ManageEngine EMS Review 2021: Features, Pricing & More

In this Desktop Central review, we will talk about how this software can change your lives easier. ManageEngine is a company that provides your company with the ultimate Endpoint Management solution.

ManageEngine considers all the problems and provides companies with a solution. With over 15 years of experience in this field, ManageEngine is still dominating the market for Endpoint Management Solutions.

What is ManageEngine EMS?

ManageEngine considers all the problems and provides companies with a solution. With over 15 years of experience in this field, ManageEngine is still dominating the market for Endpoint Management Solutions.

You can perform and monitor all of the above tasks using just the mobile application. Yes, it’s that easy and convenient. You only need internet access and with just a few clicks you can manage your office network from the comfort of your home.

ManageEngine provides its services to more than 17,000 customers, which includes approximately 12 million endpoints.

ManageEngine Endpoint Management Solution Review (2021)

1. Features and Functionality

1.1. Desktop Central

Desktop Central comes with a plethora of amazing features that will allow the user complete access over their laptops, desktops, and various other devices from just one location.

Some software and programs need regular updating and maintenance. Performing patchworks daily can turn out to be quite tedious and time-consuming but with Patch Management in ManageEngine Endpoint Management, it is quite easy.

Desktop Central can offer patches for Mac, Linux, and Windows, and numerous other third-party applications. It will provide your Endpoint with daily updates that are safe to implement on your network.

1.1.2. Updated Vulnerability Database

Zohocorp is a program in Desktop Central that will search across the internet for updates available for any of the applications and programs included in the Endpoint.

It will then scan and verify them to ensure that the update it is installing is authentic and safe. It will install the updates and keep them in the Patch Repository so that the Endpoint user can install them across the network.

The Patchwork Repository is available on the Desktop Central server and the client can use it to find vulnerabilities in the network. Syncing of the repository with the Vulnerability database can be done in two ways, on-demand, and daily sync.

1.1.3. Periodic Patch Scanning

Once the vulnerability database is up-to-date, there will be a network-wide patch scan. This scan will locate any missing patches across the network and the results will be available on the Desktop Central Server.

1.1.4. System Health Policy

Using the system health policy, the user can find out the health status of the systems present in the network. The user can set the limit for how many missing patches in a system should it classify as an unhealthy or vulnerable system.

Through this, the user can pinpoint which of the systems in his network need an immediate update.

1.1.5. Automate Antivirus Updates

Every day a new type of virus takes birth so to counter this Desktop Central updates its anti-virus several times a day. This means high bandwidth usage and constant permission to update. The user can limit this process to only once per day if he wishes.

1.1.6. Disable Automatic Updates

As the head at the center of the network has complete control he can choose to turn on or off the automatic updates to the network as he pleases.

1.1.7. Automatically Test/Approve Patches

Before implementing it in public, it is always sensible to test it out on some test subjects. That is exactly what Desktop Central does, it does a test on some of the computers in the network.

The patch downloader will implement the new updates on a select number of computers to ensure that the updates are not faulty. Patch Manager does this to avoid networkwide errors.

You can also set the date and time after which updates can take place on your network.

1.1.8. Decline Patches for Specific Applications

If the user wishes, he can choose not to update some applications in his network. Sometimes a select number of patches may be safe to install but cause errors or glitches in the application itself that may cause it to malfunction.

So, to avoid this you can refuse to update an application if you wish. The user can also deny updates to a group of computers in his network.

1.1.9. Schedule Patch Deployment

To prevent any clashes and unwanted bandwidth issues, the user can schedule and time updates. Users can implement a deployment policy in which they can decide the time, date, week, and month in which updates can take place.

Another very handy function is that Desktop Central will wake up or power on the computers using LAN if it is the time for updating.

1.1.10. Automated Patch Deployment

Users can automate patch deployment upon their systems. This will release them of the duty of manually setting up update times and for specific applications. Users can automate everything and updates can be done in batches to avoid any issue with no system being free at that time.

1.1.11. Patch Management Using Mobile App

You can perform and monitor all of the above tasks using just the mobile application. Yes, it’s that easy and convenient. You only need internet access and with just a few clicks you can manage your office network from the comfort of your home.

No need to worry if you forgot to set the systems to update from the head computer just use your mobile to do it. If you want Zia, the Desktop Central assistant can do it for you.

1.2. Mobile Device Management (MDM) Software

The corporate world has been relying on growing mobile devices for quite some time. You can now use mobile device management centrally to configure, manage and secure mobile devices.

This is necessary for the user to be able to examine any mobile device that may access the company’s resources.

It improves data security and ensures that shared items do not get into the wrong hands. MDM helps in managing all sorts of mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

MDM is available across multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome OS.

1.2.1. Device Management

To use MDM, all you need is one mobile device, it may be any smartphone or Tablet that it supports. MDM device management allows the user to change and optimize the functionality of the mobile device.

It secures these particular devices from any sort of threats. From basic features to very advanced developer settings, MDM does it all. When the users include the devices into the company’s network, that is when the head of the network gains access to the device.

There are three ways of enrolling into the network, self-enrollment, invite, and bulk enrollment. Bulk enrollment will answer the question to, what if I want to enroll hundreds of devices at once? ManageEngine Endpoint Management truly does think of it all.

1.2.2. Application Management

We were quite pleased to see, Application management on MDM, as it includes management of every application that is in the enterprise, that includes from installation to deletion.

It checks every update or patch before implementing it to ensure that it does not endanger other applications or their work. Certain restrictions can be put on applications to limit their access.

What’s more, you can even separate your applications from your corporate applications. A company can make a catalog that will include only the applications that it needs for work.

Now, the device users are only allowed to install and use these particular applications on the device. This ensures efficiency and a healthy work environment. Certain applications that have affected the company enterprise in the past can also be put on a block list.

Doing this will ensure no device on the MDM can install that application.

1.2.3. Security Management

Allowing network access to company data can be a risk. This puts pressure on the IT admins to ensure that this data does not leak to others. Now you have ManageEngine Endpoint Management to ensure none of this happens.

With the security of the OS provided by the device manufacturers, you can now add your level of security to keep corporate data secure. MDM will provide the network devices with,

• Data security
• Device protection
• App security
• Protect corporate network access
• Secure email access

What more does a company need?

MDM monitors all company devices and if it detects any security breach like a jailbreak or rooted device trying to access data then it will remove it. MDM also provides the device users with a VPN for applications.

1.3. System OS mirroring and Deployment

Be it fixing any minor system issue or a disk failure, the OS deployment function in ManageEngine Endpoint Management is the way to go.

If an IT administrator wishes to appoint a new system to a new employee, that means he will need to load it up with all the necessary applications and OS that the employee will need to start working.

One way is to go and manually install the OS on the system and all other required things. Well, he won’t be doing that when he has the Endpoint management solution for it. The OS deployer will make the admin’s job easy. Let’s talk about some of the features it offers.

1.3.1. Mirroring Disks

The OS deployer provides users with disk mirroring software. Using this tool, you can create an image OS and also make data partitions in it. Then you can store that OS in storage from where you can share it with any system in the network.

That’s how easy it is, I speak from personal experience. It is like just copy-pasting an OS, that’s how easy it is. Then just load up the required OS and applications you want on your desired computer and wait for it to install. Disk mirroring can be done both online and offline.

1.3.2. File Migration

File migration may be an easy task but it is one of the most tedious ones an IT guy has to do. Since Microsoft is ending or rather has ended support for Windows 7 and 8, offices and companies will need to shift to Windows 10. This becomes a big problem as all the corporate data will need to back up.

To ensure a smooth and error ManageEngine Endpoint Management gives you OS deployer.  OS deployer secures and saves all the various users and files in the systems that need an upgrade.

It provides users with very advanced and helpful settings that make the transfer effortless. No more manual installations and the time-consuming installation and updates after a Windows install, OS deployer will do it for you, just sit back and relax.

1.3.3. Driver Management

Installing the right drivers for a new Windows is always a hassle. The system keeps prompting you to install various drivers and pesters users with pop-ups telling them to update. not every driver is useful for the kind of work you do and not everyone knows what driver to install.

On the other hand, if you do not install the correct drivers, you will face problems and in turn, it leads to inefficiency in work.

Do not fret, OS deployer comes with a built-in driver update tool. What this tool does is when it mirrors Windows from a particular computer it also asks for the list of drivers that you want to mirror with the Windows.

All you (the person creating the mirror OS) need to do is mirror drivers with the OS.

1.4. Secure Browsing

Cyber Attacks are very common and one of the most frequent ways companies and firms face a security breach. Once a hacker or virus breaches your system, who knows what they may steal or how they may damage your data.

To avoid this ManageEngine provides you with another amazing Endpoint management solution. A very advanced and update to date browser security tool that is the solution to all your worries relating to security, Browser Security Plus.

1.4.1. Browser Plug-ins/ Add-ons

Every browser works in its way, some browsers use plug-ins while some useful extensions. So, you can see why it is difficult for IT admins to check all of them.

Browser Security Plus tracks all your browser data and monitors and controls all the browser settings. Through this, it can see what type of addons or extensions a browser is prompting a naïve employee to use.

Browser Security Plus can tell which extension is accessing your browser history and which one is trying to tinker with your browser settings. It will straightaway block these pesky extensions from your browser and remove them.

1.4.2. Lockdown for Browsers

Back in the old days, Internet Explorer was the reason for a lot of security breaches as there are a lot of vulnerable plugins in it. Companies could not stop using it as it was an integral part of their legacy business applications.

Employees tend to use one browser for their searches and that leads to a security breach as aside from the sites they use for work they browse random websites. These websites are mostly the reason there is a security breach in the network.

ManageEngine provides yet another Desktop management solution for your ease and safety, Browser Lockdown. IT administrators can now lock down or prompt Browser Security Plus to lock away certain elements of a browser.

IT admins can whitelist sites and they can lock the settings and address bar in a browser. This improves safety and promotes an efficient work environment where the employee is not distracted by things while browsing the internet.

1.5. Software Deployment Features & Capabilities

You can deploy software to all of the endpoints that are in your network. All it takes is a few clicks and using over 4,500 pre-defined application templates. This is great for IT administrators, particularly for the ones who are a part of big organizations.

Endpoints are always perpetually growing in numbers, which makes it difficult to set up the software throughout the organization. Desktop Central lets you allocate the software packages to all of the computers in the network without any user interference.

Software deployment can be done using Windows, Mac, and Linux from a central console.

1.6. OS Imaging & Deployment

Imaging and OS deployment happen automatically on any Windows computer, and it also installs any necessary drivers and applications with the help of the OS deployment. Before, it OS deployment, driver installation, and configuration was done manually

This feature is an important aspect of IT administration, however, this chore can take up a lot of time and be tiresome. However, through the automation of OS imaging, not only is time saved but also decreases any chances of mistakes.

1.7. IT Asset Management

IT Asset Management (ITAM) software helps manage software, hardware assets, track license and warranty details, track digital assets with ease. ITAM software can help you configure alerts for notifications regarding any change detected in the software inventory or hardware.

Users can now seamlessly manage all of their digital assets by predefined inventory reports and email notifications to track, monitor and manage everything from one place. Desktop Central has one of the best ITAM software in the industry.

1.8. Endpoint Security Management

Endpoint security can be made stronger by regular vulnerability assessments, checking browsers, and also by controlling devices and applications that are used within the enterprise’s network. Security confusion can be created if numerous dashboards, agents, and in-depth security processes are used.

Desktop Central has an Endpoint Security add-on, which avoids any difficulty that may be caused by a variety of security solutions.

This add-on handles complete security and manages all of the endpoints of the network, such as: vulnerability management, browser security, device control, application control, and BitLocker management.

1.9. Remote Control

The remote control feature for Desktop Central is a management feature that lets administrators connect and operate remote desktops in LAN and WAN. Remote desktops can have troubleshooting done through multi-user collaboration, file transfer, video recording, and much more.

Since it is a web-based tool it allows access within the LAN from anywhere, and it doesn’t need a native client. However, if the systems are in the WAN they have to be accessed through the internet or VPN.

There are advanced options for remote desktop sharing, which are: web-based remote control, protects user privacy, remote file transfer, multi-monitor support, recording remote sessions, integrated chat, and a control a user session.

1.10. Modern Management

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) is an approach that is similar to managing mobile and Windows 10 devices.  This solution forces mobile device management capabilities so that the best modern management features are used.

UEM helps fight any inefficiencies that may be caused by separate endpoint management tools and use them from one place as a one-stop-shop solution.

1.11. Configurations

There are more than 30 configurations that help administrators manage windows applications, system settings, desktop settings, and security policies. These include USB device and power management, and security management as well.

These aid in creating a baseline for systems and even targets can be selected at the user or system level. Using the collection feature, a group of configurations can also be made to function together.

These certain settings start functioning when the user logs in or when the computer starts up, it depends on the type of configuration applied. This is done to reduce any under-productivity, and the status of the configurations applied can also be tracked at any time.

The best part is that Desktop Central also offers configurations for Mac and Linux as well.

2. Customer Support

• Help guide and documentation: Click here
• Product forums: Click here
• Customer support: Click here
• Email for customer support: [email protected]
• Contact number for customer support: 1-888-720-9500
• Webinars are also available
• Social Media Support: Twitter | Facebook

3. Security

3.1. Data Encryption

So far in this ManageEngine Endpoint Management Solution review, we have talked out features and functionalities, now let’s talk about the security of this robust software.

Such huge amounts of data need some kind of storage and ManageEngine has taken it upon themselves to secure your data.

They use very advanced encryptions to transfer all this data to and from the network. All their server connection use TLS 1.2 and 1.3 with complex ciphering.

They don’t just implement this on data transfer but implement it throughout the system. This includes all the emails, messages and web browsing, and API access.

This ensures an all-around secure connection with no loopholes or back doors. Using Transport Security Header ManageEngine now only connects with browsers with an encrypted connection.

All the customer data (corporate data) is in storage with a very complex 256-bit encryption. ManageEngine maintains security through a complex KMS system.

Alongside secure connections, they also encrypt user data with master keys so you don’t have to worry about your data falling into the wrong hands.

3.2. Layered Authentication

ManageEngine provides its users with unique and difficult passwords which users must use for verification. There is a two-step verification so even if somehow an unauthorized person gets his hands on the password, they will not be able to get through the next verification check.

The second verification check may be a biometric scan or face ID, something that is unique to only the user of that particular account. Users themselves can enable multi verification features through Zoho One authenticator.

3.3. Limited Access

Administrators can limit user access to company data however they want. This will protect data from prying eyes and prevent any sort of loss to the company.

Employees are only given access to the data they need and that is how it should be. How his feature works are that on every layer of security there is a different key to encrypt and decrypt data with access to it being more and more limited as the security level increases.

Every layer of security gets its password and verification check so even if there is a security breach, the culprit won’t go far into the system.

3.4. FAQs

• On-premise installation available
• ManageEngine products are GDPR compliant
• SSL certificate is installed inside the app
• Google SSO is available
• SAML is available for secure login
• 2-factor authentication is available
• Users can take local backups
• Dedicated servers are available
• Data export & data deletion options are available

4. Customer Testimonials

Review by Matt Rooney, BMI Healthcare, London

“With the help of Desktop Central, we can manage our infrastructure very well. By using the plethora of modules that ManageEngine provides, we can now maintain and monitor all parts of our company through just one source. Desktop Central is easy to set up and maintain once you go through their setup guides. In comparison to competitors like LANDesk and Symantec, Desktop Central needs very less SQL dependency and that is what made me choose it.”

Review by Tim Vanderslik, Arbor Financial Credit Union.

“With all the advanced tools that Desktop Central comes with, you’d expect a heavy price tag, but that is not the case. Today Desktop Central is the backbone of the management in our organization. We use it for all our computer configurations, Patch management, software deployment, and inventory monitoring. In my 25 years of being in the field of IT, Desktop Central is by far the best solution.”

Review by Michael R. Haag, Madison County Dept. of IT

“Over the 8 years we have been using Desktop Central as our Endpoint Management Solution and there is nothing to complain about. The time we save by just accessing a computer from Desktop Central rather than walking over to that particular workstation helps a lot. We use Desktop Central to manage all our inventory and it helps us in keeping all the workstations in our network UpToDate and smooth. Since we have started using Desktop Central, our patch management timeline has almost been negligible. Moreover, it provides us with daily Metrics that helped us in tracking our patch management goals.”

5. Training and Education

• Dedicated onboarding and customer training is available
• Virtual/online training library is available
• On-premises/off-premises training seminar available as per client request

5.1. Onboarding Training and Education

ManageEngine not only provides you with a Desktop management solution but also gives its customers free virtual seminars in which they can learn more about their product and how it works.

However, there are charges for training while considering the number of devices in a network and the type of infrastructure the software will have to manage.

5.2. Does Training Reward Professionals with Certification?

The company conducts free training webinars that provide participation certificates. Endpoint Management Solution provides customers with in-depth training and explanation of all the features and functions.

There is a schedule in the link attached above and the webinars are held on different subjects with varying periods.

5.2.1. Desktop Central Certification

As ManageEngine has become such a large and popular desktop management solution, there is a specific program that lets you become a certified Desktop Central Professional.

If you use ManageEngine daily then you must take the test to earn this certification.

6. Certifications

Achieving certification or validation of any product is important to gain Customer support, here are some major ISO certifications that ManageEngine has to validate its product.

6.1. ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 is a very prominent and well-known security standard. The organizations that have this certificate are the ones that are up to the standard of international security.

In this ManageEngine Endpoint Management Solution review, every component we mentioned is compliant with the ISO’s global standards. Zoho, a ManageEngine component has this certification for systems, people, technology, and applications.

6.2. ISO/IEC 27701

We can say that ISO/IEC 27701 is an extension or sub-certification of ISO/IEC 27001. Organizations earn this certification when they meet the standards for Privacy Information Management.

Achieving this certification will help in boosting the Information Security Management System. This certification applies to all the business units and cloud services that Zoho offers in ManageEngine.

6.3. ISO 9001

Quality is a major concern when companies are about to hand over everything to an Endpoint Management software. In this ManageEngine Endpoint Management Solution review we see a lot of functions and features.

All this may fascinate some people as they forget about quality and consider quantity.

But that is not the case here ManageEngine has ISO 9001 certification that it meets all the international standards set for a Quality Management System. Zoho Desk and Zoho HRMS are compliant with the ISO 9001 requirements.

7. Awards & Recognition

We thought we would share some of the awards and recognitions that were received by Desktop Central.

1. ManageEngine Positioned in the 2021 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Unified Endpoint Management Tools. ManageEngine is also recognized as a 2020 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Unified Endpoint Management. More details here.
2. Positioned as a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Software 2017 Vendor Assessment. More details here.
3. Recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Unified Endpoint Management Tools in every cycle since this industry honor was first announced in 2019. More details here.

Conclusion

Reviewing the ManageEngine Endpoint Management solution, our team enjoyed thoroughly experiencing the exceptional and innovative features that this robust solution provides.

If you are not sure that you want to purchase a customized price plan with ManageEngine Desktop Central, go ahead and have a look at their free trial page.

This powerful platform is an ideal software for you to manage, secure, and order all your company data- all at once. And without any doubt, this software is one of the best Management Solutions in the industry.