Microsoft Configuration Manager and Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance are leading solutions in the realm of systems management, competing on features like software deployment and asset management. Microsoft Configuration Manager has the edge in deployment capabilities, while Quest KACE stands out with strong asset management.
Features: Microsoft Configuration Manager offers comprehensive software and application deployment, robust compliance reporting, and efficient mobile management with Intune Integration. Its deployment standardization ensures consistent updates across endpoints. Quest KACE excels in asset management, providing robust inventory control and streamlined system deployments. Its intuitive scripting features benefit environments with limited scripting expertise, facilitating easier mass software deployment.
Room for Improvement: Microsoft Configuration Manager users often critique its resource-heavy nature, requiring significant CPU and memory resources. Enhanced integration with PowerShell and better support for non-Microsoft products are desired, along with improvements in compliance report accuracy. Quest KACE faces limitations with scalability in large deployments and could improve usability by simplifying complex tasks and enhancing patch management.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Microsoft Configuration Manager and Quest KACE support on-premises deployments, with Configuration Manager also offering hybrid cloud options. Quest KACE is praised for fair pricing and proactive support, though complexities may arise in larger deployments. Microsoft provides extensive online resources, but support quality can vary and might require payment for premium support tiers.
Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Configuration Manager generally requires a high initial investment, offering comprehensive enterprise solutions with strong ROI through automation and productivity improvements. In contrast, Quest KACE offers competitive pricing for smaller enterprises, with licenses typically based on the number of endpoints, offering value with no incremental costs as usage scales, especially in multi-department deployments.
Microsoft Intune is a comprehensive cloud-based service that allows you to remotely manage mobile devices and mobile applications without worrying about the security of your organization’s data. Device and app management can be used on company-owned devices as well as personal devices.
In an increasingly mobile workforce, Microsoft Intune keeps your sensitive data safe while on the move. Microsoft Intune makes it possible for your team members to work anywhere using their mobile devices. Microsoft Intune provides both the flexibility and the control needed for securing all your data on the cloud, no matter where the device with the data is located.
Microsoft Intune Device Management Key Features
With Microsoft Intune Device Management you can:
Mobile Application Management
Mobile application management in Intune is designed to protect your organization’s data at the application level.
With Microsoft Intune Application Management you can:
As part of Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite, Intune integrates with Microsoft Entra ID for access control and with Azure Information Protection for data protection. It also integrates with Microsoft 365 Applications.
Reviews from Real Users
Microsoft Intune stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its ability to secure all devices under its management and the flexibility that the solution offers its users.
A computing services manager notes, "Its security is most valuable. It gives us a way to secure devices, not only those that are steady. We do have a few tablets and other devices, and it is a way for us to secure these devices and manage them. We know they're out there and what's their status. We can manage their life cycle and verify that they're updated properly."
The head of IT engineering at a financial services company writes, "The one feature we find most useful is the Mobile Application Manager. There are two types: we have the complete MDM and the Mobile Application Manager (MAM). We don't give our users phones, it is their own personal phone, and we need to allow them to have access to the company details on their phone. We need to create a balance between their own personal data and the company data. We deploy the Mobile Application Manager for them so that we won't be able to interfere with their own personal data."
Microsoft Configuration Manager helps IT manage PCs and servers, keeping software up-to-date, setting configuration and security policies, and monitoring system status while giving employees access to corporate applications on the devices that they choose. When Configuration Manager is integrated with Microsoft Intune, you can manage corporate-connected PCs and Macs along with cloud-based mobile devices running Windows, iOS, and Android, all from a single management console.
New features of Configuration Manager, such as the support of Windows 10 in-place upgrade, co-management with Microsoft Intune, Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise Servicing Dashboard, integration with Windows Update for Business, and more make deploying and managing Windows easier than ever before.
Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is a comprehensive endpoint and service desk management platform. It supports IT operations with functionalities such as ticketing, patch management, software deployment, and asset management.
KACE provides robust automation for managing software distribution and patch tasks. Organizations depend on it for security updates, system compliance, and centralized control over diverse devices. Integration with tools like Bomgar and ServiceNow enhances its remote support capabilities, while its intuitive interface streamlines IT processes, increasing productivity. Managing thousands of endpoints, it supports accreditation compliance and reports on system status and security.
What are the key features of Quest KACE SMA?Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is implemented across industries needing robust IT management solutions such as healthcare for compliance and security, education for asset tracking, and corporate enterprises for efficient IT operations. Its multifunctional nature caters to diverse industry requirements, enhancing communication and data management.
We monitor all Configuration 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.