7MS #279: Patching Solutions Bake-Off - Part 4
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:
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
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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)
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Does a solid job of applying patching Windows OS and third party
Cons
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Pricing is a little steep - last figures I saw were ~$80 per server, per year and ~$40 per workstation, per year.
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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
I've seen this "in the wild" at probably a half dozen companies. It's an extremely powerful tool, but also requires some patience and practice to get comfortable with it.
Pros
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Lets you crazy with building custom packages you can deploy to granular groups
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Awesome online help resources, including a YouTube video library that's got a video for just about everything
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Quick response to support tickets
Cons
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A bit more complicated to get comfortable with than the other solutions
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A little confusing on the Windows patching side - not quite as "point and patch" as some of the other solutions
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Agentless system - machines have to be able to "see" the PDQ