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Checkmk vs Microsoft Configuration Manager comparison

Checkmk and Microsoft are both solutions in the Server Monitoring category. Checkmk is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.4, while Microsoft is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.0. Checkmk holds a 11.2% mindshare in SM, compared to Microsoft’s 5.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Checkmk users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.
Checkmk
Read 9 Checkmk reviews
  • 2,537 Views
  • 190 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Microsoft Configuration Man...
Read 81 Microsoft Configuration Manager reviews
  • 1,884 Views
  • 135 Comparison Views
90% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 15, 2025

Microsoft Configuration Manager and Checkmk compete in the IT management and monitoring software category. Microsoft Configuration Manager has the upper hand due to its comprehensive application deployment and inventory management capabilities, which cater extensively to enterprise needs.

Features: Microsoft Configuration Manager provides robust software and application deployment, seamless WSUS integration for patch management, and efficient operating system deployment utilizing PXE. It excels in mobile management via Intune and offers thorough hardware and software inventory reporting. Checkmk focuses on resource and infrastructure monitoring, excels in auto-discovery, and provides strong integration capabilities, proving useful in complex infrastructures and environments experiencing frequent power outages.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Configuration Manager needs enhancements in reporting, performance, and integration with non-Microsoft Intune subscriptions. Refining PowerShell integration and simplifying deployment processes for Linux environments are also areas for improvement. Checkmk could benefit from enhanced presentation and integration with popular tools like ServiceNow and Dynatrace. Improving accessibility for beginners, offering predictive monitoring, and enhancing documentation would enhance its usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Configuration Manager provides deployment flexibility through On-premises and cloud options, but users report complexity in initial setup. Checkmk, primarily On-premises, is recognized for a straightforward deployment process. Microsoft’s customer service experiences vary, with concerns about response times and a tiered support structure. Checkmk users find technical support robust, supported by comprehensive online resources, though some desire more intuitive support interactions.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Configuration Manager can be expensive, especially for enterprises needing comprehensive licensing, although the investment is justified by significant ROI from automation and compliance improvements. Checkmk is considered more affordable for educational institutions and small businesses, providing a cost-effective solution without sacrificing quality features, appealing to budget-conscious organizations seeking powerful monitoring solutions.

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To learn more, read our detailed Checkmk vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Checkmk vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Checkmk
Ranking in Server Monitoring
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
Network Monitoring Software (8th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (13th), Cloud Monitoring Software (12th)
Microsoft Configuration Man...
Ranking in Server Monitoring
7th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
81
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (4th), Patch Management (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Server Monitoring category, the mindshare of Checkmk is 11.2%, up from 7.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Configuration Manager is 5.3%, down from 8.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Server Monitoring
 

Featured Reviews

Paolo Sala - PeerSpot reviewer
A reasonably priced tool for system and application monitoring
The main room for improvement is in the solution's presentation and the integration area. In our company, we use the integration capabilities from ServiceNow. We also have another big monitoring solution in place in our company, which is Dynatrace. At the moment, there doesn't exist an out-of-the-box integration for Dynatrace. I think that the integration and the exporting of the data collected are areas where Checkmk lacks but should try to improve the most. The only implementation of Checkmk that allows high availability is the virtual appliance that has the option for the availability of a different box. Otherwise, you have to find a way to implement it manually with some custom solution, which could be an improvement.
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MikeNelson2 - PeerSpot reviewer
Deployment recovery works well but requires configuration improvements
While I do not use the product frequently, many issues were due to configuration rather than the product itself. I cannot give an exact recommendation as it is not my area of responsibility. The team that uses it finds it adequate. It is presently good enough for us not to investigate other options. Overall, I rate the product a six out of ten.
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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Overall, from one to ten, I rate Checkmk a nine."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it has a lot of different pieces, and they all work together...It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"Checkmk helps me compare data and foresee issues."
"I really like the auto-discovery feature."
"We can monitor multiple sites using the product."
"The most valuable features of Checkmk are its resource monitoring, infra monitoring, and log factor configuration."
"The alerting system in Checkmk really works properly."
"It's versatile, scalable, and easier to use compared to other solutions like Nagios and OMD."
More Checkmk pros
"Patching is very effective and reporting is very good."
"This solution captures all the devices in our infrastructure."
"I have found the solution to be scalable. We have around 50,000 users using the solution."
"The solution is stable."
"It is easy to install, and quick to deploy."
"You can remote control or RDP. That has been the most valuable because we can go into one console and can get to anything we want. Instead of going to all these different consoles, we centralized everything."
"The cloud account management is a valuable feature."
"It gives us the ability to set up schedules, according to what our security requirements are, to automate the patching of our servers and desktops."
More Microsoft Configuration Manager pros
 

Cons

"In Checkmk, the documentation can probably be improved a bit more."
"If an alert is generated for a specific pattern in the log, and if Checkmk catches that log, it will stay there even after the alert is resolved."
"It is easy for tech-savvy people, but newcomers might find it intimidating."
"Checkmk does not allow running scripts at varying intervals."
"The main challenge for us is that we're moving from Nagios to Checkmk, and we're still getting used to the new way of working."
"I think that the integration and the exporting of the data collected are areas where Checkmk lacks but should try to improve the most."
"Checkmk does not work too easily with the PowerStore. I use a PowerShell script as Checkmk runs on Linux and a Windows system, connecting with the Checkmk agent."
"Sometimes we receive alerts, and it can become annoying when you acknowledge an alert. It is very clunky when you acknowledge the alert. The process is not very intuitive, and there are instances where it feels a bit cumbersome to acknowledge an alert."
More Checkmk cons
"The solution should be more compatible with different versions of Linux."
"The solution can be improved by speeding up the synchronizing of the policies on the devices."
"The solution is crowded with information."
"I would like to see an agentless version of the solution."
"Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager can improve by allowing us to schedule the scripts, we don't have a script scheduling option and have to do it manually."
"The solution can be improved with the addition of a mobile device manager."
"With Microsoft Premier Support, you get what you pay for. There's Third Tier Support that you pay for. If you pay for that, you get excellent support, and if you don't pay for that, then you get the less experienced staff."
"Could do with some cosmetic improvements on the user interface."
More Microsoft Configuration Manager cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Checkmk is cheaper compared to other enterprise products."
"The product is affordable."
"Checkmk is a fairly reasonably priced solution."
"The licensing is good because they have various options, depending on what you are looking for."
"As far as I know, it is an annual operating expense license."
"Its price is okay because it is part of our licensing."
"Presently, I am using a free trial version."
"Pricing and licensing are a downside of SCCM. It's expensive. I'd have to confirm this, but I think they changed the licensing to core-based instead of socket-based. It's not cheap, because you have to buy the software, you have to buy SQL. Another thing we learned from talking to Microsoft is that they provide you a license for SQL if you run it on the same box as the primary server. If you run it outside that box, you have to buy SQL. Microsoft does recommend you running it on the same box because of performance. But then, in order to run SQL, SCCM, and everything on the same box, you better have some resources. It's an expensive solution. There's no doubt about it."
"The price could be better."
"The price of SCCM depends on the size of the organization. The price is competitive."
"Along with buying a license for MECM, we also have to buy a service called CMG (Cloud Management Gateway) which is a virtual machine in the cloud with which you can link your MECM to the Azure tenant so as to manage teleworkers."
More Microsoft Configuration Manager pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Checkmk?
The most valuable feature of the solution is that it has a lot of different pieces, and they all work together...It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Checkmk?
I will get more information about Checkmk when the proof of concept is done. It's going to be before the summer. There will be a report about the tool and a recommendation to use it. So far, it loo...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Checkmk?
Checkmk ( /products/checkmk-reviews ) is a monitoring tool, so that's what I will use it for. Right now, it's not in production, but it's in a proof of concept phase. It looks good, so probably, du...
See all answers
How does Ansible compare to Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (SCCM)?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager takes knowledge and research to properly configure. The length of time that the set up will take depends on the kind of technical architecture that your org...
See all answers
How to choose between ManageEngine Desktop Central and Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM)?
ManageEngine Desktop Central is very easy to set up, is scalable, stable, and also has very good patch management. What I like most about ManageEngine is that I can log on to every PC very easily a...
See all answers
What do you like most about SCCM?
One of the standout features of SCCM is its application management capabilities. It allows us to create packages efficiently and deploy them to specific groups within our network. This streamlined ...
See all answers
 

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Compared 13% of the time
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Compared 11% of the time
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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Checkmk
June 2025
Checkmk reportDownload Checkmk product report
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Configuration Manager
June 2025
Microsoft Configuration Manager reportDownload Microsoft Configuration Manager product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM )
 

Overview

Checkmk is a powerful tool for monitoring IT infrastructure, providing vital insights on servers, databases, network devices, and custom applications.

Primarily used for supervising IT infrastructure, Checkmk helps organizations ensure service availability by monitoring hosts, processes, load, storage, and network appliances. With support for both Linux and Windows environments across multiple data centers, Checkmk performs compliance checks and preserves historical data for core network devices.

What are the key features of Checkmk?
  • Auto-discovery: Automatically identifies new hosts and applies monitoring rules.
  • Custom monitoring: Enhances MySQL performance tracking.
  • Slack integration: Provides immediate downtime alerts.
  • Graphical trend analysis: Offers 400 days of trend data.
  • Multiple site monitoring: Ensures seamless data synchronization through task automation.
  • Resource and infrastructure monitoring: Configures log factors to fit budget constraints.
  • System metric imports: Includes servers, SQL, file systems, and application monitoring.
What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?
  • Time-saving: Auto-discovery and task automation streamline processes.
  • Proactive alerts: Immediate downtime notifications optimize response times.
  • Historical insights: Long-term graphical trend analysis aids strategic planning.
  • Cost efficiency: Resource monitoring aligned with budget constraints.

Checkmk is deployed extensively in large enterprise environments for monitoring critical infrastructure. It proves particularly useful under conditions of frequent power outages or network issues, helping maintain smooth operations. While the alert acknowledgment process and interface require improvements, and the lack of an agent-less platform complicates server management, the strengths in auto-discovery, integration, and comprehensive monitoring make Checkmk a strong contender for IT infrastructure monitoring.

Checkmk

Microsoft Configuration Manager helps IT manage PCs and servers, keeping software up-to-date, setting configuration and security policies, and monitoring system status while giving employees access to corporate applications on the devices that they choose. When Configuration Manager is integrated with Microsoft Intune, you can manage corporate-connected PCs and Macs along with cloud-based mobile devices running Windows, iOS, and Android, all from a single management console.

New features of Configuration Manager, such as the support of Windows 10 in-place upgrade, co-management with Microsoft Intune, Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise Servicing Dashboard, integration with Windows Update for Business, and more make deploying and managing Windows easier than ever before.

Microsoft
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Bank Alfalah Ltd., Wªrth Handelsges.m.b.H, Dimension Data, Japan Business Systems, St. Lucie County Public Schools, MISC Berhad
Buyer's Guide
Checkmk vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager
June 2025
Free Report: Checkmk vs. Microsoft Configuration Manager
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