BigFix vs OpenText Operations Orchestration vs Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform comparison

HCL BigFix is a powerful patch management tool that enables organizations to simply control their patch management operations. It is designed so that IT security and operations teams can collaborate in the most effective way possible. Users that employ BigFix can find and fix issues with their endpoints faster than those that employ its competitors. It comes with thousands of security checks that can be deployed quickly and easily. These enable users to safeguard themselves from a wide variety of digital threats.

HCL BigFix Benefits

Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy HCL BigFix include:

• Total visibility and simplified control. BigFix provides users with total system visibility while simultaneously enabling administrators to easily manage their networks. It enables organizations to run all of their patch management operations from a single user interface. This UI contains all of BigFix’s system controls. It also contains all of an organization’s network data. Users will never have to search for the features or information that they need as everything is centrally located.

• Maximum benefit for reduced overhead. BigFix enables businesses to integrate with more than 100 different operating systems. Users can utilize the operating system of their choice without multiplying their overhead costs. They can keep costs down while still achieving their goals. 

• Flexibility. BigFix is highly flexible. Users can integrate it with the top vulnerability management solutions on the market. This enables users to maximize their protective coverage and minimize the amount of time that they have to spend resolving issues. 

BigFix Features

• BigFix Insights. The BigFix insights feature gives users access to a powerful deep analysis tool. This tool enables organizations to gather data from all of their endpoints and compile them into reports that can aid administrators in their work. It can centralize an organization’s data and also enable it to import data from other sources so that it can make more informed decisions.

• Task automation. BigFix has the ability to automate rudimentary tasks so that users can focus on tasks that require a greater level of attention. This can include tasks such as event remediation and data collection. This feature enables users to focus their attention on other more critical tasks.

• Data loss prevention tool. This tool enables users to prevent critical data from being leaked or leaking accidentally. It creates policies that limit or prevent sensitive data from being transmitted. It also enforces the privacy protocols that are already in place. Organizations can leverage this tool to bolster the security protecting their data from malicious actors.

• Web reputation tool. This tool proactively protects networks from malicious websites. It scans for potentially dangerous websites and opens a blocking page when one is detected. Users are also given the ability to set proxy server credentials for the system to recognize and authenticate. Users can use this to ensure that suspicious websites are unable to infect their networks.

• Centralized UI. BigFix comes with a built-in UI that centralizes all of the solution’s features so that they can be accessed from a single location. It enables administrators to target specific portions of the network when issues arise without requiring them to take actions that will affect the entire network.

Reviews from Real Users

HCL BigFix is a highly effective solution that stands out when compared to most of its competitors. Two major advantages it offers are its auto-patching capability and its user-friendly tools.

Santhosh K., the chief executive officer of Catnip Infotech Private Limited, writes, “The second valuable feature is, BigFix also has an auto patch updating feature, where the latest patches, and what is required for my system are automatically downloaded and kept ready for me. The solution applies the patch and notifies me after applying the patch. BigFix also gives me a ping saying that I should reset my system within a certain period of time, while the patch is being applied. Let's say, the patch is being applied and if there's an issue, the solution can revoke the applied patch, and revert back to the old state.”

Benedikt S., an application administrator, says, “It's very straightforward. The usability is very close to everyday technical tools that you use as a systems administrator. So it's quite user-friendly.”

OpenText Operations Orchestration (OO) automates, integrates, and orchestrates any IT process, on cloud or off. Automate using low-code/no-code workflow authoring options. Integrate with an API rich, extensible platform. Centrally orchestrate powerful, scalable workflows.

With OO you can automate and orchestrate infrastructure automation and IT processes from service fulfillment to incident remediation, cloud service delivery, and disaster recovery.

Operations Orchestration offers the tools needed to provide enterprise wide orchestration capabilities:

• Design automation workflows with a low-code/no-code designer canvas, content library, and API generator wizards.
• Govern your automation in one place and centrally orchestrate powerful, scalable workflows in large, high availability environments.
• Schedule workflows and make sure that SLAs are met and workflows execution happens when you need it.
• Expose REST APIs to programmatically invoke orchestration from any external source.
• Automate difficult interfaces with RPA robots that mimic screen based human actions.
• Follow business and operational metrics to understand the value and the health of your orchestration environment.
• Expose orchestration scenarios as services to your end users in an easy to use Self-Service catalog.

Operations Orchestration offers the following components:

• Workflow Designer
• Desktop Studio
• Central
• Insights
• Remote Action Service (RAS)
• RPA Robot
• Recorder
• Self-Service X
• Out-of-the-box content

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform streamlines IT operations with features like a simplified GUI and extensive module support. Its agentless architecture and YAML ease make it an adaptable choice for managing diverse infrastructures efficiently.

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform offers a robust automation framework that supports multiple environments and integrates well with various applications. Its agentless Python-based architecture facilitates efficient server management and rapid update deployment. Users benefit from centralized management through Ansible Tower, role-based access control, and dynamic inventory. However, improvement areas include documentation, API integration, network support, and UI scaling. Enhanced community contributions could address module availability and compatibility gaps.

• Agentless Architecture: Leverages Python for seamless management without needing local agents.
• Extensive Module Support: Provides modules for managing multiple environments effectively.
• Ansible Tower GUI: Offers a centralized interface for easy automation management.
• Role-Based Access Control: Ensures user-specific permissions for improved security.
• Integration Capabilities: Connects with a variety of applications to enhance functionality.
• Dynamic Inventory: Automatically updates inventory, simplifying large infrastructure management.

• Automation Efficiency: Significantly reduces manual intervention, saving time and resources.
• Adaptability: Easily integrates with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, and Azure.
• Security Compliance: Automates compliance checks, ensuring up-to-date security protocols.
• Cost Management: Lower operational costs through streamlined processes.
• Scalability: Supports infrastructure growth without requiring major adjustments.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is used for network management, security compliance, and configuration tasks. Organizations utilize its capabilities for cloud and on-premises deployment, infrastructure provisioning, and workflow orchestration. Many integrate it with tools such as Puppet or Terraform to enhance CI/CD processes, benefiting from its agentless design in adapting to cloud environments.