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Microsoft Configuration Manager pros and cons

Vendor: Microsoft
4.1 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1
3,192 followers
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Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Microsoft Configuration Manager simplifies patching, compliance, operating system deployment, and updates.
Features such as application deployment, task sequencing, and software updates are highly valued for their efficiency and automation capabilities.
Microsoft Configuration Manager is recognized for its scalability, easily managing large-scale environments.
Integration with Microsoft Intune allows for comprehensive management of both corporate and personal devices within the same framework.
Microsoft Configuration Manager offers robust reporting tools that provide deep insights into hardware and software configurations across the network.

CONS

The cost of Microsoft Configuration Manager can be improved.
The deployment process is lengthy and could be quicker to complete.
There is no asset management package included.
Microsoft should extend support for additional platforms.
Devices like smartphones and tablets are managed very well on VMware, however, they are absent in Microsoft Configuration Manager.
 

Microsoft Configuration Manager Pros review quotes

Reviewer729 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 9, 2018
With the SCCM inventory, we found a lot of rogue applications. We were able to identify them, find out who was running them, and either put them on our application list or remove them.
AE
Oct 6, 2022
I manage software updates and operating systems for devices, and within seconds, we can remotely deploy a system for, say, 2,000 devices. Not only that, but we can also deploy scripts and create comprehensive compliance rules.
SD
Nov 9, 2021
The major features of this product are the reporting tools. The most valuable features are package deployment and application deployment. Security management is also good because any vulnerability will be identified, and you can fix it. It's the best tool because you never know what kind of client you will have. For example, you may have your offices in low bandwidth remote areas. But it's achievable because it accommodates the bandwidth that you have available. Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is an excellent reporting tool for your environment. If you want to know the details about the hardware configuration, software configuration, what is causing a problem, or when a new feature update comes in for Windows, even that goes on SCCM itself. A lot of deployment stuff.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Configuration Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
817,751 professionals have used our research since 2012.
US
Oct 7, 2020
The main, clear valuable feature is updating the latest, patches and updates from Windows. This is the main feature we really utilize a lot.
CW
Jul 5, 2018
Valuable features include configurations enforcement, compliance data gathering, and deployment of a standardized OS.
DA
Jan 15, 2019
It saves a lot of money when you can install things automatically and they are installed the exact same way on every computer.
LB
May 17, 2023
It is a very well-rounded product. It is a complete package with all the features using which we are able to manage our PCs very efficiently.
OK
Dec 10, 2020
It's helped us solve problems surrounding patching, installing, and reporting different patches, etc., on the virtual machines.
reviewer1059522 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 1, 2019
The most valuable feature is the graphical-based reports of software updates that have been successful, the ones that have failed, and a summary of where the failures are what security breaches may occur.
reviewer1054521 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 18, 2022
We have found the scalability to be quite good.
 

Microsoft Configuration Manager Cons review quotes

Reviewer729 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 9, 2018
There is a reboot issue with the patching. Sometimes, if patching runs into any issue whatsoever, it doesn't reboot but it doesn't tell you it errored out. It just sits there and we don't find out until the next day whether it patched or not. That was a big issue for us. We're working through that. They added some stuff in there now where you can actually tell reboot is pending. But we still need some kind of notification that if something fails or is pending, we know. We shouldn't have to go in and look. They don't have anything for that right now.
AE
Oct 6, 2022
A lot of experience is needed in terms of troubleshooting, as this is one of the most difficult tasks in MECM. We were seven people in a group and I was the only one that had the patience to do the troubleshooting at times.
SD
Nov 9, 2021
It would be better if reporting were more user-friendly. I would like to see an upgrade in the reporting structure in the next release. At the moment, you have to use an SQL query or configure it to pull reports through the graphical user interface. Their updates could be more regular. I think Mircosoft updates it every six months. They are also moving many things to Intune, and Microsoft decided to move the deployment solution there. I think SCCM is getting old, and Intune is new.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Configuration Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
817,751 professionals have used our research since 2012.
US
Oct 7, 2020
Devices like smartphones and tablets are managed very well on VMware, however, they are absent in SCCM. I could configure iPad from the VMware site and it was done very easily. It should be just as possible on SCCM.
CW
Jul 5, 2018
Built in PowerShell cmdlets would be a nice feature because managing clients remotely can be a pain without knowing the WMI calls to run.
DA
Jan 15, 2019
Our company would prefer not rebooting computers while people are using them. There seems to be no strategy behind it.
LB
May 17, 2023
One area of improvement is regarding the patching of Office 365 products. We have some difficulties on this side, and it can be improved.
OK
Dec 10, 2020
Based on my experience with SCCM 2016, the main, big issue is not having a good user-friendly environment. It needs much better GUI.
reviewer1059522 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 1, 2019
I would like to see an agentless version of the solution.
reviewer1054521 - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 18, 2022
In terms of the monitoring, the timeframe it takes to actually report back on the compliance of a device after it has been patched is a bit too long.