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Microsoft Windows Server Update Services vs Vicarius vRx comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
3.2
Windows Server Update Services provides free, efficient patch management, automates updates, centralizes downloads, and reduces crashes and internet usage.
Sentiment score
6.3
Vicarius vRx improves efficiency and ROI by reducing remediation time and personnel resources, boosting client acquisition and profits.
If they have some bundle options to pay less for more, we will get it and use it.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.1
Users criticize Microsoft Windows Server Update Services support for slow responses and inconsistency, preferring online resources or premium support.
Sentiment score
8.0
Vicarius support is praised for its responsiveness, professionalism, and effective communication, ensuring swift resolution of customer inquiries.
Microsoft Update provides one of the worst support experiences among all tech companies that I have experienced.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
When you pay for the support, you are guaranteed resolution, and I don't think anybody else does that.
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
I explain that I am unhappy because it takes too long for a reaction.
System Administrator at Waternet
Their support is very good, and they respond quickly.
Network & Security Manager at a government with 201-500 employees
During the POC and the implementation, they were very available and made their best efforts to help us.
DevOps Tech Lead at Earnix Ltd.
Whenever I've contacted them, they respond promptly with a callback or by email.
Systems Admin at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.2
Windows Server Update Services is scalable and adaptable but may experience performance issues in large, stressed deployments.
Sentiment score
7.9
Vicarius vRx is highly rated for scalability, offering seamless management and deployment across multiple systems and locations.
Though there are options to use Microsoft MS SQL, it does not support more than 3,000 clients.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
It is very simple; you just script it, and then the computers connect themselves.
Information Systems Supervisor at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
When we attempted to scale this and update 200 systems, that just locked it.
Works at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
We have some clients with up to a thousand agents.
Network & Security Manager at a government with 201-500 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
5.3
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is stable and reliable, though minor issues may occur with specific updates or large environments.
Sentiment score
7.4
Vicarius vRx is stable and reliable, with minor initial issues swiftly resolved, leading to high user satisfaction.
When we schedule our updates, it works, and that's it—nothing irregular or different than what was expected.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
There are some issues that they do not even know how to fix at this point.
Works at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
I would rate the stability of Vicarius vRx ten out of ten.
Information Security Manager at Pango
There are some issues like high CPU usage during updates, but these were fixed.
IT Manager & Sys Admin at a non-tech company with 51-200 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Windows Server Update Services requires UI enhancements, better integration, stability improvements, and efficient patch management for smoother operation.
Users seek enhanced network scans, mobile vulnerability management, patchless automation, virtual testing, and improved scripting, filtering, and reporting.
The inventory tool and the entire backend of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is poorly coded. It's not very reliable, so you can tell when dealing with bad code, and it may work one day but may not work another.
IT Manager at Handi Quilter, Inc.
I would like the updates to be less often and more rarely because they have a high impact on our team.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
I am pretty sure that the tool works great when it comes to Windows, but when you are in an environment that has different flavors of Linux at different version levels, that may pose an issue.
Works at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
We have the ability to search across the network for all switches, routers, and printers, but some devices might be outdated and have vulnerabilities.
Network & Security Manager at a government with 201-500 employees
Enhancing Vicarius vRx with improved third-party integrations, like notifications for external systems, and increased cloud integration for richer instance information, would be valuable improvements.
DevOps Tech Lead at Earnix Ltd.
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Windows Server Update Services has no licensing fees but can incur costs from storage, cloud deployment, and enterprise agreements.
Vicarius vRx offers competitive pricing, though smaller education clients find it costly; flexible deals available through account reps.
It's a free service.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
It's free.
Network Architect at a construction company with 51-200 employees
It was very cheap.
Works at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
In the past, Vicarius vRx was cheap, but now they have adjusted their pricing policy, resulting in higher renewal costs.
Network & Security Manager at a government with 201-500 employees
From a pricing perspective, Vicarius was cheaper compared to other competitors.
DevOps Tech Lead at Earnix Ltd.
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Windows Server Update Services offers centralized management, automated updates, and reporting, enhancing efficiency without extra licensing fees.
Vicarius vRx offers virtual patching, severity prioritization, and a cloud platform to efficiently manage and protect against vulnerabilities.
The ease of use and efficient reporting contribute significantly to my overall productivity.
Lead - Technical Services at Impetus
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is the update for Microsoft Windows Server.
Senior Oracle DBA at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
I confirm that they all get downloaded and installed simultaneously, and the new security patches are applied automatically.
System Administrator at Waternet
It's a valuable tool that reduces tension between IT and security teams by providing time to properly install patches.
Information Security Manager at Pango
The system prioritizes vulnerabilities, identifying high, medium, and low risks, allowing us to focus on high-risk applications.
Information Systems Supervisor at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
The most valuable feature is the system's ability to provide information about open CVEs and how it compares the local version with available updates.
IT Manager & Sys Admin at a non-tech company with 51-200 employees
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Windows Server Up...
Ranking in Patch Management
5th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.9
Number of Reviews
53
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Vicarius vRx
Ranking in Patch Management
10th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
22
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (28th), Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (11th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Patch Management category, the mindshare of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is 3.4%, down from 4.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Vicarius vRx is 2.4%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Patch Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services3.4%
Vicarius vRx2.4%
Other94.2%
Patch Management
 

Featured Reviews

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.
OrenBen Shalom - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Manager at Pango
Consolidates vulnerability discovery, prioritization, and remediation in a single platform
Vicarius vRx offers several advantages, especially for organizations with diverse operating systems and applications requiring frequent patching. The platform helps prioritize patch installation by identifying high-risk vulnerabilities, allowing IT teams to focus on critical threats first. This prioritization is crucial because it prevents IT teams from being overwhelmed by the constant influx of patches, enabling them to create a manageable plan and allocate resources effectively. By distinguishing between critical, high-risk, and medium-risk vulnerabilities, Vicarius vRx empowers IT teams to address the most urgent threats promptly and schedule less critical patches for later. Both native operating system updates and Vicarius vRx offer vulnerability remediation. Native OS updates allow for the patching of system vulnerabilities on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, Vicarius vRx provides a single solution for installing both operating system and application updates by also discovering application vulnerabilities. Another valuable feature is virtual patching, which allows us to protect an asset from a specific vulnerability without installing a patch. Sometimes, installing a patch alone is insufficient and requires restarting the asset. However, production servers often cannot be restarted during the day, restricting restarts to specific timeslots. Virtual patching creates a network-based protection layer that prevents exploitation of a vulnerability, offering a temporary safeguard. While not a foolproof solution for long-term use, it's a valuable tool that reduces tension between IT and security teams by providing time to properly install patches.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
9%
Construction Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Non Profit
12%
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Comms Service Provider
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise24
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business11
Midsize Enterprise8
Large Enterprise3
 

Questions from the Community

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.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Vicarius vRx?
My experience with the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Vicarius vRx is that this is very good and the best on the market.
What needs improvement with Vicarius vRx?
There are improvements needed for Vicarius vRx that I have not mentioned yet, specifically the reports need to be improved.
What is your primary use case for Vicarius vRx?
I started using Vicarius vRx primarily for vulnerability remediation and automations. My main use case for Vicarius vRx is application update and vulnerability fix. I use Vicarius vRx for vulnerabi...
 

Also Known As

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

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Windows Server Update Services vs. Vicarius vRx and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.