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KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs Symantec Client Management Suite comparison

Quest Software and Broadcom are both solutions in the Client Desktop Management category. Quest Software is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5, while Broadcom is ranked #3. Quest Software holds a 12.3% mindshare in CDM, compared to Broadcom’s 13.1% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Quest Software users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.
KACE Systems Management App...
Read 40 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews
  • 5,370 Views
  • 376 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
Symantec Client Management ...
Read 3 Symantec Client Management Suite reviews
  • 716 Views
  • 415 Comparison Views
66% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

Symantec Client Management Suite and KACE Systems Management Appliance compete in systems management, with Symantec offering strong security management and KACE focusing on asset and inventory management. Symantec is favorable for security-focused environments, while KACE is preferred for comprehensive asset management.

Features: Symantec Client Management Suite provides integrated lifecycle management, seamless patch management, and robust software distribution. KACE Systems Management Appliance offers exceptional asset management, precise inventory tracking, and comprehensive endpoint control.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Symantec Client Management Suite is straightforward to deploy, suiting environments with existing infrastructures and offering quicker setup. KACE Systems Management Appliance involves a more detailed setup but benefits from strong customer support, appealing to those needing guidance.

Pricing and ROI: Symantec Client Management Suite has competitive pricing and provides a solid ROI, particularly for integrated security management priorities. KACE Systems Management Appliance may incur higher setup costs but offers strong ROI through its asset management, justifying the investment for environments requiring asset oversight.

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To learn more, read our detailed KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs. Symantec Client Management Suite Report (Updated: August 2026).
Buyer's Guide
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs. Symantec Client Management Suite
August 2026
Download the complete report
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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

KACE Systems Management App...
Ranking in Client Desktop Management
2nd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
40
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Compliance (6th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (11th), Patch Management (10th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (12th)
Symantec Client Management ...
Ranking in Client Desktop Management
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Client Desktop Management category, the mindshare of KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 12.3%, up from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Client Management Suite is 13.1%, down from 21.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Client Desktop Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)12.3%
Symantec Client Management Suite13.1%
Other74.6%
Client Desktop Management
 

Featured Reviews

AdityaJain - PeerSpot reviewer
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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Sathish-Holla - PeerSpot reviewer
Sathish-Holla
IT Consultant at a real estate/law firm with 51-200 employees
Knowledgeable support, easy client management, and straightforward agent installation
Symantec Client Management Suite is used for Microsoft Windows patches and inventory management. The solution can be deployed on-premise and on the cloud Yes it helped to update systems remotely  The most valuable feature of Symantec Client Management Suite is the ease of client management and…
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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

"Every year, the system becomes so much more valuable for us; maybe the quality of our service is much better now, the students at our university can use more software, so the knowledge of students using state-of-the-art software is much better than in the past."
"The service desk can be configured and customized to better serve our environment."
"KACE has made our life much easier since we got off the Microsoft solution. The Microsoft solution was a lot harder to image over different ports and stuff. They would only have this one place where we could do all the imaging. Now, we have a whole building where we can image from. This means that we can image from our storage area, where we have a place to do our imaging. We can also image right at our desks, which is a lot easier."
"It paid for itself within the first month we had it, so the return on investment was incredible."
"I haven't come up against anything that I can't use it as a solution for, whether it's deploying imaging, managing, upgrading, or reporting."
"The help desk is super simple to use and we saw our return on investment a long time ago, just in man hours alone."
"You don't have to be an advanced user. Rather, in terms of ease of use, this product is right where it needs to be."
"The solution has saved us a ton of time in several areas."
More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros
"This is a very strong solution, and the most important thing for us is that it is very easy to use, as well as the availability of it in our support centers."
"The most valuable feature of Symantec Client Management Suite is the ease of client management and agent installation."
"We can track the incidents, we can track the changes, we can track the assets from cradle to grave and give some kind of accounting as they get older."
 

Cons

"There should be a mini toolbox, like the competitors of KACE have, with the small features for KACE administrators."
"The K1000 doesn't communicate well with some clients without SMB."
"The only pain point I have is with their salespeople. They call too often."
"I wish Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) would have a top-down approach since we use orgs; currently, we have to go into each org to deploy applications when we need them all across the university."
"It could be designed a little bit more intuitively in terms of administration."
"The only hiccups we had were some power issues, where the box was a little under-powered early on."
"I think it should have the ability to have the applications automatically update. It would be really helpful if this would override what the user might choose to do."
"There is a Resolve issue whereby some workstations no longer report/check-in after a recent update."
More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) cons
"The technical support has been troubling for me. I would rate them a six out of ten."
"Symantec Client Management Suite can improve by adding more network devices."
"Some parts are working okay, some of the other components aren't. Workflow isn't working properly."
"The technical support is in need of improvement."
"Some parts are working okay, some of the other components aren't. Workflow isn't working properly. Different people accepting changes and being able to close it has some issues. Putting hot fixes and installing it usually breaks the system."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is great. It's billed annually and it's very reasonable."
"The pricing and licensing are good. It's worth it."
"The pricing is fair."
"The pricing and licensing are absolutely fair."
"It was a very attractive price. This is a huge feature of this product. If you would "credit score" this product versus others out there on the market, this one has a very attractive price."
"n terms of pricing and licensing, my advice is that you need to assess what you need and then look at what they offer. It's easy to get caught up in the things that you want, but don't really need."
"There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."
"The product is reasonably priced."
More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice
"The price of the solution is competitive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Construction Company
10%
University
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Government
13%
University
11%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Hospitality Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise20
Large Enterprise16
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

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...
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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...
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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
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Comparisons

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Compared 6% of the time
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Compared 4% of the time
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Compared 34% of the time
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Compared 20% of the time
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More Symantec Client Management Suite Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
July 2026
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reportDownload KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report
Buyer's Guide
Client Desktop Management
July 2026
Symantec Client Management Suite reportDownload Symantec Client Management Suite product report
 

Also Known As

Dell KACE Systems Management
Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite
 

Overview

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

Symantec Client Management Suite provides organizations with comprehensive tools to securely and efficiently manage client devices. This solution is ideal for enterprises seeking robust device management, inventory, and deployment capabilities.

Symantec Client Management Suite simplifies device management through a range of features that address core IT needs. Users benefit from integrated asset management, application deployment, and comprehensive security tools. With centralized control, IT departments can enhance operational efficiency and support compliance requirements. Symantec Client Management Suite is designed for scalability, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises.

What are the key features of Symantec Client Management Suite?
  • Asset Management: Offers detailed visibility into hardware and software assets.
  • Application Deployment: Facilitates easy and effective software installations across devices.
  • Patch Management: Ensures systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
  • Remote Control: Provides IT teams with the ability to troubleshoot devices remotely.
What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?
  • Increased Efficiency: Streamlines repetitive IT tasks for better productivity.
  • Cost Reduction: Lowers overall IT maintenance costs with automated management tools.
  • Improved Security: Enhances device security through frequent updates and patches.
  • Scalability: Adapts to growing IT infrastructure needs without compromising performance.

Industries such as healthcare, finance, and education implement Symantec Client Management Suite due to its reliability and comprehensive security benefits. These sectors prioritize safeguarding sensitive information while maintaining operational efficiency, making Symantec Client Management Suite an ideal choice.

Broadcom
 

Sample Customers

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King
Alghanim Industries, Asia Pacific Telecom Co. Ltd, Barnabas Health, Berry Plastics Corporation, BNY Mellon, Borealis, British American Tobacco Italia S.p.A, Cabela's Inc., Carrington Holding Company, College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), Comparex, Cybercom Plenware Oy, DHL Hub Leipzig GmbH, Dickinson Dees LLP, Farmington Area Public Schools, Fazer Group, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, ForceTEC Co. Ltd., Frucor Beverages Ltd, Hadassah University Hospital, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hutchison Whampoa (China) Commerce Limited, Indian River School District, Johnson County Community College, JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Kier Group plc, Kwizda Holdings GmbH, Lake Health, Lansky Ganzger & Partner, Mobilezone, Molina Healthcare Inc., Nanyang Technological University, NASDAQ OMX Group Inc., Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pima Community College, Regional council of Franche-Comt_, Shanghai Pudong International Container Terminals Co. Ltd., Siemens Professional Education, Symantec Corporation (Endpoint Security 12.1), TIVIT, Travelport, University of Oxford
Buyer's Guide
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs. Symantec Client Management Suite
August 2026
Free Report: KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs. Symantec Client Management Suite
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