7MS #279: Patching Solutions Bake-Off - Part 4

Intro

The patching solutions review concludes this week with Ivanti's patch solution, as well as PDQ Deploy/Inventory.

As a quick reminder, here's where our bake-off currently sits:

• Ninite (covered in 7MS #275)
• ManageEngine (covered in 7MS #277)

Quick reminder: none of these solutions are bribing me with fat wads of cash to plug their products. Some day I hope to have such problems, but today is not that day.

Ivanti

You might know Ivanti as Shavlik - that's the product name I'm more familiar with anyways. Back in February, Shavlik became Ivanti.

Pros

• Pretty easy to install and manage - even without a deep background in IT (in today's episode I tell a story that can back this claim based on my experience)

• Does a solid job of applying patching Windows OS and third party

Cons

• Pricing is a little steep - last figures I saw were ~$80 per server, per year and ~$40 per workstation, per year.

• ITScripts library (that allows for GPO-style policy enforcement) is a little slim when compared to similar functionality offered from other solutions

PDQ Deploy/Inventory Pros

• Lets you crazy with building custom packages you can deploy to granular groups

• Awesome online help resources, including a YouTube video library that's got a video for just about everything

• Quick response to support tickets

Cons

• A bit more complicated to get comfortable with than the other solutions

• A little confusing on the Windows patching side - not quite as "point and patch" as some of the other solutions

• Agentless system - machines have to be able to "see" the PDQ