you would give to someone just starting out in the Control-M field? 

Control-M has become quite complex over the last few years, with many add-ons, modules, and APIs. My advice: start small and focus first on learning the basics of scheduling. I know some people struggle in the beginning with the New Day concept - the fact that the real calendar day and the Control-M day aren’t always the same. For example, if your New Day is set to 7 AM and you want to run a job Tuesday morning at 6 AM, you actually need to schedule it to load on Monday. That can be confusing at first! 

5. What emerging trends or changes in the automation/operations space do you think professionals should pay more attention to today? 

Security has become more and more important in today’s world, with a strong focus on IAM, PAM, MFA, and secure access to data to prevent potential damage. At the same time, the use of containers is becoming increasingly popular. 

6. Is there a unique Control-M use case or approach you’ve adopted that others might find insightful for optimizing their workflows? 

The API has become a strong replacement for the Workload Change Manager. Combined with the Job-as-Code approach and Git as part of a CI/CD pipeline, it helps ensure that environments remain consistent and secure. 

7. What common challenges do you encounter in Control-M workflows, and how do you typically approach them? 

The goal is always to satisfy the customer. To achieve this, you often need to understand what they really want and then find the best way to make it happen. I’ve had requests that didn’t make much sense at first or seemed impossible as described. But the first step is always to understand their intention — that makes everything much easier. 

8. Can you share a project or accomplishment involving Control-M that you’re particularly proud of? 

In the past, I’ve been part of some interesting projects — and even led a few myself. The most recent one was migrating the entire environment, including EM, servers, Workload Archiver, Workflow Insights, and agent servers, to new hardware. This was done to replace RHEL7 with RHEL9 machines. 

9. Outside of work, how do you unwind or recharge after a busy day? 

Most evenings, I like to go for a short walk to get some exercise and clear my head. It really helps when you’re stuck on a problem — resetting your mind often brings new ideas. I also enjoy short bike tours or going for a swim. 

Sometimes, I play with a small model steam engine. It’s fully functional, and with a belt, I can power various miniature tools like a dynamo for a model street lamp, a small drill saw, a grinding wheel, or even a tiny saw. 

10. Is there a work habit, routine, or strategy you rely on that consistently helps you stay organized and effective? 

When I get asked if something can be done, I try not to say it’s impossible. And when I face a problem, I avoid saying I can’t fix it. Many times, I put on my headphones, listen to music, and focus on the work. I also keep a few small fidget toys on my desk — they’re great for keeping my hands busy while I’m thinking. 

A Heartfelt Thank You to Markus 

On behalf of our entire BMC Community, we want to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to Markus. His dedication, patience, and deep knowledge have made him a trusted voice in our forums. Whether it’s guiding someone through a tricky scheduling question or sharing creative solutions, Markus truly embodies the spirit of collaboration that makes our community special. 

We hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as we did. If you have any questions about Markus - whether you're just beginning your Control-M journey or exploring advanced use cases - please feel free to drop them in the comments. We’ll make sure to bring his expertise forward to help you out. 

Stay tuned for more member spotlights, and if Markus has ever helped you in a discussion, don’t forget to leave a thank-you note below in the comments! 

BMC has once again been recognized by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), a leading industry analyst, as the overall highest performer and a Value Leader in the 2025 EMA Radar for Workload Automation and Orchestration — marking BMC’s eighth consecutive  acknowledgement in EMA’s major evaluations of workload automation and orchestration platforms. Control-M also earned EMA’s recognition for Excellence in Mission-Critical Orchestration, reinforcing its position as the market leader for enterprise-class orchestration. This consistent recognition highlights the trust, maturity, and reliability the platform brings to organizations around the world. 

A milestone for our community 

For years, Control-M has helped teams streamline complex workflows, improve operational visibility, and orchestrate business-critical processes with confidence. This continued recognition also reflects the contributions of our users, experts, and product teams who actively engage and help shape the platform. 

A collective achievement 

Behind every milestone are the practitioners, developers, administrators, and partners who share insights and real-world experiences in our community. Control-M’s recognition is a reflection of that collaboration. 

As automation evolves, Control-M remains committed to empowering teams with clarity, consistency, and innovation. We look forward to continuing this journey together through shared learning and community conversations. 

 Read the full EMA Radar report here: EMA Radar for Workload Automation and Orchestration 2025 

Join us in the comments to celebrate this milestone with our Control-M team! 

Hello, our BMC Community!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving today, we just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU. This community isn’t just about tools or tech - it’s about you, the people who make it vibrant, welcoming, and full of energy. 

Every post, tip, insight, or idea you share makes this space better for everyone. You are the heartbeat of this community, and we are so grateful for each one of you! 

🌟 Thank You to Our Community Heroes! 

This year, we want to celebrate the incredible contributions that keep this community thriving! From sharing your knowledge and ideas to creating a welcoming space for everyone, your efforts make a real difference every day. 

💛 Spread the Gratitude! 

Let’s fill this thread with appreciation, smiles, and warm vibes. From our members, partners, and internal teams, lets jump in and celebrate the people who make this community such an incredible place.

To all our entire BMC and BMC Helix community: Let's take a moment to show our appreciation! @Mention the members, partners, and friends you’re thankful for this thanksgiving season and share a little note recognizing their contributions and partnership

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! You are the heart of this community, and we are truly thankful for YOU! 🫂🧡 

As we celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to every customer and partner who makes the BMC Helix Community such a vibrant, collaborative, and inspiring space.

Whether you are a long-standing customer or a dedicated partner, your contributions are the heartbeat of the BMC Helix community. This year, we have been incredibly inspired by your willingness to collaborate, your eagerness to share knowledge, and the active role you play in shaping the future of our solutions.

We are thankful for:

• The Problem Solvers: Those who jump into forum threads to help peers troubleshoot and succeed.
• The Innovators: Partners who push the boundaries of what Helix can do.
• The Collaborators: Customers who provide the honest feedback that drives our roadmap forward.

Thank you for your continued support, your thoughtful discussions, and your willingness to share insights that help everyone grow. Your engagement, whether through asking questions, contributing solutions, or collaborating with others strengthens our community every day.

To our BMC/BMC Helix Cross-Functional Teams: Please take a moment in the comments below to @mention the customers and partners you have worked closely with this year. Let's give them a public shout-out in our community and thank them for their incredible cooperation and partnership!

At BMC Community, our strength lies in the passion, knowledge, and collaboration of our members. Every day, our community members come together to share expertise, solve challenges, and support one another—and it’s their dedication that makes our community a hub of learning and innovation.

Each month, we recognize the exceptional contributors who go above and beyond to provide accurate, helpful, and timely solutions. These are our Solutions Champions—the members who inspire others, drive collaboration, and embody the spirit of what it means to be part of a thriving community.

For November, we are thrilled to celebrate the following members for their outstanding contributions:

Here are our top 7 members whose answers shone brightest this month:

1.  Michael Fleming 

🔗 How to mass unrelate 2000+ CI's from a user profile - Discussion - BMC Community

2. Mun Keong Lee

🔗 How to search the the Active schedule for jobs that will not run - Discussion - BMC Community

3. Patrick Halet

🔗 Restart rule to notify agent with countdown - Discussion - BMC Community

4. Anne Brock

🔗 Is there a filter to list all work orders and incidents I've made changes to? - Discussion - BMC Community

5. Laurent Matheo

🔗 Hi there! When I create a new record, it creates like a new table? Using what? Just curious of how this works at a low level and calculate the possible "cost" of having multiple records or having 1 record with a lot of data. - Discussion - BMC Community

6. Alexis Bernard

🔗 Do cognitive features in ITSM 25.4 require IBM Watson? - Discussion - BMC Community

7. Adam Lawson

🔗 Insert data into HPD:Incidentinterface_Create Form to create a incident ticket. - Discussion - BMC Community

Thank you to all our Solutions Champions for your dedication, your time, and your willingness to help. Your efforts ensure that every member feels supported, inspired, and encouraged to contribute.

Congratulations to our November Solutions Champions! 🌟 Your passion, knowledge, and generosity are what make the BMC Community truly exceptional. Keep sharing, keep inspiring, and keep being the heart of our community—you could be next month’s star! ✨

Our community thrives because of members who quietly share their knowledge, lend a helping hand, and spark meaningful conversations. From answering questions to sharing practical tips and insights, their contributions keep the community alive and growing.

These incredible individuals are the heart of our forums, nurturing discussions across BMC Helix, Control-M, BMC AMI, Remedy, and beyond. Their willingness to support others doesn’t just solve problems—it encourages everyone to learn, explore, and connect.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our top 5 active contributors for this month:

Your dedication, generosity, and willingness to support others make our community what it is—a space where everyone feels welcome, inspired, and empowered.

Let’s celebrate them together! 🎉 Drop a comment below to congratulate our November active contributors and share how they’ve helped you. Your encouragement motivates everyone to keep contributing and keeps our community growing stronger!