Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

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Ivanti and Quest Software are both solutions in the Patch Management category. Additionally, 100% of Ivanti users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Read 4 Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

KACE Systems Management App...

Read 40 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews

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95% willing to recommend

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

KACE Systems Management App...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 4, 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance and Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] are competing in the IT management and security market. KACE SMA seems to have the upper hand in pricing and customer support, while Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] offers more advanced features.

Features: KACE SMA offers asset management, patch management, and service desk integration to boost IT management efficiency. Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] provides advanced patch management, device control, and detailed vulnerability assessment, appealing to security-focused environments.

Room for Improvement: KACE SMA could improve by simplifying its vast feature set for small businesses, enhancing mobile device management, and providing more intuitive reporting tools. Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] might benefit from streamlining deployment processes, increasing third-party integration options, and simplifying its complex user interface.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: KACE SMA is praised for its easy deployment and robust customer support. On the other hand, Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] has a more complex deployment process but compensates with adequate customer service to address challenges.

Pricing and ROI: KACE SMA is known for its competitive pricing and essentially lower upfront costs, leading to positive ROI with its efficient management solutions. In contrast, Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] has a higher initial setup cost but justifies it through comprehensive security features, promising substantial ROI for businesses needing strong security.

To learn more, read our detailed Patch Management Report (Updated: September 2026).

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Patch Management

September 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

KACE Systems Management App...

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Client Desktop Management (2nd), Endpoint Compliance (6th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (11th), Patch Management (11th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (12th)

Featured Reviews

Chethan R

Windows Security Patching Operation III (Cyber Operations) at CBTS

Has reduced hardware strain through agentless patching and improved asset visibility

This solution does not have capability of managing applications. It is only used for asset management and patch management. Regarding analytics for Ivanti Security Controls, it does not have extensive capabilities. It is a basic tool from Ivanti for scanning and deploying. It does not have analytics features such as EDR or security tools available in the market. It only has capability to check missing patches, find them, and deploy them. When it comes to reports, compliance reports or similar types of reports are not user-friendly. Expertise is required for handling these aspects. The asset management in Ivanti Security Controls needs more visibility. Additionally, it can be improved to handle in-house applications, which currently cannot be installed. It can only handle existing applications, unlike Ivanti's Endpoint Manager. It should have additional features in this area that need improvement.

Read full review

AdityaJain

Security Administrator at EbixCash

Centralized software deployment has simplified endpoint control but needs stronger security alerts

What I like best about KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is that it allows pushing custom-made applications to all computers that have KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) endpoint installed. This makes it easier for the organization to push patches and updates. If I need to push EDR updates, I can use KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), as it automatically updates the EDR on that endpoint, and that is a great feature. Overall, KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) helps streamline my processes by allowing me to check the uptime and downtime of machines, whether they are connected to the internet or not, and how long a machine has been switched off. I can also gather hardware details and software inventory from it. I can show a live demonstration if a video conference can be arranged. Incident resolution capabilities with KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) have improved operational efficiency for system administrators, as it makes it easier to track machines with KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), gather their IP addresses, and push several updates, patches, or software deployments at once. I can design compliances as per my requirements, such as ensuring passwords are reset after 45 days.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Technical support is helpful and responsive."

"Ivanti Security Controls is a better solution than SCCM."

"Ivanti Security Controls is an agentless tool which means we do not need to install any agent on the server or endpoint, and through agentless capabilities, it can install software, install patches, and control over the server, including asset management."

"What has been most valuable is the ability to manage, restore and install upgrades and applications. We scan PCs and server and receive results."

"K1000 just works - plain and simple."

"There is ease of use, and its pricing was a driving factor."

"It paid for itself within the first month we had it, so the return on investment was incredible."

"We can get the majority of what we need with this product and do not have to spend money on something else."

"By using the KACE solution, we are able to provide endpoint management for our customers, it filled a critical gap for us, contributes to more than 30% of our revenue, and based on customer feedback it has saved more than 50% time through automation."

"Quest KACE has provided us with a managed environment that surpasses all expectations."

"From using KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), the main benefits I have seen are that if my organization has a thousand users and I plan to distribute software such as Adobe to all endpoints, by simply launching a script in KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), I can provide that software effectively."

"The Systems Deployment Appliance is magical when it comes to automating deployment... Not only can we have multiple images, specific to end-users' uses, but we have a plethora of post-installation tasks to install or configure the system, tasks that can be re-used for each system. You just have one basic base image, and then you use the post-install tasks to customize everything else. It is amazing."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros

Cons

"Ivanti Security Controls is a powerful product, but it has quite a steep learning curve."

"When it comes to reports, compliance reports or similar types of reports are not user-friendly. Expertise is required for handling these aspects."

"For the Windows upgrade, the errors we experience are not clear. We see a time out error but do not know the reason. We would like to know the root cause."

"It should be more scalable."

"I have complaints about smart label adaptation and because of this, I recommend a 24 to 48 hour bake-in period."

"I would sure like them to be able to copy and paste out of OneNote. That drives me nuts. You can't copy from OneNote into KACE."

"One of the complications is that they don't have 24/7 support, and they're also not in our time zone... Sometimes, no matter how critical my application is, if my production server is down I won't be able to connect with anybody till 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time."

"The only hiccups we had were some power issues, where the box was a little under-powered early on."

"It is a little bit difficult to use the license compliances because you need to decide when you are using the software catalog if you are using it with their license compliance or the normal software part. Under the inventory, you can use software as a menu link or software catalog. Most of my specialist software is not in the software catalog. When I try to import them, in my license compliances overview, there are cryptic names for this software that I have to import. That is not very good for the reports that I use. When I take them to my bosses, they see cryptic names of software that they don't understand. It would be much better for me if I could use software and the software catalog as well for the license compliances."

"What could be improved is the possibility to use replicas in a secure way outside our network in order to maintain the machines that never connect to our corporate network."

"It took a little bit of time to figure out how to use the KACE Service Desk. I like the way that I'm able to customize it. But when it comes to how our techs are able to use it, it's not as functional as our current solution, which is BMC FootPrints Service Desk."

"The only pain point I have is with their salespeople. They call too often."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"Some of the other solutions were just astronomical in price compared with KACE and didn't necessarily have the ease of use either. So, we chose Quest KACE for its easy-to-use features and cost."

"The product is reasonably priced."

"Licensing is very straightforward. They don't overcomplicate it. This is not a Cisco product where you have to have 30 different licenses just to open the box. It's pretty much set-and-forget. You pay an annual license... The cost is in the mid to upper range, but the ROI exceeds the outside cost, especially once you've had the system for a while."

"Licensing is done on a per device basis, so it's dependent on how many agents you've got installed."

"The pricing is great. It's billed annually and it's very reasonable."

"Their pricing is per end-point device. There is an initial cost for the license for the server, which is pretty low, and then there is a per end-point device license, which is also fairly low. So, the pricing is still reasonable."

"Based on other solutions that we had implemented, its pricing seems to be quite competitive. It is not inexpensive, but it is also not more expensive than any other solution. They have the standard licensing fees and support fees."

"We need it, so we have to pay the price. It is what it is. If you need a gallon of milk, then you have to pay the price for it. You don't want to buy the cheap stuff. You want to buy the stuff that is organic and good for your body, which doesn't have all this other junk in it. You want it clean for your body. Quest has done that for our deployment and management systems."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

13%

Construction Company

10%

University

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Ivanti Security Controls?

Ivanti Security Controls is a powerful product, but it has quite a steep learning curve. There is quite a lot to learn, though it proves to be very powerful if you put in the time to learn how to u...

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What is your primary use case for Ivanti Security Controls?

We are using Ivanti Security Controls for deploying Windows updates to Windows servers.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Ivanti Security Controls?

I am currently working with Ivanti Security Controls as a customer. I think Ivanti Security Controls is an effective product for this purpose. I would give tech support for Ivanti Security Controls...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Quest KACE Systems Management?

In terms of cost-effectiveness, considering a situation where I want to deploy KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) for just pushing updates, it is completely fine. However, apart from that, I d...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Quest KACE Systems Management?

For improvements in KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), I would want to see it become a standalone software agent. I am curious about why it does not offer EDR functionality. Additionally, the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Quest KACE Systems Management?

I have deployed KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) around 230 plus PCs, and I use it to push Windows updates and scripts. I have designed various scripts for tasks such as password resets afte...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 16% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

PDQ Deploy vs Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Compared 7% of the time

Qualys TruRisk Eliminate vs Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Compared 6% of the time

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Microsoft Configuration Manager vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 9% of the time

BigFix vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 7% of the time

Atera vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 6% of the time

Kaseya VSA vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 5% of the time

Ivanti Autonomous Endpoint Management vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 4% of the time

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Patch Management

September 2026

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Buyer's Guide

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

September 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

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Also Known As

No data available

Dell KACE Systems Management

Overview

Ivanti Security Controls delivers a reliable, stable setup for managing and installing upgrades and applications, featuring agentless operation and comprehensive reporting. It's preferred by data centers for efficiently addressing vulnerabilities through agentless solutions and backend scripting.

Ivanti Security Controls is instrumental in deploying updates to servers and workstations, effectively managing Microsoft and non-Microsoft patches. Teams leverage its centralized console for efficiency, conducting vulnerability scans and deploying patches based on detected issues. Users appreciate its responsive support and backend scripting capabilities, finding it essential for streamlining patching tasks and addressing vulnerabilities. Areas for improvement include cloud capabilities, logging, and scalability, with users seeking more intuitive report designs, enhanced documentation, and improved application management. Error messages during Windows upgrades need clarity, and more visibility in asset management is desired.

What are the most important features of Ivanti Security Controls?

Agentless Operation: Minimizes system resource usage, enhancing operational efficiency.
Comprehensive Reporting: Offers in-depth insights into security status and system vulnerabilities.
Patch and Asset Management: Simplifies the management of software updates and inventory tracking.
Credential Management: Ensures secure handling of sensitive access information.
PowerShell Script Execution: Allows automated tasks and customized scripting for tailored solutions.

What benefits should users look for in Ivanti Security Controls?

Operational Efficiency: Streamlines update processes, saving time and resources.
Enhanced Security: Improves system safety by addressing vulnerabilities quickly.
Responsive Support: Assists quickly in troubleshooting and resolving user issues.
Centralized Management: Offers a unified platform for managing updates and patches across systems.
Visibility into Vulnerabilities: Provides insights to tackle potential security threats effectively.

Ivanti Security Controls sees extensive use in industries requiring robust patch management and vulnerability scanning, notably in data centers where maintaining security and efficiency is critical. Its ability to deploy updates seamlessly makes it a valuable tool for sectors focused on IT infrastructure management.

Ivanti

KACE Systems Management Appliance offers integration capabilities, efficient image deployment, and comprehensive asset management. It supports centralized management across diverse devices and locations, simplifying IT processes and enhancing security.

KACE Systems Management Appliance provides single-pane visibility for endpoint management, mass software deployment, automated patch management, robust scripting, and detailed inventory tracking. It streamlines IT management and improves cyber-security compliance through remote software updates and centralized IT request handling. Despite struggles with scalability and the need for interface improvements, it enables efficient device imaging, script automation, and network management through detailed reporting. Organizations find it effective for software deployment, asset management, and endpoint monitoring, serving thousands of IoT devices and desktops.

What are the key features of KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Integration capabilities: Seamlessly connects with existing IT systems.
Efficient image deployment: Facilitates quick and effective distribution of system images.
Comprehensive asset management: Provides detailed tracking and management of IT assets.
User-friendly helpdesk: Simplifies handling IT requests and issues.
Automated patch management: Ensures devices are up-to-date with security patches.
Robust scripting: Allows for automation of complex IT tasks.
Detailed inventory tracking: Maintains accurate records of all IT assets.

What benefits should users expect from KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Simplified IT processes: Centralized management enhances operational efficiency.
Improved security: Streamlines cyber-security compliance through automated updates.
Flexibility in customizations: Adapts to specific IT environment needs.
Increased productivity: Efficient ticketing and reporting ease organizational operations.
Remote software updates: Ensures all devices are current, reducing security risks.

In healthcare, KACE Systems Management Appliance is used for maintaining device compliance and security standards. Educational institutions benefit from its capabilities to manage large numbers of endpoints across campuses. In finance, it aids in strict compliance requirements through automated patch management and detailed reporting. Retail sectors leverage its asset management features to streamline operations across numerous locations.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King

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