Automox vs. HCL BigFix

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Automox
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Automox is an endpoint management solution from the company of the same name in Boulder. Cloud-based and globally available, Automox enforces OS & third-party patch management, security configurations, and custom scripting across Windows, Mac, and Linux from a single console. With it, IT and SecOps can gain control and share visibility of on-prem, remote and virtual endpoints without the need to deploy costly infrastructure. Automox aims to reduce corporate risk while raising operational…
$1
per month per endpoint
BigFix
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
BigFix, now supported by HCL Technologies since the acquisition of BigFix from IBM in 2018, is an endpoint management solution providing endpoint visibility and IT asset discovery, automated endpoint patching (BigFix Lifecycle and BigFix Patch) policy enforcement (BigFix Compliance), and software asset discovery for licensed and unlicensed software (BigFix Inventory).N/A
Pricing
AutomoxHCL BigFix
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
AutomoxBigFix
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
Additional DetailsAutomox can patch macOS, Windows, and Linux endpoints with PatchOS, an offering at $1 per endpoint/ month with an annual commitment. The Automate Essentials or Automate Enterprise packages are for scaling IT automation, endpoint configuration, and software updates. Modules are available with Automox Assist, a one-on-one remote endpoint control and assistance for helpdesk technicians.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
AutomoxHCL BigFix
Considered Both Products
Automox
Chose Automox
I've used a number of other patching products at previous employers. Automox, while it does not have all the bells and whistles of SCCM, Tanium, or BigFix such as software self service or automated deployment through network scanning, software catalogs, or warranty check …
Chose Automox
Automox has a larger list of 3rd party software that is available. In my experience, Automox does not allow you to browse software looking for updates to apply. In my opinion, the reporting of automox sucks comparatively.
Chose Automox
Automox was at the top of the group - it was a light client, a SAAS offering and did not have some of the bells and whistles that the tools have but was not something that we would use. Also, the learning curve for the support staff was easy enough and we did not need SMEs that …
Chose Automox
A lightweight agent that is SaaS-based. We didn't want to have to install another big agent that uses up a lot of resources on our machines
BigFix
Chose HCL BigFix
We have significantly enhanced our ability to patch desktops, including laptops, desktop, cloud, virtual machines and other mobile devices used by end-users. BigFix's endpoint management functionality allows us to seamlessly patch a wide range of operating systems, such as …
Top Pros

No answers on this topic

Top Cons

No answers on this topic

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AutomoxHCL BigFix
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User Ratings
AutomoxHCL BigFix
Likelihood to Recommend
8.6
(124 ratings)
9.0
(5 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
6.1
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(89 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
5.5
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
1.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.4
(6 ratings)
6.0
(3 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.1
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
6.4
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
AutomoxHCL BigFix
Likelihood to Recommend
Automox
The reason I would score it a nine is because of the inability to “run as.” Since it only runs as a system, this makes some tasks impossible. It would be beneficial to have an encrypted set of credentials in the UI that we can use to “run as,” and also the ability to run as the current user with elevated permissions would be nice. In terms of patching, Automox does a good job, and being able to use Automox to run PowerShell on a computer without needing to open up ports for WinRM is a great feature.
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HCL Technologies
HCL BigFix is well-suited:
  1. Patch Management for Diverse Devices: HCL BigFix is ideal for organizations with a diverse range of devices, including laptops, desktops, cloud, virtual machines, and mobile devices. Its endpoint management functionality enables seamless patching across various operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS, and Linux.
  2. Comprehensive Patch Management: With HCL BigFix, organizations can achieve comprehensive patch management across their IT infrastructures. It ensures that all endpoints, regardless of the operating system, receive timely and secure patches, reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing overall security.
  3. Troubleshooting and Monitoring: HCL BigFix excels in providing a dashboard that effectively displays problematic and functional machines. This feature allows IT teams to quickly identify and address issues, improving overall troubleshooting efficiency.
    However, there are some scenarios where HCL BigFix may be less appropriate or areas for improvement: 1. Coverage Expansion: It is important for HCL BigFix to continue expanding its coverage to include all possible resources installed within the IT infrastructure. Ensuring comprehensive coverage can enhance its effectiveness. 2.On-Site and OS Upgrades: Optimizing the process of on-site and operating system upgrades can help streamline the deployment process further. Improvements in this area would contribute to a smoother and more efficient upgrade experience. 3.Communication Speed: Enhancing the speed of communication between the HCL BigFix agent and the server can help improve the overall responsiveness and efficiency of the solution.
  4. Pricing Optimization: Adjusting the pricing of HCL BigFix to be more cost-effective would make it more accessible and attractive to organizations of different sizes and budgets.
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Pros
Automox
  • Shows applications installed on a specific asset
  • Able to push policies and updates remotely , creating policies is easy.
  • Keep track of compliant devices and when is the last time they have connected to the servers
  • All the great information provided within one single device
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HCL Technologies
  • Software inventory.
  • Patch deployment.
  • Patch review.
Read full review
Cons
Automox
  • I would like to see more detailed error messages when a patch fails. Perhaps at which step it failed at, downloading, installing, etc.
  • It would be helpful if we could see what stage of installing or downloading a patch is at through a percentage or status bar instead of a vague "Installing..." message
  • It would also be helpful to have a way to kill or end scripts that are stuck instead of waiting 24 hours for them to automatically end. Something like an "End all actions" button for endpoints on our side would be extremely helpful when testing a script that had a bad line or action in it.
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HCL Technologies
  • The patching function is difficult for RedHat Linux servers, and can be improved.
  • The site configuration and access control appears to be cumbersome.
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Likelihood to Renew
Automox
It's been a great tool for me. It has helped me become more efficient in my job and securing our network and machine footprint.
Read full review
HCL Technologies
No answers on this topic
Usability
Automox
Automox has excellent dashboards that help to identify key performance indicators of where your patching program stands, what to prioritize, and what issues you have. Where Automox struggles is easily identifying what issues are preventing successful patching, seeing what manual patches are successfully installing/not installing, and easily remediating issues with installation issues.
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HCL Technologies
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Automox
In my experience, they were responsive but the fixes were more like bandaids than a fix for the underlying problems which they admitted were on their end.
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HCL Technologies
Recently we noticed the customer service on the support has dropped compared to when we first deployed the software.
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Implementation Rating
Automox
i was able to implement automox with the help from their support to push it out via our MDM of maas360
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HCL Technologies
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Automox
Automox is able to scale better than PDQ Deploy. We were happier with the 3rd party software patching since we have a lot of different software we use across departments. PDQ deploy required a lot more manual intervention to stay on top of deployments. Automox just ended up being a timesaver for us in the end.
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HCL Technologies
We have significantly enhanced our ability to patch desktops, including laptops, desktop, cloud, virtual machines and other mobile devices used by end-users. BigFix's endpoint management functionality allows us to seamlessly patch a wide range of operating systems, such as Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS, and Linux systems, ensuring comprehensive patch management across IT infrastructures. We have established a track record of delivering secure and hassle-free patching solutions to our clients
Read full review
Return on Investment
Automox
  • We used to use a different patching solution and since switching to Automox, I have been able to cut the amount of time I spend on vulnerability management by 50% or more. I love how "set it and forget it" some of the policies can be. I love how simple it is to keep an eye on things.
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HCL Technologies
  • When there is a need to patch a Windows System it has worked
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ScreenShots