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Five Entry-level RMM Solutions Compared

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MSP RMMIn a recent survey we conducted, many computer business owners expressed the desire to position their business as a managed services provider, or MSP.  One of the best ways to get started on this journey is to start offering a remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution to your clients.

RMM is a type of software tool that helps you keep tabs on your customer’s systems remotely on an ongoing basis by monitoring things like system events, disk space and health, software updates and patches, and other important information.

There are a lot of RMM solutions on the market, and it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is right for your business.  Many of these solutions are complex, pricey, and are one small part of a much larger suite of tools that you may not be ready to deploy quite yet.

Luckily, we here at YFNCG have your back!

We reached out to some of our contributors and asked them to talk about some RMMs that they’ve used.  The result are five entry-level RMM systems that can help you get started in the MSP space without breaking the bank.  We present both the pros and cons for each so that you can make a decision which solution is right for YOUR business.

Comodo One RMM Review

by Paco Lebron

comodo-oneComodo One RMM is an interesting RMM because it is 100% free, which may be enticing for those just getting their feet wet in the RMM world. Their Comodo One platform is also fairly new with a release in April 2015 of a series of products ranging from an RMM, Patch management, and ticketing system all integrated in one.

Pricing and Options

As mentioned above Comodo is absolutely free. They do sell their own managed antivirus as well as other premium upgrades and add-ons, but the base product is free.

The really cool thing here if you are supporting Windows workstations/servers you do not need a separate remote support software as Comodo ties into the  Remote Desktop app built-in to Windows. They also have many other paid add-ons such as mobile device management, an anti-spam gateway, and even an integration with Acronis Cloud backup.

I was told there are many more features to come as they try to become a one-stop-shop for MSPs.

Getting setup

The setup was a little challenging at first due to naming conventions and layout. Patch Management is in a completely different section than the RMM tool. I had to spend 90 minutes in training (which they provide you for free) to get acquainted with the tool.

When creating a customer you have the choice of creating separate sites (i.e. Plant A in Michigan and Plant B in Chicago) to help group your client’s locations should they have different roll out policies. Once completed ( You must create one site under the customer information) you can go into the RMM portion of the Comodo One system and create your installer for the PC which allows you to make either RMM installer or RMM + Patch Management. This proves helpful if managing patch management through some other means.

The whole process is quick once you get the hang of it and populates data normally within 30-60 minutes.

Pros

  • Allows for separation of RMM and Patch Management in .exe installer
  • Integrates with Windows’ Remote Desktop program
  • Comes with a free Patch Management and Ticketing system

Cons

  • Challenging to setup out of the box without training
  • Workflow process is a bit difficult (Creating a Customer, then Site, then installer for device)
  • No 3rd party patch management (Adobe Reader, Flash, etc.)
  • No monitoring of 3rd party antivirus or backup systems.

Check out Comodo One

MaxFocus RMM Review

by Eric Metzner

maxfocus-hybridMaxFocus RMM is probably the most widely used RMM tool among MSPs both large and small. It can be a great entry-level platform for those just getting started with managed services and it is able to grow with your needs. With Max you can offer your customers Managed Antivirus, Patch Management, Web filtering, Online Backup, Email protection, remote support, and a whole lot more. Great for managing both home and business users.

Pricing and Options

Pricing is a small monthly fee plus whatever services you actually use per unit. Each service is treated as an add-on.

For example, if you’re only using the Managed Antivirus on 10 computers, you only pay for the Managed Antivirus for those 10 computers.

Getting Setup

It’s not too difficult, but there is a bit of a learning curve. Fortunately the folks at Max are willing to pretty much hold your hand through the process with helpful videos, and even remote training sessions should they be necessary.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Extremely scalable
  • Affordable
  • Large support community

Cons

  • 3rd party Patch Management isn’t perfect
  • So many options it can be a bit overwhelming at first

Checkout MaxFocus RMM

Ninja RMM Review

by Paco Lebron

logoNinjaRMM is the new kid on the block when it comes to available RMMs. A simple interface and easy setup are what set this RMM is apart from the rest. It also includes strong integration with several partners which make this RMM system a real contender in the space.

Pricing and Options

There is no standard pricing for Ninja.  Instead it is negotiated at time of sale. Because they are a relatively new company they can be flexible in their billing depending on your shop’s need.

At the time of this article they currently offer a Remote Monitoring agent, 3rd party Managed Antivirus (Vipre, with others to come) and Windows patch management.  Billing is structured per workstation/per month which includes the monitoring and patch management while the 3rd party managed antivirus is billed separately.

There are a steady flow of options coming soon such as 3rd party patch management and reporting allowing for customization on a policy basis.

Getting Setup

The setup was very easy and straight forward. You are greeted with a homepage to create your customer and first workstation to add to that customer. Once completed, you are able generate an .msi installer to be installed on your client’s workstation. The entire process takes about 20 minutes and feeds directly to your online dashboard.

Pros

  • Easy setup process and clean interface to launch clients
  • Runs silent and low resources on client PCs
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux

Cons

  • Only basic features of an RMM system (at this time)
  • No Customer Facing Reports to provide clients
  • No Mobile Apps at this time

Check out NinjaRMM

Syspectr Review

by Kenneth Crespo

syspectrWhat sold me on Syspectr was the simplicity. Since my MSP client base isn’t big I can scale it as needed without having to deal with minimum fees like some other services. Syspectr gets the job done for me in the sense of patch management and active monitoring. This allows me to be alerted instantly when a program is installed or uninstalled or when the temp of a PC is going up. I can also uninstall programs silently.

Pricing and Options

Syspectr currently offers a couple of tiers of pricing. Free, Small Business or Enterprise.

The Free option features a plan for up to 5 PC’s with basic features. The perfect option to test out the software with no strings attached. Full features are unlocked for the first 30 days.

The Small Business package starts at $1 per month and offers more features such as e-mail support and the ability to manage computers into groups.

The Enterprise package, which begins at $3 per month, offers all the features such as Powershell scripting along with Telephone support.

At the time of this article they currently offer a Remote Monitoring agent, Patch Management and a remote support agent that is integrated into Syspectr.  Billing is structured per workstation/per month which includes the monitoring and patch management. One feature that is lacking is Managed Anti-virus. There is currently no feature to add a managed anti-virus, currently there is only an option for monitoring to make sure it is enable by default.

Getting Setup

The setup was very easy and straight forward. You are greeted with a homepage to create your customer and first workstation to add to that customer. Once completed, you are able generate an .msi installer to be installed on your client’s workstation. The entire process takes about 10 minutes and loads directly onto your online dashboard.

Pros

  • Easy setup process and clean interface to launch clients
  • Runs silent and low resources on client PCs
  • Simple Interface to get up and running quickly

Cons

  • No Managed Antivirus
  • No ability to add 3rd party remote support software

Check out Syspectr

Kabuto Review

by Paco Lebron

kabuto_rt_logo1Kabuto is a bit different than the other solutions mentioned above.  While not “technically” a true RMM, they are working on a two-pronged approach for their customers. Firstly, they provide limited monitoring and reporting, but secondly and more uniquely, they also provide a means for your clients to be alerted and get in touch with you.

Pricing and Options

Kabuto has several tiered plans going from Free to $499 (excludes Device monitoring and MAV).  The only real difference between each plan is the amount of devices being monitored. Kabuto allows for a fluid setup in about 5 minutes.

Getting setup

The setup is the easiest of the group. You are greeted with a homepage to download the Kabuto Agent and install on the workstation. Once completed process takes several minutes and feeds directly to your online dashboard.

Pros

  • Allows for separation of Lead Generation, RMM and Managed Antivirus to be enabled in the dashboard
  • Allows upload of Remote Support software for end user to initiate via task bard
  • Integrations with RepairShopr
  • Tiered System to try out

Cons

  • No Windows or 3rd Party Patch Management
  • No Website Filtering (Editors Note: Kabuto comes with surf protection, which prevents users from going to dangerous sites.)
  • Workflow process to remove a client is not as fluid

Check out Kabuto

Explore these five solutions for yourself to find the best RMM service for your computer business.  Let us know what RMM service you chose in the comments!

This is a post from the blog Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy. Visit YFNCG.com for more computer business tips and resources.


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