Comparing 8 desktop management software options for business

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When organizations contemplate their selections for managing users’ endpoints, it is really very important to decide on desktop administration program by wanting into particular functions, integrations and licensing models.

The problem for a long time has been taking care of mobile equipment, desktops and connected software package alongside 1 one more, because generally occasions they every single need different resources. About the decades, these specialized equipment developed into a additional common system called unified endpoint administration (UEM).

UEM incorporates numerous item categories just about every with unique specialties.

  • Shopper administration resources (CMT) consist of desktop and notebook management on equally a device and program amount.
  • Cellular product administration (MDM) includes machine hardware management.
  • Cell application administration (MAM)  handles software package administration.
  • Identity and obtain management (IAM) incorporates authorization, authentication, password and single indication-on management.
  • Business mobility administration (EMM) contains all cellular management equipment, but it does not manage desktop pcs and laptops.

Stability is not a unique group, but UEM consists of it to some diploma in each individual giving — occasionally as an add-on.

It can be confusing, as sellers made the solutions separately right before converging them into a solitary UEM solution. Having said that, some merchandise nevertheless record the over acronyms while describing specific features. For illustration, MDM may be shown as a particular item on a vendor’s website, but it is sold as section of the UEM products the MDM section are not able to be split out. Nevertheless, there are narrower items that do address personal functions, these kinds of as Microsoft’s Technique Configuration Supervisor, which is a desktop administration device and not Microsoft’s completely-fledged UEM product or service.

MEM, EMM and UEM comparison chart

Whilst UEM is a mix of existing platforms in lots of means, there can be price in making use of the far more specialized administration platforms — these as MDM and IAM — for a extra focused tactic to each aspect of conclusion-person administration. Businesses might like a crucial characteristic from a person MDM vendor’s system, but the desktop administration capabilities from an additional.

For companies focusing on what they want for desktop management, it truly is worthwhile to evaluate the merchandise in terms of their desktop administration capabilities. As these, this comparison of solutions and characteristics focuses on desktop administration and does not contemplate things over and above that.

Top desktop administration computer software sellers

Even though companies this kind of as Gartner will not generally establish products and solutions exclusively as desktop administration software package, we can use Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for UEM as a baseline to compile a checklist of feasible options. IT administrators should really review the desktop administration capabilities of each tool based on this setting up point.

This comparison explores offerings from Microsoft, VMware, IBM, ManageEngine, Citrix, BlackBerry, LogMeIn and Ivanti. These are all mature products and solutions developed on desktop and cellular items for decades before consolidating into UEM. In addition, these products consist of the potential to control cell equipment and lots of offer you a cloud-based management pane.

Desktop administration attributes to appear for

Vendors don’t all establish the very same capabilities in the same way, and they typically change enormously on what they include. Some suppliers target a good deal on safety in a essential merchandise, and others individual safety into a separate product. The aspect record below is a established of fairly frequent characteristics amid goods that are essential to IT directors. Separating the capabilities into these types allows for a much more apples-to-apples comparison between products and solutions.

Hold in thoughts that desktop management, as defined below, incorporates hardware — PCs and laptops — and software program for person efficiency and management features. Cellular devices are not included.

  • Patch management. Frequently integrated in software package administration, this specifies the attribute of controlling and distributing patches and updates to clients.
  • Software package and application management. This includes software program deployment, aspect and model management for end users and IT programs.
  • Distant accessibility. This element holds a various importance to distinctive distributors. It could be a remote desktop application for users, distant administration of units, customers or other very similar features.
  • Compliance principles and enforcement. Though administrators can crank out compliance experiences manually, these distributors specially establish a aspect to provide compliance information and facts.
  • Desktop device configuration and administration. This is the main of desktop administration — components provisioning, software configuration and an uncomplicated-to-use interface. Ideally, these options need to all be on a single pane of glass to take care of buyers, equipment, computer software, updates and other capabilities.
  • Active Directory (Advert) reviews and interface. These techniques have an Lively Listing connector to allow for the console to handle Advert people, equipment and groups. The techniques pull these from the Ad domain, and in some situations it incorporates reporting abilities.
  • Person admin. Some offerings present management for people, groups and related attributes. Ad connections may well or may not be involved.
  • Asset management and tracking. Though all desktop administration items carry system controls as well, asset administration is a particular functionality to control all IT property, often with monitoring and reporting abilities.
  • Cloud capability. These products supply some degree of cloud capability. The administration operate might be in an application in the cloud, it could handle apps and digital devices in the cloud or carry out other connected cloud-based functions.
  • Energy management. This features remote wake-up, power on and off and electrical power saving administration features.
  • OS help. This determines the working programs that IT can set up the solution on. This may perhaps or may perhaps not be the checklist of shopper OSes that can be managed.
  • Articles administration. Material administration systems are generally individual items to take care of paperwork and information, and generate reports. Having said that, some desktop administration devices comprise written content administration features.
  • Lifecycle management. This entails running software, applications and gadgets from deployment as a result of deactivation for jobs these kinds of as preparing, monitoring, deployment and checking. These goods give some amount of constructed-in lifecycle management, but the diploma varies from merchandise to product.
  • Safety. Choices generally involve some degree of stability this kind of as antivirus or malware safety in addition to local safety. This may perhaps be delivered from a listing company this kind of as Active Directory, both built-in or via a partner. Some products and solutions might demand an upgraded provider degree to consist of security functions.

Item element comparison

Desktop management software differs drastically, dependent on how suppliers put into practice and help attributes. Furthermore, distributors may possibly give 3 or more product tiers that incorporate the additional capabilities earlier mentioned. Hence, it is critical to evaluation the attribute sets for each product’s choices to establish which a single satisfies an organization’s desires.

desktop management software comparison chart

This comparison can enable slender down the listing of goods that an corporation should evaluate and strongly take into account. Companies likely will need far more facts when looking at desktop management program, so the greatest route is to speak specifically to the most promising distributors. Most will present a cost-free demo or analysis license to support organizations decide.

Merchandise notes and pricing

There are some essential notes to know about every vendor, their giving and their pricing. Some goods have to have getting in touch with the vendor for in-depth pricing info.

ManageEngine Central

ManageEngine is 1 of the main distributors to offer you a UEM products and is consistently in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant reviews — while it really is at present in the “niche” team. In addition to a solid set of cellular machine resources, this solution functions components-impartial deployment, custom made deployment templates and a quantity of include-ons, which includes the next:

  • Endpoint Security
  • MDM
  • OS Deployment
  • Failover Server
  • Protected Gateway Server
  • Multi-Language Pack

ManageEngine utilizes a ‘call for quote’ pricing system so companies have to discuss with a vendor representative to get a feeling of the pricing.

IBM MaaS360

A reliable UEM products, IBM MaaS360 has some fascinating AI factors which include a coverage advice engine and a voice-centered AI administrative assistant. IBM costs its product or service in four levels. Though the vendor delivers much more information on its internet site, the following pricing define presents a great baseline:

  • Essentials: $4.00 for each gadget, per month
  • Deluxe: $5.00 for each gadget, for every thirty day period
  • Leading: $6.25 for every gadget, for every thirty day period
  • Company: $9.00 for each unit, per thirty day period

Microsoft Endpoint Supervisor — Microsoft Configuration Manager

IT directors will know that Microsoft generally has intricate licensing, but these offerings are unquestionably worthy of on the lookout into for some organizations. Their UEM merchandise, Microsoft Endpoint Supervisor (MEM), provides Microsoft Managed Desktop as a cloud-based IT administration and protection monitoring company. For the applications of this short article, we concentrate specially on the desktop management capabilities of Microsoft Configuration Manager — which is a part of MEM.

The pricing and licensing models are many with heaps of distinct paths that companies have to  negotiate based mostly on certain necessities. Microsoft does, even so, give a sturdy roadmap for navigating all these disparate services.   

VMware Workspace One particular

VMware Workspace One has some highly developed capabilities which includes certification administration. The vendor offers a wide assortment of deployment and provisioning options which consists of bodily and virtual equipment. Its unit management selections offer you highly developed, enterprise and mission-vital management concentrations as an increase-on — a little something that competitors have not determined. Comparable to IBM, VMware options an automatic AI digital assistant for user support. Pricing is primarily based on a month to month foundation, for each consumer and for each product. Workspace A person Furthermore, Standard, Advanced and Business Suites do not have general public pricing data.

  • Employee Necessities — for unmanaged devices: $1.66 per device, for every month or $3 for each person, for each month
  • Cell Essentials — cell only: $3 for each gadget, for each thirty day period or $5.40 per person, per thirty day period
  • Desktop Essentials — desktop only: $4.00 for each gadget, for each thirty day period or $7.20 per consumer, per month
  • UEM Essentials — desktop and cell: $5.25 per system, for every month or $9.45 for each person, for every thirty day period

Citrix Workspace

Another mature UEM products, Citrix Workspace, builds on Citrix’s foundation goods and delivers extensive digital application and virtual desktop assist. Citrix is the only evaluated item that specifies a Microsoft Office 365 integration in addition to extensions to guidance Home windows 7, 8.1, 10 and 11. Citrix Workspace delivers administration without demanding agents to be put in.

Pricing is at 4 tiers.

  • Essentials: $2 per user, per thirty day period
  • Normal: $7 for every person, for each month
  • High quality: $18 for each consumer, per thirty day period
  • High quality Furthermore: $25 for every consumer, per thirty day period

BlackBerry UEM

BlackBerry is a main player in the UEM market and has been in Gartner’s report for quite a few decades. BlackBerry UEM characteristics a single-pane-of-glass UEM console for mobile, desktop, notebook and computer software administration, together with cloud options.

BlackBerry’s pricing is a intently held secret, with no pricing tables or function lists on their web page.

LogMeIn

With a record of staying a distant entry solution, LogMeIn features a potent portfolio of distant accessibility and command and IT automation utilizing scripting for reporting and proactive alerts. LogMeIn functions program and system administration in a single-pane-of-glass console and attributes aid for kiosks and place-of-sale equipment.

Pricing is a minor diverse. This vendor presents a foundation prepare of $80 per thirty day period with a minimum of 25 gadgets and standard capabilities which includes the subsequent:

  • distant accessibility
  • person and system administration
  • background entry
  • file transfer
  • desktop sharing

Advanced functions are accessible in a few add-ons.

  • Protection: $47 for every month
  • Automation: $47 for each month
  • Perception: $47 per thirty day period

Ivanti Neurons for UEM

This UEM giving from Ivanti enables IT to automate program and OS updates and deployments and presents numerous monitoring and troubleshooting features that IT can use to deal with UX troubles as they crop up. The item provides true-time session data on managed desktops, which can assistance IT realize the root will cause of user challenges. Ivanti’s platform also supports distant access desktop periods for buyers to get the job done on their in-business office desktop from remote destinations. That exact same functionality also makes it possible for IT directors to look into consumer difficulties with a arms-on distant session.

Ivanti does not have public pricing info on Ivanti Neurons for UEM, even though it presents perpetual or subscription licensing.

Maria Flores

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