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Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] vs Microsoft Windows Server Update Services comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 4, 2026

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
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Microsoft Windows Server Up...
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.9
Number of Reviews
53
Ranking in other categories
Patch Management (5th)
 

Featured Reviews

Chethan R - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
Aldo Centino - PeerSpot reviewer
System Administrator at Waternet
Centralized updates have simplified patch management and have ensured timely security compliance
I am not sure about Windows Service Update; I mentioned Windows Server, but I do not think we do Windows Server AppFabric. I indicated that we do not use Windows Process Activation Services or Windows Server Failover Clustering. I acknowledge that Update Services is what I meant to communicate. We have a procedure related to the automatic update approval feature in Microsoft Windows Server Update Services. I do not know if we used this procedure; we just use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services with a scheduled task, and that is all. I have not used the reporting and inventory capabilities to manage update compliance, but maybe our security team has. I like this product because there is no other product, and my colleague is working on the Azure service updates, so if that is working, then we have no need to use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services from Windows anymore. I have not found something that I have been using the most.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"What has been most valuable is the ability to manage, restore and install upgrades and applications. We scan PCs and server and receive results."
"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."
"Technical support is helpful and responsive."
"It provides central management interface for deployment."
"The solution has great potential and leaves the user with almost limitless possibilities. It is truly a product with a million uses."
"This solution is very scalable."
"Microsoft support is the best support of all support, at a certain level."
"A valuable feature about this solution is that it enforces an updating and patching process for my applications."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is its low cost, as it requires no additional licensing fees."
"The most important aspect is that we can centrally deploy the updates that are necessary for the organization. It's important."
"The solution can be used to update PCs and servers."
 

Cons

"It should be more scalable."
"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."
"The platform’s dashboard and reporting features need enhancement."
"The main problem with WSUS is that the management console doesn't allow you to do a lot of operations. It's actually quite a primitive console, and has been since day one. In order to be more effective, you need to use another tool from Microsoft that can take advantage of WSUS and also offer you the extra features you need."
"Because Microsoft Windows Server is not open-source that makes it have limited application."
"The only complex part was the solution’s tricky setup phase."
"This is a good product and it does its job but it's quite complex to configure, implement, and maintain, and the interface is terrible, so I rate it eight out of 10."
"I have other tools for reporting and inventory capabilities. The inventory tool and the entire backend of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is poorly coded."
"The phone tree for Microsoft Update makes me smash my head against my desk."
"Microsoft Windows Server Update Services could improve by being less cumbersome to use. It's somewhat difficult to use, but we manage to get through it."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"While it might be relatively more expensive for smaller companies, larger enterprises can find it robust and capable of delivering significant value."
"Configuration Manager is less expensive than Microsoft Windows Server Update Services."
"Because it is not open-source, it has to compete with open-source solutions. Relatively it is expensive to open-source."
"The solution is expensive, and the licensing costs are yearly."
"Microsoft's operating model determines the solution's pricing, and we use it based on our enterprise agreement, which incurs an annual cost."
"The product is not expensive."
"The WSUS cost is included in Microsoft Windows, and there are no licensing fees."
"I rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Outsourcing Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Construction Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Outsourcing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise24
 

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...
What is your primary use case for Ivanti Security Controls?
We are using Ivanti Security Controls for deploying Windows updates to Windows servers.
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...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Windows Server Update Services?
I don't know all details about pricing for Microsoft Windows Server Update Services, so I can't answer this question.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services?
I think nothing could be improved or enhanced in Microsoft Windows Server Update Services because it is doing precisely what it has to do. I do not see any minor enhancements or limitations to be o...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Windows Server Update Services?
I use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services primarily for Windows updates, specifically for updates and security patch updates from Microsoft.
 

Also Known As

No data available
Windows Server Update Services, Microsoft WSUS, WSUS, Microsoft Software Update Services, Software Update Services, Microsoft SUS, SUS, MS Windows Server Update Services
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Qualys, Microsoft, Ivanti and others in Patch Management. Updated: October 2026.
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