Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager
At my current and previous companies, I have used System Center Configuration Manager as one of the main tools to manage my IT infrastructure. From simple management of active directory users and computers to detailed inventorying of windows equipment (computers and server), software inventorying, software deployments and patch management. Also, it is used as a main endpoint protection solution that includes centrally managed Windows Defender and ATP. We use System Center Configuration Manager as one of the main monitoring tools to get reports of the Windows patching state, device availability and activity, to get information about what PCs users are using at a current time. Using as the only solution to capture and image new and existing workstations and servers. And, also SCCM is the main remote control/assistance tool for our help desk department.
- We have mostly Windows environments, so SCCM provides us tons of monitoring options for computers and servers.
- SCCM saves a lot of time and money for our Help Desk team to provide remote assistance to end users.
- In a Windows 10 environment, SCCM provides pretty decent endpoint protection.
- Patch management: tons of options of management, deployment, and monitoring.
- Systems Imaging: deploying images to new PCs or servers, reimaging existed environment.
- And of course, systems inventorying (hardware and software).
- Initial configuration is pretty much complex and requires some additional time for preparation and deployment.
- It would be awesome to have Patch management and endpoint security be moved to separate tabs in the SCCM management console.
- Imaging functionality is great but over-complicated, and sometimes simple processes take way longer compared to regular WDS services.
- Better reporting and monitoring services with customized charts.
- Better integration of SCCM patching services with Windows Updates services on Windows 10. Sometimes it is almost impossible to say if patches were installed on Windows 10 via SCCM deployment until you get that information within SCCM management console.
- Requires a lot of learning about the product for IT personnel.
- 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.
- McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator, ManageEngine AssetExplorer, ManageEngine Desktop Central and Symantec Client Management Suite
Microsoft System Center Configuration manager was always selected because it combines several standalone solutions provided by other vendors. Has great integration with all Microsoft services including Azure. Being an enterprise standard level product, you can expect that your IT personnel has experience with it and you don't need to spend too much time to educate them.