We performed a comparison between Bigfix and Microsoft Windows Server Update Services based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Comparison Results: BigFix wins out in this comparison. The main difference between the two solutions is that Microsoft Windows Server Update Services users say deployment is complicated and that the product could benefit from better reporting.
"The most valuable features of the solution are Windows patching and the hardware and software inventory."
"Desktop patching is the most valuable feature, because with servers, we have complete control over them, and we can simply push patches to the servers."
"It's good for reporting hardware and software."
"Prior to BigFix we used Altiris, which was distributed. We had to manage multiple servers, and duplicate the tasks that we did on each server. BigFix tremendously reduced the amount of work that we had to do on each server in a centralized manner. We could minimize the work that we had to do, and we had a lot more control over the tasks and what machines they ran on."
"It is user-friendly."
"We rely on BigFix as part of our consulting engagements. It's more efficient from a visibility and discovery standpoint on the initial phase, the consulting engagement. It also increases our efficiencies on the remediation phase of our engagements."
"BigFix has drastically reduced the maintenance window period to patch and reboot servers."
"The architecture for patching and the 100% correct reporting makes BigFix stand apart from other solutions."
"The reporting capabilities that help maintain compliance and security are good."
"The interface is easy to use."
"Once we configure it and it keeps updating the patches, all I need to do is filter out which patches are required or not."
"Instead of leaving each server to download their own updates, with WSUS you have a centralized management tool for all the updates alongside a log for all the servers. By creating and deploying a WSUS server that will download the updates from the internet and dispatch them to the other servers, you can have control over the entire deployment process."
"A valuable feature about this solution is that it enforces an updating and patching process for my applications."
"The solution gives authentic updates."
"Provides the ability to create multiple downstream servers."
"It's a scalable product."
"I would like better support on the backend."
"The new EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) feature, Detect, is new and still needs a few updates."
"In-place and OS upgrades can be improved."
"It could use better integration with Hypervisor products like VMware."
"In order to derive maximum benefit from BigFix, it is essential that we configure all of its features and implement them effectively. If the automation could be improved we would be able to mitigate the risks associated with zero-day threats."
"The relevant language takes a little getting used to since it's not used anywhere else in the industry. It's just in the BigFix environment."
"BigFix can improve the way machines report back to the console. In the external relay management environment, it has become more of a hybrid environment with most of the machines not being on-site. The need of having public-facing reporting items interconnected is becoming more and more crucial. In general, the reporting could use some enhancement."
"The product should become cloud-based. Also, the peer nesting ability of the product is a little backward."
"The platform’s dashboard and reporting features need enhancement."
"User interface is outdated and not user-friendly."
"Microsoft Windows Server Update Services must include functions for providing updates about inventory."
"The old backup files created by this solution use up a lot of storage, and this needs to be improved."
"It would be good if it could deploy third-party patches or applications."
"More integration with different platforms would be an improvement."
"A few bugs need to be figured out for the security side."
"The product must improve its support."
More Microsoft Windows Server Update Services Pricing and Cost Advice →
BigFix is ranked 2nd in Patch Management with 91 reviews while Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is ranked 3rd in Patch Management with 38 reviews. BigFix is rated 8.6, while Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of BigFix writes "Very stable and easy to deploy with excellent patch compliance". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft Windows Server Update Services writes "Lets us manage all our organization's updates from a single management console". BigFix is most compared with Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Tanium and ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, whereas Microsoft Windows Server Update Services is most compared with ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, Quest KACE Systems Management, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Ivanti Neurons Patch for Intune and GFI LanGuard. See our BigFix vs. Microsoft Windows Server Update Services report.
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We monitor all Patch Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.