

Microsoft System Center and PRTG Network Monitor both operate within the IT monitoring solutions category. Based on user feedback, PRTG Network Monitor seems to have the upper hand in terms of ease of setup and cost-effectiveness, particularly in smaller environments, while Microsoft System Center is notably strong in integration with Microsoft products.
Features: Microsoft System Center is highly regarded for its integration with Microsoft products and automation for system updates. It supports different hypervisors and offers effective antivirus administration. PRTG Network Monitor is appreciated for its rapid deployment, intuitive setup, and scalable monitoring capabilities. It provides real-time alerts and robust reporting, making it suitable for various IT environments.
Room for Improvement: Microsoft System Center could improve in non-Microsoft integrations, setup complexity, and resource requirements. Enhancements in UI and documentation are also suggested. PRTG Network Monitor can enhance its graphical interface and expand sensor options. Improved third-party integration and scalability are also desired by users.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft System Center is optimal for on-premises deployment and aligns well with Microsoft infrastructure, though it may require specialized support. PRTG Network Monitor offers flexibility with its deployment options, including cloud and on-premises, and receives positive feedback on its implementation process, though support can be improved with more engagement.
Pricing and ROI: Microsoft System Center is generally perceived as expensive due to enterprise licensing, yet it delivers significant ROI for Microsoft-centric organizations. In contrast, PRTG Network Monitor offers a flexible pricing model, appealing to smaller companies or those with specific monitoring needs, and includes a free version for cost-effective scaling.
It provides accurate data for utilization, allowing us to monitor and optimize our investments in WAN connection capacity.
After introducing PRTG Network Monitor, we have saved time, and it's easy for everybody to monitor everything.
The implementation reduced our employee resources from 20-25 to 5-6 employees.
As a partner, I cannot create a ticket directly; I have to involve the end user's email to create one, so using the Software Assurance ID to create a ticket directly is not possible, making it very challenging for me.
They resolve our queries 24/7.
The setup process is well-documented, making it easy to deploy.
Tutorials are available so I can manage any issue with PRTG Network Monitor easily.
Microsoft System Center is scalable, allowing integration even if I have different sites.
On a scale of one to ten, scalability is rated as 9.5.
PRTG Network Monitor has the ability to scale and add new devices.
You can install them in each network, even if they are not connected, and it works.
We haven't needed vendor support for the last three years, which demonstrates the product's stability.
PRTG Network Monitor is stable in my experience, and I have not encountered issues with crashes or downtime.
PRTG Network Monitor is very stable and requires low maintenance.
The disadvantage of Microsoft System Center is related to the many integrated services; if one service is failing, then all features will be affected.
The initial auto-discovery added too many unnecessary sensors, so auto-discovery should only take the necessary sensors into consideration.
They need to improve application performance monitoring, error tracing mechanisms, and log management.
PRTG Network Monitor should provide syslog monitoring since it is not available at this time.
The licensing part is a recurring license for every year, which is very affordable, making PRTG Network Monitor budget-friendly.
Pricing is by the number of devices, not by sensor.
The prices are very high for PRTG Network Monitor.
In Microsoft System Center, all the features are integrated already, whereas in ManageEngine, you have to license each feature individually to access those features.
PRTG Network Monitor already provided me with 100 free sensors, which is enough for my network monitoring.
PRTG Network Monitor has a good dashboard that shows each and every piece of information, so we can easily find out what is happening with the systems.
These reports help me in my day-to-day work, and I rely on them because they provide proof during escalation, with exact downtime logs and related information.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| PRTG Network Monitor | 4.8% |
| Microsoft System Center | 0.7% |
| Other | 94.5% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 7 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 4 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 59 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 19 |
| Large Enterprise | 47 |
PRTG Network Monitor runs on a Windows machine within your network, collecting various statistics from the machines, software, and devices which you designate. PRTG comes with an easy-to-use web interface with point-and-click configuration. You can easily share data from it with non-technical colleagues and customers, including via live graphs and custom reports. This will let you plan for network expansion, see what applications are using most of your connection, and make sure that no one is hogging the entire network just to torrent videos.
To monitor a large IT environment, it's important to be able to scale PRTG up. Paessler PRTG Enterprise Monitor includes all the proven capabilities of PRTG Network Monitor, which are enhanced by exclusive ITOps Board for a service-oriented, central overview of multiple PRTG servers.
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