The aim of an endpoint management tool is to provide visibility into your entire network, streamline maintenance of assets, reduce redundant technology spread across the network, patch the machines, comfortably use the software while still having it easy on the pocket. With robust capabilities and usability, ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an unified endpoint management tool that simplifies and automates the process of managing and securing your network, all from a single console. It offers visibility, control, and security from the comfort of your desk, along with seamless integrations among products that serve different operational needs.
If you have been looking for an SCCM alternative, this is where your search ends! Introducing Endpoint Central.
Endpoint Central provides ease of access, easy setup and maintenance process. It can be up and running in a day or two for SMEs and maximum a week for large environments. Whereas SCCM setup and implementation is complicated, requires additional product training and may take more than a year to truly learn the ins and outs of SCCM.
Endpoint Central has zero learning curve and to top it off, it provides numerous free training videos and courses, so you can get the most out of all the features it has to offer. Anybody with minimal technical knowledge can get the software up and running, which serves helpful for SMEs who cannot afford dedicated sysadmins for managing endpoints. In case of SCCM, its learning curve is very steep and enterprises often end up breaking their banks for various training programs or for a system administrators particularly working on this software.
Endpoint Central supports patching over 850+ applications - including Windows, Mac, Linux, and third party apps to keep your network safe. Also, it takes less than five minutes to set up and activate an automated patching for Windows, Mac, Linux, and third-party patches, all without any cumbersome configuration. SCCM provides very limited third-party patching and doesn't support automation for third-party patching, which doesn't bode well for your network's security. Also, you need to install IIS, WSUS, and WUA, and configure a software update point along with a dozen other settings.
Endpoint Central's web-based GUI console can be accessed from anywhere within the network without any prior installation, giving users the flexibility and convenience they need for effortless endpoint management. But SCCM's console can be accessed only from the computer on which it's installed and updated making it a hassle for administrators.
Endpoint Central is designed to manage a highly heterogeneous OS ecosystems like Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows phone OS, tvOS and Chrome OS across endpoints like desktops, smartphones, tablets, servers, point-of-sale devices, virtual machines, thin clients, IoT, wearables, kiosks and other network components. Whereas SCCM does not support Linux and Unix version 1802 and below. SCCM has also restricted its MDM support to Windows 10 devices only. The inability to manage all devices alike can be daunting for an administrator.
Endpoint Central provides over 200 built-in, out-of-the-box reports that can easily be exported in XLSX or CSV format and shared via email.This way administrators will be able to share the reports with higher executives who do not have Endpoint Central license. However, in SCCM, users need a thorough understanding of SQL database administration. And even with all this SQL knowledge, there's still a lot of manual effort involved in creating reports.
We understand that administrators may not always be available at their desk. But administrative tasks wait for none. To enable admins to be an admin even when away from their systems, Endpoint Central has a feature-rich mobile app that allows you to manage your endpoints anywhere, anytime. Perform activities like installing agents on new computers, retiring computers from the network, deploying patches, adding software licenses, viewing compliance reports, and much more all from your mobile phone. To top it off, we also have a virtual assistant that enables you to manage devices hands free. SCCM does not provide any mobile app and deprives their users the liberty of true mobility.
Endpoint Central comes with a default database (PGSQL) and maintenance is handled by Endpoint Central team. SCCM requires SQL Server as a mandatory database, the maintenance of which falls on its IT administrators solely.
Endpoint Central provides granular control in its reboot policy that enables users to delay the reboot for as many days as required, after which the reboot is forced. This feature is provided keeping in mind the user experience. However, in SCCM, there is no option to allow users to delay a reboot post-installation (or post-upgrade) beyond 24 hours. After 24 hours, a reboot is forced, which can cause users a lot of inconvenience.
In Endpoint Central, you can set up condition checks and deploy configurations (or install/uninstall applications) based on whether the condition is met before uninstalling the application in question. After uninstallation, you can deploy follow-up configurations to ensure that the application is ready to use. There's no way to set up a condition check before uninstalling applications in SCCM. For example, if you're moving from Chrome to Mozilla Firefox, there's no way to verify if Mozilla Firefox already exists on the computer (and install it if it doesn't) before uninstalling Chrome.
In Endpoint Central, you can use the same package to both install and uninstall an application, complete with pre and post-deployment activities for both, making the job as efficient as it can be. In SCCM, there's no option to both install and uninstall an application using the same package. To uninstall an application, you need to create a separate package with the uninstall command line instead of the install command line, which is redundant and requires a lot of effort and time - something that is expensive for an administrator.
In Endpoint Central, not only can you prohibit software, but you can also block the execution of EXE files from an external drive in just a few easy clicks. But there's no easy way to prohibit software using SCCM.
Endpoint Central is an affordable endpoint management tool providing the most value for your time, effort, and money. Endpoint Central has your budget concerns covered, with a fully-functional free edition for businesses managing up to 50 devices. Whereas SCCM continues to be one of the most expensive endpoint management tools in the market.
With powerful security add on like Vulnerability Manager Plus, Browser Security Plus, Application Control Plus, and Device Control Plus for overall endpoint protection, Endpoint Central unifies endpoint management with endpoint security like none other. Security capabilities like DLP, anti-ransomware, compliance with HIPAA, PCI, PCI DSS, FISM, CIS, etc helps you stay secure while being compliant to government standards. Whereas in SCCM, there are no such security add on to fortify your network.
Endpoint Central allows remote device enrollment in which the IT administrator can create enrollment invites using MDM (E-mail/QR Code/SMS), which can be sent to the device users who can then enroll the devices. SCCM does not support SMS enrollment.
When the primary server fails, Endpoint Central offers the liberty of a failover server which acts as a standby server to carry on the duty without any interruption to the productivity of users. The concept of failover server is not included in SCCM.
USB flash drives and other portable USB devices are a major causes of security concern in a corporate network like data loss, data theft, compliance violation, etc. Endpoint Central helps administrators limit the scope of USB device use based on the roles and departments of the employee or based on the device. Restrictions can be applied not only at the computer and user level, but to manufacturer type as well. However, SCCM provides no straight forward way to block USB devices. SCCM users have to resort to complex scripts to secure, control and monitor USB and peripheral ports.