Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Ivanti and Quest Software are both solutions in the Patch Management category. Additionally, 100% of Ivanti users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Read 4 Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

KACE Systems Management App...

Read 40 KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) reviews

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95% willing to recommend

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

KACE Systems Management App...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 4, 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance and Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] are competing in the IT management and security market. KACE SMA seems to have the upper hand in pricing and customer support, while Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] offers more advanced features.

Features: KACE SMA offers asset management, patch management, and service desk integration to boost IT management efficiency. Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] provides advanced patch management, device control, and detailed vulnerability assessment, appealing to security-focused environments.

Room for Improvement: KACE SMA could improve by simplifying its vast feature set for small businesses, enhancing mobile device management, and providing more intuitive reporting tools. Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] might benefit from streamlining deployment processes, increasing third-party integration options, and simplifying its complex user interface.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: KACE SMA is praised for its easy deployment and robust customer support. On the other hand, Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] has a more complex deployment process but compensates with adequate customer service to address challenges.

Pricing and ROI: KACE SMA is known for its competitive pricing and essentially lower upfront costs, leading to positive ROI with its efficient management solutions. In contrast, Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] has a higher initial setup cost but justifies it through comprehensive security features, promising substantial ROI for businesses needing strong security.

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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

Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

KACE Systems Management App...

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Client Desktop Management (2nd), Endpoint Compliance (6th), Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (11th), Patch Management (11th), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (11th)

Featured Reviews

Chethan R

Windows Security Patching Operation III (Cyber Operations) at CBTS

Has reduced hardware strain through agentless patching and improved asset visibility

This solution does not have capability of managing applications. It is only used for asset management and patch management. Regarding analytics for Ivanti Security Controls, it does not have extensive capabilities. It is a basic tool from Ivanti for scanning and deploying. It does not have analytics features such as EDR or security tools available in the market. It only has capability to check missing patches, find them, and deploy them. When it comes to reports, compliance reports or similar types of reports are not user-friendly. Expertise is required for handling these aspects. The asset management in Ivanti Security Controls needs more visibility. Additionally, it can be improved to handle in-house applications, which currently cannot be installed. It can only handle existing applications, unlike Ivanti's Endpoint Manager. It should have additional features in this area that need improvement.

Read full review

AdityaJain

Security Administrator at EbixCash

Centralized software deployment has simplified endpoint control but needs stronger security alerts

What I like best about KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is that it allows pushing custom-made applications to all computers that have KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) endpoint installed. This makes it easier for the organization to push patches and updates. If I need to push EDR updates, I can use KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), as it automatically updates the EDR on that endpoint, and that is a great feature. Overall, KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) helps streamline my processes by allowing me to check the uptime and downtime of machines, whether they are connected to the internet or not, and how long a machine has been switched off. I can also gather hardware details and software inventory from it. I can show a live demonstration if a video conference can be arranged. Incident resolution capabilities with KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) have improved operational efficiency for system administrators, as it makes it easier to track machines with KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), gather their IP addresses, and push several updates, patches, or software deployments at once. I can design compliances as per my requirements, such as ensuring passwords are reset after 45 days.

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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

"What has been most valuable is the ability to manage, restore and install upgrades and applications. We scan PCs and server and receive results."

"Technical support is helpful and responsive."

"Ivanti Security Controls is a better solution than SCCM."

"Ivanti Security Controls is an agentless tool which means we do not need to install any agent on the server or endpoint, and through agentless capabilities, it can install software, install patches, and control over the server, including asset management."

"In terms of the amount of time KACE saves us, it's weeks of work on a monthly basis, and we're able to do things in a day that used to take us about a month to do."

"Overall, this is a good solution that saves us time and effort."

"It is a very good solution."

"Pretty much all of the features are valuable. The inventory is very helpful to be able to keep track of our devices. The deployments make it easy to deploy new software packages or upgrade packages. The help desk is also a great tool for tracking problems and problem tickets."

"The big pros of Quest KACE Systems Management are its simple interface, and simple, direct management. It's very easy to maintain and manage the device, and it's easy to get it up and running. You can have it up and running in an hour..."

"You don't have to be an advanced user. Rather, in terms of ease of use, this product is right where it needs to be."

"The solution definitely saves us time; we used to have four people putting in 40 hours, and now we have one person doing it in 16 hours."

"We can get the majority of what we need with this product and do not have to spend money on something else."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pros

Cons

"Ivanti Security Controls is a powerful product, but it has quite a steep learning curve."

"When it comes to reports, compliance reports or similar types of reports are not user-friendly. Expertise is required for handling these aspects."

"For the Windows upgrade, the errors we experience are not clear. We see a time out error but do not know the reason. We would like to know the root cause."

"It should be more scalable."

"The KACE Go Mobile App crashes a lot, and it always has. I would love to see that get fixed because it's very convenient when it does work properly, but most of the time it does not."

"I still need better communication about which processes are really due and which processes are currently being processed."

"They could make the booting solution easier for different things, e.g., easier to insert drivers. They could make it easier to create a new image and put it onto the server. Those would be some nice solutions. They could make it so that somebody who has no knowledge at all can do it. That would be really nice. Because every time, until I get it memorized, I still need to go back to the training, the manual, or Google it to figure it out again. If they would make it a lot easier, to where a nine-year-old could do it, that would be really cool. If they made it easier, I could have more people managing the images on the server, instead of just one or two people."

"Scalability is my primary concern right now."

"The user interface needs improvement as customers have mentioned they do not like the interface since it is not an SMA-based interface and lacks a manual configuration option."

"What could be improved is the possibility to use replicas in a secure way outside our network in order to maintain the machines that never connect to our corporate network."

"I still need better communication about which processes are really due and which processes are currently being processed. According to the initial setup service provider, there is still no real management or overview on KACE where you can really see 100 percent of what is going on as well as what is going to be processed next and whether I can influence the overall process. It could really help me if I knew, e.g. exactly in 10 minutes my colleague will be supplied with this or that software. I haven't found this yet. If they could add this, that would be cool. It is still missing and I haven't yet found something like this."

"We'd love to see support for larger dependencies in the scripting feature."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The pricing is fair."

"It may be more expensive, but you get what you pay for."

"We pay annually for technical support."

"The pricing and licensing are good. It's worth it."

"The product is reasonably priced."

"The pricing and licensing are absolutely fair."

"It was a very attractive price. This is a huge feature of this product. If you would "credit score" this product versus others out there on the market, this one has a very attractive price."

"Licensing is done on a per device basis, so it's dependent on how many agents you've got installed."

More KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Outsourcing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

University

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Ivanti Security Controls?

Ivanti Security Controls is a powerful product, but it has quite a steep learning curve. There is quite a lot to learn, though it proves to be very powerful if you put in the time to learn how to u...

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What is your primary use case for Ivanti Security Controls?

We are using Ivanti Security Controls for deploying Windows updates to Windows servers.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Ivanti Security Controls?

I am currently working with Ivanti Security Controls as a customer. I think Ivanti Security Controls is an effective product for this purpose. I would give tech support for Ivanti Security Controls...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Quest KACE Systems Management?

In terms of cost-effectiveness, considering a situation where I want to deploy KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) for just pushing updates, it is completely fine. However, apart from that, I d...

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What needs improvement with Quest KACE Systems Management?

For improvements in KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), I would want to see it become a standalone software agent. I am curious about why it does not offer EDR functionality. Additionally, the...

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What is your primary use case for Quest KACE Systems Management?

I have deployed KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) around 230 plus PCs, and I use it to push Windows updates and scripts. I have designed various scripts for tasks such as password resets afte...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 13% of the time

PDQ Deploy vs Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Compared 6% of the time

Qualys TruRisk Eliminate vs Ivanti Security Controls [EOL]

Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

Kaseya VSA vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 5% of the time

Scalefusion vs KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Patch Management

October 2026

Download Ivanti Security Controls [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

October 2026

KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) report

Download KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Dell KACE Systems Management

Overview

Ivanti Security Controls delivers a reliable, stable setup for managing and installing upgrades and applications, featuring agentless operation and comprehensive reporting. It's preferred by data centers for efficiently addressing vulnerabilities through agentless solutions and backend scripting.

Ivanti Security Controls is instrumental in deploying updates to servers and workstations, effectively managing Microsoft and non-Microsoft patches. Teams leverage its centralized console for efficiency, conducting vulnerability scans and deploying patches based on detected issues. Users appreciate its responsive support and backend scripting capabilities, finding it essential for streamlining patching tasks and addressing vulnerabilities. Areas for improvement include cloud capabilities, logging, and scalability, with users seeking more intuitive report designs, enhanced documentation, and improved application management. Error messages during Windows upgrades need clarity, and more visibility in asset management is desired.

What are the most important features of Ivanti Security Controls?

Agentless Operation: Minimizes system resource usage, enhancing operational efficiency.
Comprehensive Reporting: Offers in-depth insights into security status and system vulnerabilities.
Patch and Asset Management: Simplifies the management of software updates and inventory tracking.
Credential Management: Ensures secure handling of sensitive access information.
PowerShell Script Execution: Allows automated tasks and customized scripting for tailored solutions.

What benefits should users look for in Ivanti Security Controls?

Operational Efficiency: Streamlines update processes, saving time and resources.
Enhanced Security: Improves system safety by addressing vulnerabilities quickly.
Responsive Support: Assists quickly in troubleshooting and resolving user issues.
Centralized Management: Offers a unified platform for managing updates and patches across systems.
Visibility into Vulnerabilities: Provides insights to tackle potential security threats effectively.

Ivanti Security Controls sees extensive use in industries requiring robust patch management and vulnerability scanning, notably in data centers where maintaining security and efficiency is critical. Its ability to deploy updates seamlessly makes it a valuable tool for sectors focused on IT infrastructure management.

Ivanti

KACE Systems Management Appliance offers integration capabilities, efficient image deployment, and comprehensive asset management. It supports centralized management across diverse devices and locations, simplifying IT processes and enhancing security.

KACE Systems Management Appliance provides single-pane visibility for endpoint management, mass software deployment, automated patch management, robust scripting, and detailed inventory tracking. It streamlines IT management and improves cyber-security compliance through remote software updates and centralized IT request handling. Despite struggles with scalability and the need for interface improvements, it enables efficient device imaging, script automation, and network management through detailed reporting. Organizations find it effective for software deployment, asset management, and endpoint monitoring, serving thousands of IoT devices and desktops.

What are the key features of KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Integration capabilities: Seamlessly connects with existing IT systems.
Efficient image deployment: Facilitates quick and effective distribution of system images.
Comprehensive asset management: Provides detailed tracking and management of IT assets.
User-friendly helpdesk: Simplifies handling IT requests and issues.
Automated patch management: Ensures devices are up-to-date with security patches.
Robust scripting: Allows for automation of complex IT tasks.
Detailed inventory tracking: Maintains accurate records of all IT assets.

What benefits should users expect from KACE Systems Management Appliance?

Simplified IT processes: Centralized management enhances operational efficiency.
Improved security: Streamlines cyber-security compliance through automated updates.
Flexibility in customizations: Adapts to specific IT environment needs.
Increased productivity: Efficient ticketing and reporting ease organizational operations.
Remote software updates: Ensures all devices are current, reducing security risks.

In healthcare, KACE Systems Management Appliance is used for maintaining device compliance and security standards. Educational institutions benefit from its capabilities to manage large numbers of endpoints across campuses. In finance, it aids in strict compliance requirements through automated patch management and detailed reporting. Retail sectors leverage its asset management features to streamline operations across numerous locations.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Waypoint, Mattos Filho, Meetic, Gems Education, Green Clinic HealthSystem, Service King

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