KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs. Microsoft Intune

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
KACE Systems Management Appliance
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Quest now offers the KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) as an IT Asset tracking and management appliance (also available as a virtual deployment if hardware requirements are met). Beyond discovery, inventory tracking and license management, KACE emphasizes automating software upgrade distribution with minimal end-user disruption, featuring remote replication for multi-site upgrades and rollouts. KACE SMA may be bundled with KACE Cloud Mobile Device Management (MDM) to form a complete UEM…N/A
Microsoft Intune
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Intune (formerly Microsoft Endpoint Manager), combining the capabilities of the former Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, SCCM or ConfigMgr, is presented as a unified endpoint management option. Microsoft Intune is an endpoint management solution for mobile devices, an MDM solution that allows the user to securely manage iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices with a single endpoint management solution. The component Endpoint Configuration Manager (the…
$5
per user/per month
Pricing
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
$5
per user/per month
Microsoft 365 For Individuals
$6.99
per month
Microsoft 365 Apps
$8.25
per user/per month
Microsoft 365 For Families
$9.99
per month
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
$12.50
per user/per month
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
$15
per user/per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
KACE Systems Management ApplianceMicrosoft Intune
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
Considered Both Products
KACE Systems Management Appliance
Chose KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
KACE has been a little bit easier to use and cheaper than when we were looking at Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). We have had much success with KACE as it has extra services such as the license manager and helpdesk ticketing system. Great value for the …
Chose KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
Compared to more robust tools like SCCM, KACE delivers 90% of the value for a fraction of the cost. Not only is the initial upfront investment less it requires significantly less care and feeding to ensure you get what you need.
Chose KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
By far it easier to deploy and manage. It makes the process of deployment, software, and patching much easier, and it's an all-in-one solution that is easy to manage and train helpdesk on.
Microsoft Intune
Chose Microsoft Intune
[Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Microsoft Intune + SCCM)] was already in our environment when I was hired. We haven't really evaluated the need to use another application because SCCM has been working well for us. Additionally, Microsoft SCCM is the industry-standard when it comes …
Chose Microsoft Intune
SCCM is probably used across the industry more so than most other Systems Management solutions, and the reasoning behind this is most likely because it is a Microsoft product, which integrates well with the Windows Server platform, and also with clients/endpoints that are on …
Chose Microsoft Intune
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) was the previous way patches were handled, but only for servers. SCCM is a single pane of glass for all Windows machines in our environment.
Chose Microsoft Intune
Better product overall with additional features. Supports a lot of third-party add-ons. SCCM gets updated and patched for bug fixes a lot more frequently as compared to other competitive products. Makes a whole lot of sense for large Windows-based environments. AD unification …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
IT Asset Management
Comparison of IT Asset Management features of Product A and Product B
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
8.6
12 Ratings
12% above category average
Microsoft Intune
-
Ratings
Software and hardware inventory tracking10.012 Ratings00 Ratings
License management9.011 Ratings00 Ratings
Asset lifecycle monitoring8.010 Ratings00 Ratings
Contract management6.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Asset relationship management10.08 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
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Score 8.1 out of 10
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Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
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Score 9.3 out of 10
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Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
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Score 9.3 out of 10
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Score 8.3 out of 10
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User Ratings
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(12 ratings)
8.0
(46 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.9
(2 ratings)
Usability
8.6
(3 ratings)
7.1
(6 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
6.9
(14 ratings)
Support Rating
9.5
(4 ratings)
10.0
(10 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(2 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
7.6
(14 ratings)
User Testimonials
KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)Microsoft Intune
Likelihood to Recommend
Quest
I think it has added value for any organization. It reduced our Tech Support cost by: -Supporting users anywhere -Reducing users downtime as well keep them informed with the status of their tickets -Managing software and hardware actively -Processing automation -deploy mass software installs, patching or updates - Provide approved software's to users to install without IT help
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Microsoft
Windows Autopilot makes provisioning user Windows PC laptops a breeze. A user only needs to turn on the laptop, join it to their local WiFi, login with their O365 account then sit back and let Windows Autopilot handle the app installations required for work, configure the laptop settings to meet my organization requirements. I have seen this all completed in less than 30 minutes depending on how fast the internet connection is. Where Microsoft Intune needs to improve I think is the part where it can push out software updates to 3rd party apps. Right now I have to use Automox to fill in this gap.
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Pros
Quest
  • Inventory: KACE provides a ton of hardware and software inventory information that is easy to search, filter, and export. This is critical when we need to find the answers to questions about how many of such and such we have in our fleet.
  • Patch Management: We were using WSUS before and it was altogether too cumbersome. KACE has given us the power, flexibility, and verification we need to feel comfortable our patches are up-to-date.
  • Service Queue: We made KACE our help desk system and it does everything we need it to do. Great improvement over our old system.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • [Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Microsoft Intune + SCCM)] helps to speed up the deployment of patches/software throughout our environment. I can easily build a package and then deploy across all endpoints.
  • The ability to supercede software is also quite handy. This automates the removal of old versions and replacing them with newer versions.
  • The Intune Autopilot option is very useful if you want to deploy software to devices straight out of the box. You can configure them to download software when a user opens a new PC and turns it on for the first time.
Read full review
Cons
Quest
  • The KACE SMA needs a better way to handle different roles in the software so certain users can access or administrate certain parts of the software, but not the entire software installation.
  • The KACE SMA could improve the ticketing process of projects. The aspects of the title and some information do not always flow down from the parent ticket to its child tickets.
  • The KACE SMA could improve the UI of the software with the addition of different CSS color schemes.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • The program itself can be challenging to use, especially if there hasn't been any formal training on the use of the product. Either training/reviewing documentation is recommended prior to using SCCM.
  • At times, it can be difficult to try and find out why a certain machine that's listed in SCCM says that the endpoint has the SCCM client and shows as Active, but in fact, it's not. It's also difficult at times to try and figure out why the client can't be pushed down to the endpoint.
  • Even though the remote assistance features in SCCM are really good, it can be challenging at times when the remote options don't work for a particular endpoint, even though the machine is active, online, etc.
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Likelihood to Renew
Quest
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
Mascom Wireless is a Microsoft shop and SCCM has proved to be helpful in keeping our Microsoft products up to date every month without fail. We also have a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement which we renewed for three years ending 2022. The remote access utility works wonders for the organisation and have saved travel bills including subsistance allowance. We have been able to fulfill security audits both internal and external. We have been able to keep a robust inventory of our computer assets and nothing falls of the cracks
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Usability
Quest
Overall, the software is simple to understand and use. That said, most vendors have been slowly updating their user interfaces to HTML5 so that they have a clean updated look and feel. This is where KACE falls short in that the UI is great for a packaged software 10 years ago. This isn't a major limitation as the software is really meant primarily for technology users.
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Microsoft
The console is not intuitive and does not work well often. Due to the complexity of the product, documentation can be confusing. When properly configured, routine tasks like OS deployment, remote control, and software deployment are easy to do. Troubleshooting of System Center Configuration Manager issues is hard, as there are various logs, and their content can be hard to understand.
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Performance
Quest
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
It's a 'heavy' system, which demands a lot of resources form the datacenter perspective. So, make sure you followed the requirements to avoid frustration in the future. From the 'client' perspective, it's fine. I've never had any issue with that.
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Support Rating
Quest
KACE does exactly what you need it to do, it maintains your computer environment. You can set patch schedules, inventory computers, setup software catalogs; basically everything you need to ensure the computers on your network are being actively managed. This is all with little need for constant configuration or updating the setup.
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Microsoft
Being a Microsoft product, support was good. Out interaction was limited to our in-house IT team which was installing the Intune app in our mobile device. The installation was smooth and we haven't faced any difficulties with the app while using it. Provides a smooth and secure access to all Office 365 apps in mobile while separating the personal and professional data.
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Implementation Rating
Quest
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
Work with a "test group" of users who you have a good relationship with so that when things don't work properly they understand! Work with your partner nicely without forcing things especially timelines as you are bound to make mistakes and create oversights in the project Management can also interfere with the implementation (which can cause delays) if you make too many mistakes which takes me back to having a "test group" where you have good relations
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Alternatives Considered
Quest
We have selected this software because it rolls several different systems into one. We have a helpdesk system with this and an asset and inventory management system as well. We pay one price for the whole system instead of paying multiple companies different amounts that would have totaled more than we pay for the single system.
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Microsoft
We did not evaluate or use other products like Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Microsoft Intune + SCCM). The main reason we did not evaluate or use other products is because Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Microsoft Intune + SCCM) integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Windows PCs. Expenses would have increased as well if we had purchased another similar product.
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Return on Investment
Quest
  • KACE has saved us from having to spend several days of employee hours in crafting DVDs and duplicating them (100+ DVDs)
  • KACE has saved us on the postage required to send out those DVDs for every update (monthly) to all of our customers electronically
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Microsoft
  • In our current environment, this System Center Configuration Manager had replaced several standalone solutions for patching, imaging, remote assistance, reporting, etc. That saved a lot of time and resulted in money to manage the IT infrastructure.
  • Once SCCM is deployed and fully configured, all agents are deployed and it is easy to automate a lot of processes and just control them from time to time to make sure that everything is working as supposed to be.
  • SCCM + Windows 10: great built-in endpoint protection solution. As a result, there is no need to buy additional software for that purpose.
  • The imaging process is better compared to WDS because you can modify deployment packages and apply patches to a newly imaged machine. This saves tons of time for new employees deployment.
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