ManageEngine Software and Solutions

We primarily use ManageEngine Endpoint Central for patch management. We still have around 300 servers, all of them Windows. The monthly maintenance, as well as the installation of security patches from time to time, is done by Endpoint Central. Whenever there is a security patch, we push it through Endpoint Central or conduct monthly maintenance on every last Saturday of the month.

The GUI of Endpoint Central is very user-friendly, which simplifies the process of training new users. The tabs are clearly visible and intuitive, allowing users to understand their functions without difficulty. 

Additionally, the patch management feature is effective and allows us to see what new patches are available and which machines are affected, making it easy to target specific machines and deploy patches with just a few clicks.

There are times when we have a particular software installed in our system, but we do not receive patches for it from Endpoint Central. The support team mentions that the software may not be updated in their database yet, which requires us to raise a request for their database update. This lack of regular database updates has been an issue. 

Additionally, Endpoint Central does not support Linux, which makes it challenging to patch Linux machines using commands. Support for Linux, such as CentOS or Ubuntu, would be highly beneficial.

I have been using Desktop Central, now Endpoint Central, for five years.

I rate the stability at eight out of ten. We haven't encountered issues very frequently, however, there have been instances where an update created issues, which is common across products.

We are not using any scalable features in Endpoint Central, and there's a predefined configuration with a specific number of endpoints. We haven't faced any scalability issues.

ManageEngine provides good support for their products. I rate the technical support at eight out of ten. The support team is available via chat and will create a ticket if they're not available, providing assistance even for small issues.

Positive

All ManageEngine products are very simple to set up. They do not have a lot of complexity like some other systems such as Nagios. The GUI simplifies the installation and configuration process.

The pricing is average and not very high. ManageEngine products offer reasonable prices for their product quality.

Competitors include Qualys, which is more complex than Endpoint Central, yet offers more functionality. We use both systems, scanning with Qualys and patching with Endpoint Central. Qualys provides data based on international standards, which is reliable.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central could improve by introducing features for cloud resource management, such as scanning and patching for vulnerabilities in Azure subscriptions and other cloud environments. We have moved to the cloud and might not continue using Endpoint Central once we have no endpoints or servers left to manage. 

I rate the overall product as eight out of ten.

I use the solution to validate systems that are not patched and ensure security compliance. I conduct regular checks for patching any outdated endpoints. These are operational use cases that I follow monthly according to my patching process schedule. I keep track of these operations with the solution.

The solution supports patching not only Microsoft products but also non-Microsoft products, which is beneficial for me. It also helps in updating custom applications I use from a point-of-sale perspective. 

The software covers platform security and application security, ensuring everything is updated at the endpoint level. Automated patch deployment is used for all Active Directory servers. I have automated testing for patches by Microsoft and verify the status via email notifications. 

After a week, the automation process is applied to all activated servers to ensure upgrades and patches are implemented.

Patching over the Internet should be improved. If I am traveling, I should have an Internet patching option for control, visibility, and vulnerability management for roaming users. 

Additionally, instead of separate technician licenses for each product, there should be a single bundled license to simplify licensing requirements.

I have been using the solution for almost two years. I am using a unified license for Manager, which includes both patching and security.

The solution is very stable. I have not faced any challenges regarding patching. It operates efficiently without affecting resource flow.

Scalability requires downtime for performance adjustments. While not instant, it's manageable with planned downtime.

Customer service and support are excellent, with a perfect score of ten out of ten. The support team is easily reachable through chat and logs tickets swiftly. They provide quick and effective responses.

Positive

Previously, I used BigFix. Comparatively, ManageEngine offers more features and is more feasible and easy for setup and operation.

The setup is not overly complex, but managing upgrades is challenging. The server setup takes a few hours; however, covering all endpoints during the setup is operationally challenging.

I have observed value in money spent on the solution over these two years. Compared to other products, ManageEngine provides good return on investment within five years.

ManageEngine's licensing model recently changed from being endpoint-based to server-based, which might affect costs during the next renewal. I cannot disclose specific pricing details.

I evaluated BigFix before choosing ManageEngine.

When selecting a solution, review the features you need based on your organizational requirements. Some organizations may only need patching, while others might need vulnerability fixes and security features. A unified license for patching and vulnerability fix with remote support tools is recommended. 

I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.