GFI LanGuard vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

GFI and Quest Software are both solutions in the Patch Management category. GFI is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.0, while Quest Software is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0. GFI holds a 3.0% mindshare in PM, compared to Quest Software’s 5.5% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of GFI users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

GFI LanGuard

Read 10 GFI LanGuard reviews

1,333 Views
623 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

Quest KACE Systems Manageme...

Read 39 Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews

1,826 Views
1,147 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

GFI LanGuard

Quest KACE Systems Manageme...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 27, 2024

GFI LanGuard and Quest KACE SMA are both leaders in the field of endpoint management. Quest KACE SMA appears to have the upper hand in comprehensive endpoint management features.

Features: GFI LanGuard offers efficient vulnerability assessment, patch management, and insightful application management on endpoints. Quest KACE SMA provides a cohesive interface for mass deployment, integration, and endpoint management, with extensive deployment automation features, comprehensive patch management, and asset tracking.

Room for Improvement: Quest KACE SMA can improve by enhancing scalability and user-friendliness for technical tasks such as scripting and deployment. There are also suggestions for better integration and enhanced patch management and reporting features. GFI LanGuard seeks cloud support, improved integration for managing remote workstations, and enhanced asset tracking.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Quest KACE offers both on-premises and cloud deployment options, with customer service known for responsiveness and expertise. GFI LanGuard mainly supports on-premises deployment and is recognized for strong technical support and effective customer interactions.

Pricing and ROI: Quest KACE SMA provides flexible per-device pricing, delivering strong ROI through improved IT productivity despite being more expensive. GFI LanGuard is competitively priced, appealing to cost-conscious users seeking robust patch management and vulnerability assessment. Both solutions are cost-efficient, with pricing reflecting feature sets and target audiences.

To learn more, read our detailed GFI LanGuard vs. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GFI LanGuard vs. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

January 2025

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Helped 839,422 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

GFI LanGuard

Ranking in Patch Management

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Quest KACE Systems Manageme...

Ranking in Patch Management

10th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Client Desktop Management (5th), Endpoint Compliance (7th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (13th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Patch Management category, the mindshare of GFI LanGuard is 3.0%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is 5.5%, down from 6.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Patch Management

Featured Reviews

Ted Mbugua

Security Manager at CRAG

Scalable, light on resources, and useful visibility

The most valuable features of GFI LanGuard are the vulnerability assessment, it provides us with substantial insight into what applications are running on the endpoint systems and what vulnerabilities are there in the running applications. The second would be the assets tracking. I'm able to see in the network whether my endpoint server is operating and if all the other IT equipment is running in the environment. Additionally, GFI LanGuard is not heavy on system resources. It gives a competitive advantage over others.

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Scott Tweed

Windows Engineer at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Low maintenance, reliable, and easy to create packages

I like how when you click on the device, it shows you everything that has changed as well as the software versioning. I am really enjoying the inventory aspect of it. The deployment process for both deploying and creating a package is straightforward. I believe the inventory in KACE is superior to SCCM's. I know with SCCM I could do things like remote console into machines via the agent's remote console, but that is not a feature that is provided in KACE. I know that at least in the Systems Management Appliance, I can't get to it. I'm not sure how distribution works, with distribution points. I'm not sure if KACE has that feature. You could use an SCCM to set up distribution points at remote sites so that they don't have to download patches or software from across the country. If you have a DP or something similar, they could pull it down.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is that I am able to patch third-party solutions."

"The solution is easy to use and integrates well with other operating systems."

"The most valuable features in GFI LanGuard are patch management and vulnerability assessment."

"The most valuable feature of GFI LanGuard is its email spam feature."

"The initial setup was easy."

"This product is a great solution at a great price as long as it is only going to be used for a local area network."

"It is helpful to patch and scan vulnerabilities."

"The most valuable features of GFI LanGuard are the vulnerability assessment, it provides us with substantial insight into what applications are running on the endpoint systems and what vulnerabilities are there in the running applications. The second would be the assets tracking. I'm able to see in the network whether my endpoint server is operating and if all the other IT equipment is running in the environment. Additionally, GFI LanGuard is not heavy on system resources. It gives a competitive advantage over others."

More GFI LanGuard pros

"There is ease of use, and its pricing was a driving factor."

"The service desk can be configured and customized to better serve our environment."

"KACE’s knowledge-based articles are very good."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to have an overview of all devices that are accessing our environment."

"We use the Systems Deployment appliance. It's our bread and butter. It is every machine that gets imaged here in this building and out through the whole state goes through the SDA. We rely on it completely. There is no manual process of getting a laptop out of a box, plugging it up, turning it on, and waiting for Windows to start. If you were to go to Best Buy and buy a brand new laptop, you spend the next two to three hours just setting it up. We don't do that. We get a laptop, plug it into the network, connect it to the SDA, and within about three clicks, we're done."

"I like how when you click on the device, it shows you everything that has changed as well as the software versioning. I am really enjoying the inventory aspect of it."

"The scripting part increases IT productivity because of the specialized software in our environments for students' courses. You need to use software which is not programmed by developers. A lot of software for building houses or other things is developed by normal guys, who do not have much skill in programming. When you need to install this type of software, it is very difficult. You have to install registry keys, etc. For that, it is very good to use the scripting part of this solution. So, you can automate this part as well."

"With KACE, we were able to have a simplification of the software deployment management with more granularity and flexibility."

More Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros

Cons

"GFI LanGuard has some technical limitations with machines."

"If GFI LanGuard had a cloud version it would be better for people that are working from home."

"GFI LanGuard could improve the rollback feature. If we have installed the wrong we have had some issues with the rollback function. Additionally, more input from GFI LanGuard for the custom software push install."

"This solution is limited to the local area network only and cannot manage remote devices."

"GFI LanGuard can improve by adding asset tracking."

"GFI LanGuard can improve by adding more modules, such as asset control or asset inventory."

"The only drawback with GFI LanGuard is that you cannot directly integrate it from the Outlook email; instead, you have to first log in to the site to make changes."

"The documentation on how to use this solution in a Linux environment is not clear, which is something that should be improved because it is complicated."

More GFI LanGuard cons

"The only pain point I have is with their salespeople. They call too often. They're too aggressive in trying to upsell. We know what we need, and we know if we want to expand. I don't mind quarterly calls from them, but sometimes, it is weekly. They need to get their sales team under control. The main goal of their support people and professional services is to make sure they deliver the service, and they deliver it well, whereas their salespeople are so interested in making a sale that they're wasting my time."

"I've had some issues with patch catalogue."

"Its dashboard needs improvement. Currently, there is no way to modify the dashboard. There should be more flexibility so that we can create views according to our use case."

"The initial setup was complex. It is a Linux-based virtual server, where the customer cannot get into the back-end, so you can only follow their prompts. Then, there are specific things that have to be done in their implementation and upgrade phases that have to be done in a certain order or steps. If you don't get those steps right, the system doesn't work. I think that either simplifying that process or providing really good step-by-step documentation would be helpful."

"There may be a good reason why some things are not easily able to be done, yet it needs work to compete with some of the other ticketing systems out there now."

"There isn't a lot they need to improve with the solution itself at this point. It is pretty close to providing a single pane of glass for everything that we need for endpoint management specifically on all devices. There is very little that it doesn't provide for us, and for those, we have to go to other methods. There are some of the patching solutions that it doesn't take care of for us. So, we have to do those manually on the devices, and that's really the biggest thing. It doesn't do patching really well for non-Microsoft applications. The major application updates, particularly Windows updates, don't function nearly as well, but, for the vast majority of things, it does just fine. If they could improve in this aspect, that'd be great, but I don't know if they're going to be able to do that."

"Imaging becomes a problem when you start to try to go beyond doing more than thirty or forty machines at a time. We initially tried to do that virtually and it just, it wouldn't work."

"KACE implemented the possibility of reducing the network speed of the KACE agent. You can set it so that it takes whatever network speed you want or you can set it to 5 Mb, to save network speed. You set it for all the computers, but it would be preferable to separate between VPN connections in our home office and the local area. It would be great to be able to set separate speeds for different VLANs."

More Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"On a scale of one to five, with one being expensive and five being competitive, I would rate the price as a four."

"GFI LanGuard isn't expensive."

"GFI LanGuard cost approximately $1,000 annually to use the solution."

"GFI LanGuard has very fair pricing compared to other similar solutions out there."

"I rate the pricing of GFI LanGuard a four out of five."

"We are a gold partner and we receive favorable discounts. The price of GFI LanGuard is competitive. When you evaluate other solutions, such as ManageEngine."

"There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"The pricing and licensing are good. It's worth it."

"n terms of pricing and licensing, my advice is that you need to assess what you need and then look at what they offer. It's easy to get caught up in the things that you want, but don't really need."

"We are also saving on the licensing fee, compared to other endpoint management solutions."

"We need it, so we have to pay the price. It is what it is. If you need a gallon of milk, then you have to pay the price for it. You don't want to buy the cheap stuff. You want to buy the stuff that is organic and good for your body, which doesn't have all this other junk in it. You want it clean for your body. Quest has done that for our deployment and management systems."

"Its pricing model is good for what it offers. Nobody here gives me a hard time about renewing the contract every year. It might be a little cost prohibitive for a smaller company who has to stand up a virtual environment as well as have virtual environment licensing and the hardware. If you have a smaller environment, it might be cost prohibitive. If you only have a couple of hundred computers, you might be more willing to do those manually. In our environment, the cost savings of having KACE far outweigh the licensing costs. We are okay with its pricing model."

"Licensing is done on a per device basis, so it's dependent on how many agents you've got installed."

"The pricing is fair."

More Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

Photography Company

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

12%

University

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about GFI LanGuard?

The most valuable feature of GFI LanGuard is its email spam feature.

See all answers

What needs improvement with GFI LanGuard?

The only drawback with GFI LanGuard is that you cannot directly integrate it from the Outlook email; instead, you have to first log in to the site to make changes. Instead of directly white listing...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for GFI LanGuard?

Internally, as a user, I use GFI LanGuard for email and web monitoring.

See all answers

What do you like most about Quest KACE Systems Management?

KACE automatically tracks this information and saves it for me, allowing me to call it up on the dashboard. For example, if I need to find Juliano's computer in the system, I don't need to search t...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Quest KACE Systems Management?

The pricing is in the middle range of the market, not too expensive but not the cheapest either.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Quest KACE Systems Management?

The user interface needs improvement as customers have mentioned they do not like the interface since it is not an SMA-based interface and lacks a manual configuration option.

See all answers

Comparisons

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus vs GFI LanGuard

Compared 37% of the time

Microsoft Windows Server Update Services vs GFI LanGuard

Compared 19% of the time

Ivanti Patch for Endpoint Manager vs GFI LanGuard

Compared 15% of the time

Microsoft Configuration Manager vs GFI LanGuard

Compared 14% of the time

NinjaOne vs GFI LanGuard

Compared 8% of the time

More GFI LanGuard Competitors

Microsoft Configuration Manager vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 32% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 25% of the time

BigFix vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 10% of the time

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Windows Server Update Services vs Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 6% of the time

More Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GFI LanGuard

February 2025

Download GFI LanGuard product report

Buyer's Guide

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

February 2025

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Download Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report

Also Known As

LanGuard

Dell KACE Systems Management

Overview

GFI LanGuard enables complete patch management of security and non-security patches to Microsoft operating systems, Mac OS X, major Linux distributions and third-party applications. It can also automate patching for all major web browsers too.

GFI

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is a comprehensive tool for managing IT endpoints. It facilitates asset management, software distribution, and endpoint tracking while offering remote access capabilities and a centralized help desk.

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is designed for organizations that need efficient endpoint management. It offers a range of features like inventory tracking, automated patch management, and ticketing. By integrating with remote access tools such as Bomgar, Quest KACE helps reduce manual tasks involved in managing software updates and system deployments. Although it faces challenges in scalability and requires improvements in integration and reporting, it remains a versatile choice for asset tracking and endpoint administration.

What are Quest KACE SMA's key features?

Asset Management: Streamline the organization and tracking of physical and virtual assets.
Remote Access: Integrates with Bomgar for secure, remote troubleshooting and management.
Software Distribution: Deploy applications across devices efficiently without physical intervention.
Centralized Endpoint Management: Manage endpoints from a centralized console to ensure compliance and optimization.
Automated Patch Management: Schedule and deploy patches to maintain system security and performance.
Help Desk: Integrated ticketing system for tracking and resolving user issues.
Scripting and Reporting: Enhance administrative tasks through automated scripts and detailed reports.

What benefits should users consider?

Improved Productivity: Reduces manual interference with automated deployments and updates.
Labor Savings: Minimizes labor requirements with efficient remote management tools.
Integrated Reporting: Provides actionable insights through comprehensive reports to optimize IT operation.
User-Friendly Interface: Boosts effectiveness due to its intuitive, easy-to-navigate design.

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is implemented across industries for managing IT assets and endpoints, particularly where remote management and compliance are critical. It's employed in healthcare, education, and government sectors for efficient patch management, inventory control, and software deployment, aiding organizations in managing security accreditations and centralizing help desk operations.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

BayView Medical Clinic, FrugalBrothers Software, Zaw, National Theatre, American Red Cross

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King

Buyer's Guide

GFI LanGuard vs. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

January 2025

Free Report: GFI LanGuard vs. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

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