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System Center Reviews

Vendor: Microsoft
4.3 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1
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What is System Center?

System Center is a management platform providing unified control of Hyper-V servers with integration of cloud and on-premise environments. It facilitates efficient operations, enhancing device management and incident resolution, which aids in reducing support time and costs.

System Center is the #1 ranked solution in top Software Asset Management solutions. PeerSpot users give System Center an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. System Center is most commonly compared to iQuate iQSonar: System Center vs iQuate iQSonar.

Featured System Center reviews

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System Center mindshare

As of May 2026, the mindshare of System Center in the Software Asset Management category stands at 21.4%, down from 36.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Asset Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
System Center21.4%
iQuate iQSonar15.2%
ManageEngine AssetExplorer13.2%
Other50.2%
Software Asset Management
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

System Center offers valuable features like centralized management of Hyper-V servers and remote deployment capabilities. Users find it beneficial for submitting incident reports and receiving quick responses, enhancing remote support and reducing support costs. Organizations appreciate its ease of configuration and the ability to manage all company operations remotely. Additionally, it aids in the efficient handling of patches and deployments, minimizing the need for extensive on-site support staff.
  • "The System Center is a comprehensive solution that can help support the organization."
  • "Compared to the early versions, System Center 2012 is a major breakthrough."
  • "Time is money, so saving on time means you're also saving on costs, especially when looking at how quickly you're able to patch endpoints and servers when it comes to updates, the whole System Center family, if you're able to integrate the whole SCCM functionalities, you're able to harness more."

Room for Improvement

System Center requires better integration with non-Microsoft operating systems and improved functionality in incident management. Enhancements are needed for the Data Processing Manager, backup processes, and update testing. Future versions should offer IoT device management and a user-friendly interface. Security features need strengthening, and a unified database reporting function would be beneficial. Additionally, transitioning to a cloud-based platform is advisable.
  • "Sometimes the updates don't work as they should."
  • "Future versions should integrate more with non Microsoft Operating systems, whether its virtual machines or hypervisors."
  • "The support experience rates at a five; you really struggle to get support, and by the time you're getting support, they have to take you through their collecting logs before they can actually give you the technical assistance."

Pricing

System Center users report that pricing involves a three-year enterprise license with annual payments, which also covers training and support. While some find SCCM costly on a personal level, it is considered reasonable for companies. The pricing of System Center is rated a six out of ten by users, and the licensing fee is paid yearly.
  • "The licensing fee is yearly."
  • "I rate the price System Center a six out of ten."

Popular Use Cases

System Center enables remote support, configuration, and deployment for software updates across numerous sites. It assists with backups via Data Processing Manager and facilitates automated updates. A service desk handles incidents and supports configuration and change management. Teams utilize it for device and application management, integration, deployment, and managing SDDCs. System Center also plays a role in updating clients, remote deployment, purchasing, and installing applications.

Deployment

The initial setup of System Center varies in complexity. Some find it straightforward, completing it in under 10 minutes with simple installation steps. Others consider it more challenging, requiring assistance from Microsoft's support, especially when under a support agreement. Deployment times range from one week involving a team of five to 30 days. Compared to alternatives, System Center's setup can be more complex, but sufficient guidance and support facilitate the process.

Scalability

System Center demonstrates high scalability, supporting thousands of users across different organizations. It is consistently rated highly by users for its ability to accommodate large numbers. Multiple entities have successfully deployed it over the years, confirming its capability to manage varying user loads effectively. Various clients have implemented System Center, handling hundreds to thousands of users efficiently, which highlights its robustness and flexibility in diverse environments.

Stability

System Center is considered stable with most users rating its stability highly, often nine or ten out of ten. However, some users encounter occasional issues, particularly during updates. Updates from Microsoft sometimes cause problems due to insufficient testing. Users suggest having a sandbox environment for thorough testing before applying updates in live environments to ensure proper functionality. Despite this, many express satisfaction with System Center's stability, with no major negative feedback in this area.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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Learn more about System Center

System Center offers robust management capabilities, particularly with Hyper-V and integration with Intune for seamless cloud and on-premise environments. It excels in patching, deployment, and incident management, allowing organizations to efficiently handle device separation, updates, and remote support. While it offers these strong features, improvements can be made in managing non-Microsoft OS integrations, cloud endpoint management like Azure and AWS, simplifying backup processes, and enhancing security. The need for better reporting and an improved user interface, alongside IoT management, is acknowledged, as well as the advantage of transitioning to a cloud-based structure.

What are the main features of System Center?
  • Unified Management: Centralized control of Hyper-V servers.
  • Cloud Integration: Works with Intune for hybrid environments.
  • Efficient Deployment: Streamlines patching and remote deployment.
  • Incident Management: Reduces the need for extensive support staff.
  • Device Management: Handles updates and remote support efficiently.
What benefits and ROI should organizations consider?
  • Cost Reduction: Decreases support time and costs.
  • Enhanced User Satisfaction: Improves device management experiences.
  • Streamlined Operations: Facilitates smooth incident resolution.

System Center is used in industries for managing devices, applications, and servers, emphasizing SSL handling and co-management. It supports remote configuration, software updates, and automated backups. Integrated deployment for software-defined data centers and client updates further supports remote application installations across multiple sites, ensuring effective user support.

System Center customers

PKP Energetyka S.A., Florida Atlantic University, Bank Alfalah Ltd., Dimension Data, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Wªrth Handelsges.m.b.H

Related questions

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Software Asset Management

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System Center Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Security Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees4.0I've used System Center for nearly a decade, and with Intune for co-management, it's great for hybrid environments, especially on-premise. However, cloud management and reporting need improvement. Support could be better, but overall, it’s effective.
Senior backend systems engineer at a mining and metals company with 5,001-10,000 employees4.5I am using System Center for integration and deployment, appreciating its easy management capabilities. However, improvements in integration and a unified database reporting feature are needed. Previously, I used ManageEngine but switched due to existing Microsoft licenses.
Sr. Sys. Server & Storage Egineer / Tech .Consultant at CANAR OFFICE SYSTEMS4.0I use System Center for updating and deploying clients and applications remotely. Its most valuable feature is remote deployment. However, it needs improvements like managing IoT devices, a more user-friendly interface, and transitioning to a cloud-based solution.
IT Manager at GASCO4.5I use System Center for deploying and managing our SDDCs and find it easy to configure. However, I believe the security features could be improved for better protection. The review does not mention ROI or consider other solutions.
Head of ICT Infrastructure and Security at City of Harare4.5I use Microsoft Systems Center for remote support and configuration, finding it cuts costs and time with good ROI. It's stable, but I wish update testing and DPM backups were easier. I rate this comprehensive solution 9/10.
Support at Za irery3.5I use System Center to manage devices and applications across the company, finding its features valuable for comprehensive management. However, my lack of administrator access restricts my ability to identify areas needing improvement.
Senior Manager of Engineering with 1,001-5,000 employees5.0System Center 2012 is a breakthrough, simplifying Hyper-V and Linux server management from one console, crucial for our cloud plans. Installation was easy. More non-Microsoft integration would be great.