RMM software

[etherealfocus]

I've used LogicNow MaxRemote and Continuum... both get the job done but I'm not super impressed with either. MaxRemote occasionally fails at getting workstations to actually install specified patches, and the remote access is a little clunky (download a Teamviewer file and run it). Also can't seem to get it to install across the domain as a GPO.

Continuum has separate AV and RMM consoles, seems a little pricey, and the support desk is (predictably) in India.

They both have arbitrary server tax as well.

Don't care about endpoint backup; just want RMM, server backup with history, and good AV/AM. Preferably with a clean fully integrated console, smooth GPO installation, and patch management.

I've seen a lot of promising solutions (Teamviewer is pushing ITBrain right now, but at first glance they don't tell you who their AV/AM provider is which makes me a little skeptical) but don't have time to do detailed cost:benefit on them.

Our smallest clients have 3 machines; biggest ones have just over 100.

Pricing is fairly important since we deal with some penny pinchers.

We're running MaxRemote on most clients right now but they just got bought out so it's a good time to re-examine our options.

 

[alexvince]

Since its been almost 6 months, I hope you found the RMM sofware you were looking for. If yes, please share the details and cost involved and your personal thoughts on the same, which would help others with less end points and looking for a best RMM solution and (obviously) with best support.

Do you have any experience with either Kaseya or Labtech? I guess, you do, as these are the top players in the RMM industry. Your thoughts here would be appreciated as well...

We currently use Kaseya RMM Software and pretty happy with it as their support is gathering hands in helping, finally...

 

[joshmathews]

You could use the RMM offered by Comodo which also offers patch management in addition. All these are available in the single dashboard thereby being of a greater benefit.

 

[Kaido]

Don't care about endpoint backup; just want RMM, server backup with history, and good AV/AM. Preferably with a clean fully integrated console, smooth GPO installation, and patch management.

If you want everything integrated, check out SolarWinds N-Able:

http://www.n-able.com/products/n-central

Their N-Central product includes RMM, backup, and A/V. It's fully integrated & meets all of your other requirements as well. Check out their MSP stuff too, pretty nice. Plus they have an onboarding team to help you get started! It used to be really buggy back in the day, but has matured & has gotten really good in the last couple of years to the point where I would recommend it now. Alternatively, you can setup a DIY solution if you want to save money:

1. Remote: VNC (locked down with a strong password, say UltraVNC or TightVNC...Ultra is nice because the eyeball icon changes colors to let users know you're in their system; with TightVNC, you can disable the icon if their management prefers things BTS). Also turn on WOL in their BIOS. Obviously you'll need some kind of VPN or SSH into their system if you're offsite, so something like a Barracuda or Sonicwall SSL VPN (or something like OpenVPN, if they're cheap) would do the trick there. Really nice VNC manager here:

http://www.s-code.com/products/vncmanager/

2. Server Backup: Macrium Reflect is excellent. The new v7 update offers faster incrementals as well. I don't even bother installing a CDP anymore. They also have a central console now:

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/CMC/Central+Management+Console

I typically go with a Synology solution for an on-site NAS. A single 100TB unit with SHR-2 & dual PSU's is under $9k, and you can add extra in failover configurations, automatic backup configs, and so on. You can also do encrypted Macrium backups for offsite/offline backups (USB-powered drives are up to 4TB & A/C-powered USB drives are up to 10TB). Macrium's console also lets you license out desktops for backup, so if someone nukes their desktop with a virus, you can "rewind" by doing an image restore pretty easily. You can get into PXE booting or creating a rescue partition as well, for convenience.

3. AV/AM: 3 items:

(1) Symantec Endpoint is pretty standard in business for A/V.
(2) They also have a really excellent mail filtering service available called "Symantec Email Security.cloud" (yes, with the dot). They handle something crazy like 80% of US-based business correspondence, so mail flagging (spam etc.) works VERY quickly. Short of a customer going to a Gmail-hosted solution, it's the best I've come across.
(3) Malwarebytes has a really great A/M for business & now offers Malwarebytes Management Console Management Server. Plays nice with Symantec (and others).

4. Patching: Check out BatchPatch, you can even use it to replace WSUS:

https://batchpatch.com/

Honestly, I prefer the DIY method, even though it isn't integrated. VPN in & then VNC for screensharing, automatic backups with Macrium, Symantec/Malwarebytes on the desktops & Symantec MX filtering for their email, and BatchPatch for scripted software pushes, OS updates, Java/Flash/Adobe updates, and so on. That provides fast, efficient access & control of remote networks. You can go the extra mile & get IP-KVM's & IP-PDU's for the local servers as well. I like the DIY method because everything is direct, reliable, and easy. No messing with a big install, scripts, relying on the RMM provider for integration updates, etc. But it really depends on the customer & available budget.