Devices becoming non-functional or facing issues and attending to them and solving them at the earliest are routine tasks for an IT admin. However, the absence of an efficient mechanism to monitor and manage these endpoints can make their job tedious. Well, that used to be the case before this new entrant came to the scene. Yes, they are the RMM tools. Here we will have a look at the top 10 RMM solutions that can help you proactively manage your end user’s devices.
RMM tools are common elements of an IT admin’s toolkit. These tools help them get real-time data on the devices that are part of their network. Not just that, you can follow a proactive than a break-fix approach with these tools in place as you will be notified of all the chances of possible device issues even before they appear at the user end.
Essential features of RMM tools
Some of the essential features of RMM tools include:
- Software update and patch management
- Monitoring and management of endpoints
- Remote access and control
- Alerting admins of critical issues proactively
- Reporting feature which is customizable
- Automatic discovery and inventory of all devices on the network
Benefits of RMM tools
RMM tools offer a lot of benefits for organizations.
Some of these include:
- Minimized downtime by monitoring and fixing problems as and when they appear
- Improved security by keeping a check on all possible sources of vulnerabilities.
- Reduced maintenance often follows a proactive than a reactive approach.
- Increased productivity due to reduced device issues and time spent by the user for rectifying these.
- Limits user access by providing users access to only those functionalities that they require.
- Admins can manage and troubleshoot device issues from wherever location they want and even outside work hours.
Top 10 RMM solutions of 2021
Given below is a list of the top 10 RMM tools that makes remote management and monitoring easier.
1. Hexnode UEM
Hexnode UEM is a unified endpoint management solution from the San Francisco-based IT company Mitsogo Inc. It has bagged much recognition, including being named the Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for UEM tools. Further, it has also been recognized as the key innovator in the MarketsandMarkets global forecast (2018 – 2023) report for the MDM market, in addition to being recognized as the high performer and momentum leader of fall 2019 by G2. Hexnode was also recently cited by Gartner’s ‘Midmarket Context: Magic Quadrant for Unified Endpoint Management‘.
Monitor and manage your enterprise devices with Hexnode UEMHexnode also supports key RMM functionalities like remote access tools, compliance checks and configuring and pushing software updates along with report generation. Additionally, you can also extend your management capabilities to include wider aspects ranging from user enrollment and security management to advanced functionalities like kiosk and expense management, all under a single pane at an affordable price range.
Key features
- Compliance checks
- Report generations
- Remote access tools
- Hexnode messenger
- File and application management
- Wi-Fi, VPN configuration
- Lost mode and wipe device actions
- Password policies
- OS update scheduling
Pricing: It starts at $1/ device
Some areas that needs improvement
- Automated monitoring and fixing of issues aren’t supported yet
2. NinjaRMM
NinjaRMM, founded in 2013, is a powerful tool helping MSPs and IT professionals simplify the complicated management process with the help of an intuitive and user-friendly RMM. It serves the purpose of an integrated RMM solution by bringing the necessary capabilities like remote monitoring and management, patching, network management and IT asset monitoring under a single roof. It offers a lot of integrations allowing you to use a wide range of features offered by tried and tested industry experts. Its key aspect is its one-touch remote access feature that allows you to control your user screen almost momentarily.
Key features
- Multi-platform endpoint management
- Powerful patch management
- Easy IT automation
- Robust monitoring and alerting
- Fast, secure remote access
- Robust endpoint management
- Integrated cloud backup
Pricing: It starts from $3 per month
Some areas that need improvement
- Need changes to make UI easier
- Absence of support for iPads
- Lack of inbuilt scripting and a small script database
3. Atera
Atera is an all-in-one RMM suite for MSPs and IT professionals, including everything you need in one place, including PSA, remote access, patch management, IT automation and alerts, helpdesk, ticketing and reports. It best suits MSP’s and mid-size to large companies. It offers a really intuitive dashboard that helps you find all your device issues in one go. One of their key highlights is their pricing feature offering unlimited devices for a fixed monthly cost and charging per technician rather than per endpoint. Further, its clean and intuitive-to-use web interface allows you to perform all your tasks from a single place.
Key features
- Remote monitoring and management
- Remote access and support
- Professional services automation
Pricing: It starts at $79/ technician/month
Some areas that need improvement
- Lacks support for Mac and Linux clients
- Customization and the initial setup process being time-consuming can make things complicated
- A better console with more filtering options can make things easier
4. Auvik
Auvik offers a fast cloud-based network monitoring and management solution that is powerful and provides secure remote access to network devices providing giving you complete network visibility and control. It has a traffic insight screen that is really intuitive. With their network scans, an updated database of active systems can be maintained with helpful information like switchport locations, VLANs and software versions, among others. Its network configuration map is very useful in helping you locate where devices are located within the environment, along with giving you an easy view of your network with a smooth and easy-to-navigate interface.
Key features
- Automated network management
- Automated backup and recovery
- Intelligent network traffic analysis
- Powerful workflow creation with Auvik APIs
Some areas that need improvement
- Alerting needs more customizations for finetuning it
- Features can seem a bit minimal considering the high pricing and lesser platforms supported
- Detailed information on workstations and hardware details can make things easier
5. Domotz
Domotz offers a powerful network monitoring software for MSPs, System Integrators, IT and security professionals. With integrated features such as network configuration management, versioning and backup, network topology map, integrations with PSA, documentation and ticketing systems, it meets most of your requirements. With easier visualization of devices that are online and offline, it offers better transparency of interfaces, cloud solutions and speed of operation. It’s easier to integrate with ticketing systems and other wireless controllers giving you greater flexibility. Another notable aspect is its per-site plan rather than per endpoint, making it a way more affordable option.
Key features
- Network monitoring
- Remote management and troubleshooting
- Administration
- Easy access
- Developer friendly
Pricing: It starts at £19/month
Some areas that need improvement
- The technical terms used by Domotz can be a bit tricky
- Additional customizations are needed for report generation for improved effectiveness
- The VLAN support and deployment can seem a bit complicated
6. LogMeIn Central
LogMeIn Central is a cloud-based remote monitoring and management solution that helps IT professionals effectively manage and secure their endpoints. It helps you manage all your endpoints, both of your remote employees or even the ones scattered across the globe. It offers a lot of benefits. It has good adaptability to internet speeds and lets you manage the endpoints you need to control without many delays. Another notable aspect is the ease with which it allows account administrators to add and revoke access to a computer for a specific user making it easier for large teams with external contractors.
Key features
- Remote access
- IT control and automation
- Custom modules
- Support for remote kiosk, digital signage and POS systems
Pricing: Its basic plan offers $954.99/ year for 25 computers
Some areas that need improvement
- A complicated UI requiring a steep learning curve
- Pricing can seem a bit high as you need to pay for a minimum of 25 workstations
- The support for Mac devices can be a bit disappointing
7. PRTG Network Monitor
PRTG Network Monitor is an agentless network monitoring software from Paessler AG. It is software with sensors acting as the monitoring elements whereby each of these sensors monitors different aspects of your infrastructure. This easy to ‘setup and configure’ software can be installed to monitor any device that you have, such as UPS, servers, ISP, and even air conditioners. It allows you to automatically scan and add devices to monitor or even pick the device aspects you want to monitor. Some of the other notable features include a customizable map feature that allows you to choose monitoring stat displays and set them up on a rotating display, especially when your organization manages a large number of devices.
Key features
- Flexible alerting
- Multiple user interfaces
- Cluster failover solution
- Maps and dashboards
- Distributed monitoring
- In-depth reporting
Pricing: It ranges from $1750- $15500/ year for a number of devices ranging from 50 to 1000, respectively
Some areas that need improvement
- Lack of support for Mac and Linux clients
- A simpler user-friendly dashboard
- Documentation needs further improvements
8. ManageEngine Desktop Central
Desktop Central is ManageEngine’s UEM and security software addressing the requirements of IT administrators. It helps in patch management, software deployment, mobile device management, OS deployment and remote control to troubleshoot devices. It further helps you leverage your security functionalities with additions like vulnerability assessment, application control etc. It combines desktop management (with support for Windows, Mac and Linux) with mobile device management (including iOS, android and windows devices). With this, you can have administrative control over the entire organizational chart in your company and segment it and better manage your endpoints
Key features
- Patch deployment
- Remote desktop sharing
- Software deployment
- IT asset management
- Mobile device management
- Endpoint security
Pricing: It offers a free edition for up to 25 computers and 25 mobile devices (fully functional) and has a variety of higher plans like professional, enterprise and UEM editions with subscription prices ranging from $795 to $1095
Some areas that need improvement
- A more intuitive user interface
- Inconsistency arising between modules
- Occasional bugs making certain modules unreliable
9. N-able RMM
N-able is an IT suite that includes N-central, RMM and backup tools. It offers a full-featured stack of integrated monitoring, management, security and ticketing tools. With N-able RMM, you can onboard in record time, easily identify and remediate issues before they begin affecting you and thus helps you manage complex networks more accurately. Basically, it’s a suite of tools in a single installable file which also helps you add features you need on the go. Its easy UI allowing you to see system status and identify alerts easily, along with a provision to see all network computers in a single location simplifying remote connections and inventory reports are some of its key benefits.
With its easy UI you are directly given insights on the system stats and helps you identify alerts without a delay. The provision to view all the network computers in a single location is yet another benefit simplifying the management of remote connections and inventory reports.
Key features
- Automated monitoring templates and scripting
- Patch management
- Remote monitoring and access
- Network device monitoring and discovery
- Data-driven insights and reporting
Pricing: Quote based
Some areas that need improvement
- Patch management feature needs attention
- Reporting needs improvements to best meet the purposes
- A bit complicated with a high learning curve
10. ConnectWise Automate
ConnectWise is a platform that offers a wide variety of services from business management, unified management to cybersecurity and other expert services like a helpdesk. ConnectWise Automate is its RMM solution. It offers native patch management along with out-of-the-box scripts, around-the-clock monitoring, automation capabilities and automatic asset discovery. Some of its features like remote connectivity, accessing CMD without controlling the user’s screen and scripts makes it more than just a remote PC viewing tool.
Some of the other key aspects like remote patching and a variety of integrations act as upgrades to the existing functionalities. Further, with alert customizations you are given a granular control over various aspects related to alerts.
Key features
- Asset discovery
- Endpoint management
- Patch management
- Remote monitoring
- IT automation
Pricing: Quote based
Some areas that need improvement
- Rich in features but has a high learning curve
- Reporting needs further improvements to serve advanced needs
- A support team that’s more responsive
