System Management Software -The Best And Easy To Use Ones

• Application performance and service management
• Application life-cycle management
• Datacenter infrastructure management
• Help and service desk management
• Capacity planning
• Disaster recovery and backup
• Business system management
• Logs
• Networking
• Automation
• Capacity planning
• Network performance management
• System administration and more

Since system management software encompasses all facets of IT administration, It is essential to have the perfect tools to manage and support the process.

Effective system management technique based on the perfect system management software provides rich returns to any organization in the form of faster delivery of IT systems, quicker response to the ever-changing business requirements, more control over data and security, and better management of day-to-day operations of the data center.

What Is System Management Software? Or What is System Management and Administration?

System management software is the software or tool used to manage an organization’s centralized IT administration. The system management concept covers a broad set of subsystems needed to manage and monitor the IT systems the right way.

Systems management is vital for organizing and running your business and good management of IT system is the backbone of any IT-based organization.

When it is effectively implemented, it makes the IT delivery much easier, making the employees adapt quickly and be more productive.

Is System Management Important?

When expanding your IT systems, it could cause some problems for the support staff and of course, waste their valuable time and efforts.

This causes a lack of resources for performance improvement and capacity planning, leaving your organization without the potential for technology adoption and growth.

You can scale your business by adopting emerging technologies such as 5G, Edge Computing and IoT. But when you do, remember that your IT requirements will also scale.

So it will be essential to monitor and protect all your assets and adapt to hyper-connectivity speeds because a second of downtime can affect and cause a high loss for your business.

What Can System Management System Help You With?

System management offers a wide range of IT functions or subset that helps improve and maintain the network, infrastructure, OSs, services, applications and many more. system management oversees lots of IT requirements including:

• System Administration: This has to do with the management and monitoring of servers, databases, storage, cloud, PCs, mobiles, printers and virtualization. The subset offers you full administration over system configuration, backups and disaster recovery.
• Network Management and Monitoring: This includes monitoring of network devices like wireless access points, endpoints, switches and routers. Network monitoring and management help managers to quickly identify failures and improve performance accordingly.
• IT Security and Compliance: Event management and security information is in charge of running malware and anti-virus tools, data loss, intrusion detection and prevention systems and helping with regulatory compliance.
• Log Management & Performance Analytics: This helps to manage the overall system’s performance through log analyzing as it helps collect, correlate and analyze the system’s data to give an insight into the performance.
• Asset Inventory: This helps you keep a record of software or hardware assets. It is a subset that helps in asset lifecycle management, keeps hardware records including OSs, versions, firmware and licenses. For software asset inventory, it helps to keep patching, versioning and their licenses in control.
• Application Monitoring: This is a subset of systems management that deals with the monitoring and management of the performance of applications. it helps detect complex issues, levels of service and deals with life cycles.
• Automation: Automation includes automated workloads, automated backups and restores, or desired configuration states. The network automation software can also provide you with insights into vaults, bandwidth, performance, IP address management and availability.
• Help and Service Desk Management: This offers a lot of benefits including the ability to create and track problem tickets from a single place so that an IT expert can solve them. IT teams can easily track problems, changes and faulty assets.

Possible Challenges That Can Come Up When Implementing System Management software?

The reason for system management software is to keep your business system running without any fault and improve your employee’s productivity. However, it can be problematic if it falls into the wrong hand.

System management can sometimes become problematic, less productive and more complex. It requires a learning process and investment to make it run smoothly. Hers are the challenges that could possibly pop up:

• Increased cost: To implement and maintain an IT and manage systems requires an increased cost. If you are looking for the best tools, you won’t find them cheap. Free tools usually take time to install and learn.
• Training: To use these tools effectively, employees need to be properly trained. This requires time based on the size of the business and existing IT expertise.
• Interoperability: Most system management software can easily integrate and operate with different hardware and software vendors. But some may not integrate easily or not integrate at all, which makes the interoperability challenging.

Types Of Management Information System

Types of the management information system include:

• Process control
• Executive information system
• School information management system
• Management reporting system
• Inventory control
• Sales and marketing
• Human resources
• Accounting and finance
• Decision support system
• Expert system
• Transaction process system
• Local database

The Best System Management Software Examples

Here are the best management software examples:

1. SolarWinds System Management Software
2. N-able RMM
3. SuperOps RMM
4. Syxsense Manage
5. NinjaRMM
6. Site24x7
7. Opmantek
8. ManageEngine Desktop Central
9. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
10. Atera
11. Nagios XI
12. ManageEngine Applications Manager
13. OP5 Monitor
14. Zabbix
15. ConnectWise Automate
16. KACE Systems Management Appliance
17. WhatsUp Gold
18. Paessler

1. SolarWinds System Management Software Bundle

SolarWinds System Management software Bundle is a system monitoring bundle that offers four useful tools including SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor, SolarWinds Storage Resources Monitor, SolarWinds Web Performance Monitor and SolarWinds Virtualization Manager.

These tools automatically discover applications and infrastructure throughout your network.

Important Features

• stack drill-down
• Covers servers and services
• Web server monitoring
• Virtualization monitoring
• system administration tools

You can monitor performance via the PerfStack dashboard. This dashboard may display performance as charts and graphs. You can choose from over 1,200 infrastructure monitoring templates to help you hit the ground running immediately.

Pros

• The software bundle includes a suite that covers network, application and infrastructure monitoring
• Customizable widgets let users create their own dashboards and reports effortlessly
• More than 1.200 templates let users start seeing insights quickly
• Alerts can be configured to notify based on email, SMS or third-party app integration

Cons

• Designed for only IT professionals and not for non-technical users

You can choose and pick the products you want to use in the bundle. SolarWinds Virtualization Manager (virtualization management) costs $2,995 or £2,316 while SolarWinds Server Application Monitor (Server monitoring) costs $2,995 or £2,316.

SolarWinds Eb Performance Monitor (website monitoring) costs $1,995 or £1,543 while SolarWinds Storage Monitor (storage management) costs $2,995 or £2,316.

You can start a 30-day free trial today

2. N-able RMM

N-able RMM is a SaaS remote management and monitoring software package that supports the management of all types of IT tools.

Important Features

• System monitoring
• For IT departments or MSPs
• Task automation
• Sensitive data management
• IT asset management

N-able RMM monitors applications, mobile devices, networks, endpoints and servers and also includes extensive systems management facilities.

It offers task automation for regular maintenance jobs and problem resolution and incident response. It also includes a network recovery feature that takes care of inventory documentation and can also track down PII as well as track access to it for data security standards requirements.

The system has every supporting resource essential to run the RMM. With this, you don’t need to provide server space for file storage or processing power to run the monitoring and system management software.

Its dashboard is hosted on N-able servers so you can access it through a standard web browser (1) or a special mobile app. As long as you have the Internet, you can monitor and manage your system with this software anywhere.

Pros

• Monitoring anywhere via a web browser
• Scalable cloud-based deployment
• Innovative monitoring dashboard, perfect for MSPs or any size NOC teams
• A wide range of automated remote administration options makes it a great choice for helpdesk support
• Automatic asset discovery makes inventory management effortless, even on busy networks.

Cons

• It may take some time to fully explore the platform’s features and configuration options

No upfront setup fees for this software as the service is charged based on subscription with no deposit required. It means, there is no upfront payment usually required by other system management software.

You can start your 30-day free trial now

3. SuperOps RMM

SuperOps RMM is a cloud-based service offering all of the tools needed by MSP’s technicians to manage and monitor their clients’ systems.

Important Features

• Device management
• Network and endpoint monitoring
• Associated PSA
• Automated inventories
• Patch management

SuperOps RMM is a SaaS platform. This asset inventory forms the basis of continuous system monitoring. Its autodiscovery process repeats periodically, keeping the asset inventory up to date.

This monitoring service not only queries network and endpoints for statuses but also monitors resource usage. It also offers a patch management service.

Pros

• Automatic asset discovery
• Provides remote management and monitoring tools for remote system
• Logs all management activities
• Documents entire systems
• Has an alerting system that enables unattended monitoring
• Includes an automated patch manager

Cons

• Does not monitor endpoints running macOS Linux

SpecOps offers four plans, which charge for by subscription. You can get started today with their 14-day free trial.

4. Syxsense Manage

A cloud-based endpoint management system, Syxsense Manage software will supervise computers running Linux, macOS and Windows.

The management console for this service is based in the cloud and can easily be accessed through a standard web browser.

Important Features

• Cloud storage
• OS and software patching for Linux, macOS and Windows
• Endpoint discovery and software inventory

It is easy to set up a new account with Syxsense Manage because the Syxsense system will tour a given network and log all of the endpoints it encounters.

Those devices are then enrolled with the installation of an agent which leads to a scan of software on the device. This creates a base for license management and patch management functions.

This software logs all activities and records provide an audit trail needed for HIPAA, PCI DSS and SOX compliance.

Pros

• An intuitive user interface
• Offers configuration profiles that streamline onboarding new devices
• It includes patch management and remote administration features
• Cloud-based service makes desktop management effortless
• Excellent use of colors to display key metrics

Cons

• 14-day free trial too short

Syxsense Manage is a subscription-based software and it offers a 14-day free trial.

5. NinjaRMM

If your IT department needs to support lots of sites, NinjaRMM is the right cloud-based tool that offers all the monitoring and system management tools you need.

The software allows multi-tenant accounts, so managed service providers can use it to manage the IT systems of many clients simultaneously.

Important Features

• Task automation
• Asset inventory
• Automatic network discovery

NinjaRMM service includes an initial scan to find all of the networks and log all devices connected to them. This creates software and hardware inventory, which is the basis of all NinjaRMM system management utility packages.

Device management facilities in the NinjaRMM include an onboarding system that allows standard configuration and software profiles to be stored.

This automatically sets up devices individually or in bulk. Other management systems for endpoints are software license management and patch and update management.

If a device is removed or new devices are added to the network, NinjaRMM will detect the change automatically and update the asset inventory and alert an operator. With this system management software, you can get constant automated monitoring of all network activities and system events.

Pros

• Supports more than 120 integrations making it a great option for established companies
• Free trial
• Built-in remote access with remote commands let technicians troubleshoot without initiating a session
• Customizable interface
• Supports custom scripts that can be deployed to multiple clients

Cons

• The device list could use better search features and filters
• Would prefer more reporting options

NinjaRMM is charged based on subscription with a rate per monitored device. You can also access the console of the software through any standard browser.

You can get access to a 30-day free trial now.

6. Site24x7

Site24x7 is a cloud-based monitoring tools platform. The platform comes with a large number of individual monitoring tools bundled into packages which include:

• all-in-one
• Website monitoring
• Application Performance Monitor
• site24x7 infrastructure
• MSP

Important Features

• Virtualization monitoring
• Network, application, server and website monitoring
• Status alerts

All of the Site24x7 plans include network and server monitoring features. another thing that is common to all plans is the log management module that collects Windows Events and Syslog messages and the log messages that several applications put out.

Also, the Log Manager collects all log messages and converts them into a common format and then stores them in files. The system also has a data viewer that includes features to filter, sort and group records for easy analysis.

Pros

• Great root cause analysis for quicker ticket resolution
• Monthly plans designed to fit both small businesses and established enterprises
• Supports multiple alert channels including iPhone and Android notification push
• Cloud-based service reduces startup costs for new MSPs

Cons

• A longer trial period would have been better

You can get a Site24x7 30-day free trial now.

7. Opmantek

Opmantek is an intelligent network management system that helps you with the configuration, auditing, discovery of all networks and compliance.

You can tailor it to meet the need of any business since it is built on open-source cores of NMIS and Open audit.

Important Features

• Manages and monitors all your IT infrastructures, including hybrid infrastructure and emerging architectures like containers and micro-services
• Can be up and running within a few minutes
• Supports standard-based compliance management
• Automatically detects, manages and audits any network connected to the device
• The open-source cores can be extended through plug-in modules so that you can have a custom solution that works perfectly for your organization
• Operates in diverse environments

Opmantek is 100% free and you can get it downloaded now.

8. ManageEngine Desktop Central

ManageEngine Desktop Central offers a fleet of management services for endpoints. The platform is a bundle of tools that has all the systems that you need to manage the endpoints in your organization’s inventory.

This platform is available in four editions and all of them have functions for system management like software inventory tracking, configuration management, device discovery and patch management.

Important Features

• Configuration management
• Patch management
• Endpoint monitoring

The Desktop Central system can manage devices running Linux, Chrome OS, macOS and Windows.

The highest plan includes a Mobile Device Management module that supports devices running tvOS, Android and iOS. This service is also available to the other paid plans as an add-on. Also, all plans have a security monitoring add-on option.

Pros

• Can be installed on Linux and Windows platforms, making it more flexible than other on-premise options
• Available on-premise or as a SaaS offering
• Provides in-depth reporting perfect for enterprise management or MSPs

Cons

• Can take some time to fully learn and understand it

This platform provides Desktop Central in four editions. The free edition is perfect for small businesses with up to 25 devices. The paid versions are UEM, Enterprise and Professional.

The Professional edition gets you laptop and desktop management functions and begins at $795/year to manage 50 devices with access for one technician.

The Enterprise plan begins at $945/year to manage 50 devices and includes software management and a self-service portal for users.

The UEM plan starts at $1,095/year to manage 50 devices and includes mobile device management and OS deployment features.

You can get this software for Desktop Central to install it on Windows Server or use the cloud-based SaaS version of the system. You can give both deployment options a 30-day free trial.

9. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is network software that can help you monitor applications, traffic and infrastructure. PRTG Network Monitor automatically discovers devices by pinging IP ranges.

You can easily monitor your network with real-time visualization, including charts, maps and dials through the dashboard.

Important Features

• Status alerts
• Network discovery
• System monitoring

PRTG Network Monitor’s server monitoring capabilities are diverse. The software can monitor web servers, mail servers, file servers and database servers. It offers unique sensors for databases such as Oracle SQL, Microsoft SQL and MySQL.

PRTG Network Monitor can keep you updated on security events with its API used for creating custom alerts. Whenever the system detects a problematic activity it sends an alert via push notification, SMS or email. All users who download iOS or Android apps can use push notifications.

Pros

• Integrates excellently into PRTG ecosystem
• Customizable sensors for virtually any application, service or server
• Live network maps let technicians visualize complex network infrastructure
• Flexible pricing based on the sensors in use
• Lots of integrations into other messaging applications and ticketing systems

Cons

• Sensor setup and integrations require technical knowledge because it is designed for IP professionals

PRTG Network Monitor has a freeware version for enterprises that use less than 100 sensors. And there is a range of versions that increase in price based on the number of sensors you want to support.

This PRTG 500 begins at $1,600 for 500 sensors and one server installation. Get started with your 30-day free trial here.

10. Atera

Atera is a software suite for managed service providers that include remote monitoring and management (RMM) and professional service automation (PSA) systems. It is a multi-tenanted service.

Important Features

• Patch management
• Remote access
• Ticketing system
• Self-help customer portal
• Monitoring alerts

Atera can manage endpoints running macOS, Windows and Windows Server. When a system is enrolled in the monitoring service, it needs to download an agent onto each monitored device to facilitate remote access and gather software information. This will create a software inventory.

For updates, the patch manager refers to the OS and the versions of software registered in its inventory. When an update is available, the Atera system copies and saves the installer which will be installed during the next maintenance window.

Atera also offers automated monitoring services. Its PSA functions add on the client and contract management features that include automated timesheet generation for billing.

Pros

• Remote access
• Device discovery
• Automated system
• Software inventory scanning
• Technician team management
• Knowledge-based framework
• scheduled and on-demand patch management
• Automated system maintenance processes

Cons

• No agent for Linux

Atera offers three subscription plans. It can be paid for monthly or yearly with the yearly subscription getting a big discount. Atera is available for a 30-day free trial.

11. Nagios XI

This software is an infrastructure management tool that offers a top-down perspective of network performance. It has a customizable dashboard that provides you with absolute control over how your network is monitored.

Nagios XI displays come in form of maps and graphs and more to monitor your network performance.

Important Features

• Management task automation
• Capacity planning
• Performance monitoring

It has features such as automated capacity planning graphs that keep you aware of the status of your current systems. Its scheduling capacity planning reports help you make sure your usage requirements don’t exhaust your resources and put you out of action.

With this software, you also get APIs for integrating with external apps and a range of useful add-ons. The plugins on Nagios Exchange let you further customize your monitoring experience.

Pros

• Open-source transparent tool
• Flexible alerting options that support email and SMS
• Simple, yet intuitive interface
• Robust API backend makes it an excellent choice for developers who want to integrate their own custom applications

Cons

• Installation can be technical and complex
• More integrations into more ticketing systems would be great

Nagios XI is available in two versions including the Standard version and the Enterprise version. The Standard version begins at $1,995 or £1,512 and comes with features such as configuration wizards and reports.

The Enterprise version begins at $3,495 or £2,703 and offers features such as audit logging, capacity planning reports and more. You can start your free trial now.

12. ManageEngine Applications Manager

application Manager from ManageEngine makes it easier for IT admins to stay on top of the performance of applications and servers so that issues can be identified quickly and app bottlenecks are reduced.

Important Features

• Supports multi-user access
• Offers support for Solaris, Windows, Linux, HP Unix. Tru64, macOS, FreeBSD and IBM AIX.
• Allows for grouping of a few apps as a single unit for easy monitoring
• Monitors over 100 key performance indicators of your application
• Discovers and maps applications and their dependencies to provide you with a comprehensive insight into your IT infrastructure
• Comes with powerful reports
• Instantly detects problematic performances
• Offers different editions for varying needs of every company
• Identifies application faults and helps to resolve them before the end-user detect it
• Provides REST APIs for getting data from the Application manager
• Helps to manage SLAs by monitoring the availability and performance of mission-critical applications
• The custom dashboard can be created and admin activities can be carried out via a standard web browser
• Available in languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Hungarian, Vietnamese and Chinese
• World Map Business View gives a comprehensive understanding of your distributed network.

Pros

• Network monitoring
• Alerting and reporting
• Server, virtualization infrastructure monitoring
• Services and other application related components monitoring
• Agentless monitoring
• Custom monitoring and scripting

Cons

• Needs more customization of reports
• scalability options
• More out of the integrations with 3rd party tools

The software comes with two editions including Professional and enterprise. The cost depends on the capabilities/tool you like to add to your package. Complete pricing is here.

The Demo version is available here.

13. OP5 Monitor

OP5 Monitor is an open-source network and SNMP monitoring tool. It has an auto-discovery feature that discovers devices that are connected to the network automatically.

Once it discovers your SNMP-enabled devices, you can start monitoring availability and performance. It also provides out-of-the-box support for a range of vendors to minimize the level of needed configuration.

Important Features

• SLA templates
• Automated asset inventory
• Performance monitoring

With this tool, you can configure your notifications and alert rules and configure notifications for databases, networks and OS resources.

Reports in this tool let you further analyze your network activity. The tool offers a range of reports including availability reports, alert history reports, SLA reports, alert summary and more. You can save reports in PDF and CSV files.

Pros

• Intuitive dashboard, perfect for team environments
• Utilizes autodiscovery to reflect an accurate list of managed assets
• Provides additional support for onboarding to help new users

Cons

• Price only available on request
• The open-source version has no support options and only rely on the community for bug fixes
• More compliance-based reporting options would be great

Pricing is based on a request, so you have to tell them what you need and they will give you the right price. You can get the 30-day free trial here to get a feel of it.

14. Zabbix

Zabbix is open-source software for system monitoring. It blends server, application, cloud and network monitoring into a single platform. With it, you can effortlessly monitor configuration changes, bandwidth usage and network health.

Its visualization capabilities are vast with everything from graphs and charts to cluster displays.

Important Features

• Free
• Adaptable with free add-ons
• Automated IT asset management

Templates offer you out-of-the-box configurations, discovery rules and graphs for a range of vendors. It offers templates for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Dell, Cisco, Netgear, Intell, juniper Networks and more.

You can also find a range of modules and templates on the community site.

Pros

• Wide variety of alerting options, email, SMS and third-party integration
• Can track metrics like power consumption, network connectivity, temperature and disk metrics providing a holistic look into the device health

Cons

• Only available for Linux machines
• The interface can feel crowded when tracking a large number of devices
• The open-source version has no support options and only relies on the community for bug fixes

This is the perfect tool for enterprises looking for a low-cost tool with premium features. Zabbix is available for Linux, Oracle, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Raspbian, Debian, Ubuntu and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

You can download it for free.

15. ConnectWise Automate

ConnectWise automate combines infrastructure monitoring with automation. It automatically discovers devices and monitors them. The platform also allows you to automatically record remote sessions to monitor user activity and comply with auditing requirements.

Important Features

• Performance and security monitoring
• Automated patching
• System inventory management

This program has an alert system that lets you receive notifications about security events and performance issues. Notifications ensure you never miss any vulnerabilities or other problems that could affect your network.

One of the most important ConnectWise Automate is system patching. With this patching feature, you can remotely patch Windows devices, making your IT management process more efficient.

Pros

• Inventory management, remote management and reporting can be accessed from a single dashboard
• Supports automation and remote troubleshooting without impacting the user session.
• Very easy remote access to endpoints through multiple protocols
• Interface templates can be made for individuals or entire teams
• Over 100 pre-configured templates and commands to use out-of-box

Cons

• The user chat function is clunky at times
• The interface can be confusing, especially in the reporting and management areas
• Prefer a longer trial period to explore all features

ConnectWise Automate is designed for environments where administrators seek to automate network monitoring and minimize manual administration.

To view the pricing, you need to contact the company directly. Download the free trial here.

16. KACE Systems Management Appliance

KACE System Management Appliance is a system management software that lets you monitor servers, laptops, tablets, computers, storage, printers and more.

The platform helps you to manage resources allocation, perform software license management and manage inventory of IT assets.

Important Features

• Vulnerability scanning
• Software license management
• IT asset inventory

With this platform, you won’t only get more visibility but also perform tasks such as patching and vulnerability scans.

Checking for remotely patching devices and vulnerabilities can save time and minimize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. The platform also offers alerts to notify you about performance events.

Pros

• a simple dashboard offers a clutter-free view of vital metrics
• Provides built-in vulnerability scanning as well as patching
• Can manage license information and devices

Cons

• Have to contact the sales team for pricing
• Not suitable for MSPs or larger multi-site companies

If you are an enterprise that wants to manage IT assets from just one place, this software is perfect for you. To view the pricing, you have to contact the sales team.

You can start a free trial now.

17. WhatsUp Gold

This software from IpSwitch lets you proactively monitor your infrastructure, applications and devices.

Important Features

• Automatically discovers and maps devices
• Monitors cloud-based devices
• Custom dashboards and reports provide you with an in-depth peek into the performance of your devices at any time
• Comes with a top-notch alerting system
• supports more than 200 Cisco MIBs for monitoring Cisco equipment
• Offers customizable device roles
• Has a flexible email scheduling and distribution

Pros

• Ease of use
• The software has free updates
• Great monitoring and alerting systems

Cons

• Bulk editing is cumbersome

You can get a quote from here. You can start a free trial now.

How to choose System Management Software and Tools?

Choosing the perfect system management software or tool can be the difference between a productive day at the office or the dark ages.

Each tool listed in this write-up is perfect for system management in the modern IT environment.

If you are looking for the best system management software that is also complete, Paessler PRTG Network Monitor or SolarWinds System Management Bundle can make a great starting point. The former will work perfectly in environments that desire a freeware solution.

If you are looking to go open-source, then Zabbix will make an excellent solution.

Conclusion On System Management Software

A single second of downtime can cost your business a huge financial loss and employees lower productivity.

A system management software or tool suite can keep your IT environment running smoothly. It is vital for the security, growth and success of your organization.