ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs Microsoft 365 Business comparison

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution offered by ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation. It is designed to help organizations efficiently manage and secure their endpoints from a centralized platform. Endpoint Central provides a comprehensive set of features and capabilities to streamline endpoint management and enhance security across diverse devices and operating systems.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central Features:

• Device Management: Endpoint Central enables IT administrators to manage a wide range of endpoints, including desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and IoT devices. It offers features such as device discovery, inventory management, configuration management, and software deployment, allowing administrators to efficiently control and monitor devices from a single console.

• Patch Management: The solution helps organizations keep their endpoints up to date and protected by automating the patching process. Endpoint Central provides patch management capabilities to deploy security updates and patches to endpoints, ensuring they are patched against vulnerabilities and reducing the risk of security breaches.

• Security and Compliance: Endpoint Central focuses on strengthening security measures for endpoints. It offers features such as antivirus and anti-malware protection, firewall management, encryption, and data loss prevention (DLP). These capabilities help organizations safeguard their sensitive data and adhere to industry regulations and compliance standards.

• Remote Control and Troubleshooting: With remote control capabilities, Endpoint Central allows IT administrators to access and control endpoints remotely, facilitating troubleshooting and issue resolution. It enables administrators to remotely troubleshoot software or hardware problems, install applications, and provide technical support to end-users, improving efficiency and minimizing downtime

• Reporting and Analytics: Endpoint Central provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, offering insights into endpoint performance, security status, software usage, and compliance levels. These features help organizations assess the health and security of their endpoints, identify potential risks or issues, and make data-driven decisions for improved endpoint management.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central Benefits:

• Centralized endpoint management for diverse devices.
• Improved operational efficiency through automation.
• Enhanced security with antivirus, firewall, encryption, and data loss prevention.
• Automated patch management for timely updates and security.
• Remote control and troubleshooting for efficient issue resolution.
• Comprehensive reporting and analytics for insights and informed decision-making.
• Scalability and flexibility to accommodate organizational growth.
• Cost-effectiveness by reducing manual management efforts and security risks.

Reviews from Real Users

PeerSpot user, Sr Engineer Administrator at a university, says that "Its cross-platform capabilities and the ability to do both OS-level patching and third-party patching are valuable. It is difficult to find a software product that will do all that for you out of the box, and you don't have to do any configuration other than your initial setup. Once you do that, there is a very minimalistic approach to getting it operational. You can have it up and running within a 20-minute time span."

Park Armstrong, Chief Technical and Solution Architect at Vertigo Inc., writes that ManageEngine Endpoint Central is “Helpful for identifying and filling the gaps and meeting compliance needs, but each of their product works as an independent product and lacks integration”.

Microsoft 365 Business is an essential tool for organizations focusing on emails, document management, and collaboration, leveraging its cloud-based applications for daily office tasks and remote work.

Organizations utilize Microsoft 365 Business to enhance productivity and ensure secure document sharing, integrating it with tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint. It's widely used for business intelligence, mobile device management, and remote document access. Many businesses migrate to Microsoft 365 Business for better connectivity and efficiency, appreciating its seamless tool integration, which aids in financial functions and team collaboration. Users value its high productivity, extensive collaboration via Teams, and cost-effective subscription plans, despite areas needing improvement, such as admin panels, security integration, and user experience.

• High productivity without custom tools
• Seamless integration across devices
• Extensive collaboration via Teams, file sharing, and video conferencing
• Offline access
• Ease of use and simplicity in adding licenses
• Security and cost-effectiveness of subscription plans
• Auto-updating software
• SharePoint, Power BI, OneDrive, Outlook integration
• Unified cloud storage

• Enhanced productivity and collaboration
• Cost savings with subscription plans
• Increased mobility and remote access
• Improved document security and sharing
• Seamless integration with business applications
• Efficiency in business intelligence and mobile device management

In specific industries like finance and remote work-centric sectors, Microsoft 365 Business is implemented extensively for its robust document management, financial functions, and exceptional team collaboration capabilities. Its unified cloud storage and mobile access ensure teams stay connected and productive, regardless of location.