The primary use case of this solution is the application and device management for any windows desktop and mobile device clients.
Solutions Architect at a comms service provider with 1-10 employees
Great administration, easy integration, and affordable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution doesn't require any maintenance from our end because it is a cloud-based solution and Microsoft takes care of everything."
- "The solution can be improved by speeding up the synchronizing of the policies on the devices."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the restriction of data transfer between unmanaged applications and managed applications, specifically on mobile devices. For example, if a user wants to transfer data from email to WhatsApp, that can be restricted.
What needs improvement?
The solution can be improved by speeding up the synchronizing of the policies on the devices. Technical support can benefit from shortened response times and making sure all of the support team are at par with their knowledge regarding the solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for four years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. We currently have seven to nine thousand users.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable to match our needs.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support team's response time can be slow at times and some people are more knowledgeable than others depending on who you have assigned to the ticket.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. I give it an eight out of ten for ease.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is competitive and reasonable. I would give the solution an eight out of ten on price.
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution a nine out of ten.
The solution doesn't require any maintenance from our end because it is a cloud-based solution and Microsoft takes care of everything.
The solution is easy to integrate with the durations and application, and administration is also very simple. When you go with the combination of licenses, the cost is also good, and reasonable.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Vice President Technological Solutions and Security at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Complete solution, beneficial application distribution, and excellent support
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of SCCM is the application distribution."
- "We are using the solutions for PC application inventories, patch management for new PC installation, PC reinstallation, and zero-day patching."
- "SCCM can improve on third-party application support."
What is our primary use case?
SCCM is used in the insurance and public administration sector. We have various sized customers using it.
We are using the solutions for PC application inventories, patch management for new PC installation, PC reinstallation, and zero-day patching. We're using it to its full capabilities. It's a complete solution in the Microsoft environment.
How has it helped my organization?
SCCM has made it easy for our organization to personalize all the distribution schedules and how we want to distribute. It is very easy to manage, and there is a lot of option.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of SCCM is the application distribution.
What needs improvement?
SCCM can improve on third-party application support.
The next features are coming through their newer solution Microsoft Intune or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM).
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for approximately 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SCCM is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of SCCM is good, it can scale a lot. You can manage a very small environment and go up to a couple hundred thousand PCs.
How are customer service and support?
The support we have received from Microsoft was excellent.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not use another similar solution to SCCM.
How was the initial setup?
The SCCM deployment difficulty level and time frame are dependent on how large the deployment is. If it is a large company then it can be complex. It can range in time from a couple of hours to a couple of days to a couple of weeks.
SCCM is an old on-premise solution. We're moving through to MECM and that is a cloud-based solution to do similar functionality, such as Intune. SCCM is used at its most. We will not increase the use of SCCM.
What about the implementation team?
We are consultants and we do all of the implementations of SCCM for our customers.
The number of staff we need for maintaining the solution depends don't the size of the company, but usually, we have two to three people.
What was our ROI?
The ROI has been very good from SCCM.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of SCCM depends on the size of the organization. The price is competitive.
I rate the price of SCCM a three out of five.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did not choose SCCM. It's a solution that evolved, and at one point it changed its name.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others is to plan ahead and make sure to take into account everything that the solution can do because if you do not understand what the product can do, you will probably buy a lot of software to do what the solution is already doing. Understand all the features and how you will be able to use them.
The next features are coming through Microsoft Intune.
I rate Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Configuration Manager
October 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Configuration Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2026.
921,749 professionals have used our research since 2012.
System Specialist at Tech Mahindra Limited
Useful patch management, automated maintenance, and simple setup
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is patch management."
- "Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is a complete solution for what we need it for, and I would recommend it to others."
- "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."
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is patch management.
What needs improvement?
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.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is good.
How are customer service and support?
The support can be responsive but other times can be a little slow.
The rate support from Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager an eight out of ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used another solution other than Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager was simple.
What about the implementation team?
We did the deployment of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager in-house. We have our maintenance of the solution automated.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is a complete solution for what we need it for, and I would recommend it to others.
I rate Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Infrastructure Engineer at a government with 5,001-10,000 employees
Highly scalable, friendly support, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "The support from Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is good, they are friendly."
- "The configuration of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager could be improved, it is a bit complicated."
What is our primary use case?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is used for ingenuity and automation.
What needs improvement?
The configuration of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager could be improved, it is a bit complicated.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for a few years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is very good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is very scalable.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is good, they are friendly.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is straightforward. The time it takes for the process depends on the environment, typically it can take one day.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is not a license needed to use the solution.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Information Technology Support Analyst at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees
Highly scalable, impressive support, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is highly scalable."
- "By having less IT support you can handle more workstations."
- "The solution could improve the functionality for automating, license management. Additionally, more and better-looking reports are needed."
What is our primary use case?
Microsoft is working on migrating the function of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager to the cloud. Every week and every month there is something new that's happening to move to the cloud.
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is used for installing new workstations without the interaction of people, it does the deploying of workstations automatically. Autopilot is used for automatic deployment installations of workstations without IT support. We only have packages at home and we do not need a VPN to configure workstations from home.
The patching of inventory to patching of Windows and applications, such as Office, inventory of wiping security, deploying new software, reinstalling software, uninstalling software, and wiping the device. This is insecurity from Active Directory services, some functionality we are moving to a group policy. By having less IT support you can handle more workstations.
What needs improvement?
The solution could improve the functionality for automating, license management. Additionally, more and better-looking reports are needed.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager within the last 12 months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is a stable solution. We do not have a lack of production in my orgaization.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is highly scalable.
We have two IT engineers using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
Microsoft has high-level support, I only have good words to say about them.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Zabbix previously. I was using Zabbix, its free tool. It's not for somebody who does not have knowledge of Linux. Zabbix is not for a regular Microsoft user to use.
How was the initial setup?
The installation requires a lot of knowledge and experience. The whole process took us three months.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license price could be reduced for Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager They should make the price more affordable for smaller companies, most companies would be able to use the solution if it was priced better. There are more people on this cloud because you don't have to have either a server room or an on-premise server. You can have one IT person handle this without any local infrastructure.
You receive a license for Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager when you buy an EMS E3 license.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Information System Auditor (IT Audit) at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Scalable, stable, and responsive technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The technical support is good."
- "We are using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager in our organization for patch deployment, and we additionally deploy and manage Microsoft antivirus solutions to most of the desktops and the servers which we have."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager in our organization for patch deployment. Additionally, we deploy and manage Microsoft antivirus solutions to most of the desktops and the servers which we have.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for approximately
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is scalable.
I have used this solution in a couple of banks I have worked in.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support is good.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was not too difficult.
What about the implementation team?
We use consultants to do the implementation and they were trained by Microsoft.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For enterprises, there is an annual license required to use this solution. The price of the solution could be cheaper. However, this is mostly because of the exchange rate from the dollar to the Nigerian currency.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Market Data and Solace Specialist at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Scalable, but needs more automation
Pros and Cons
- "SCCM is a stable solution."
- "I would like to see more automation."
What is our primary use case?
SCCM is used to manage both users, and your devices. It's an administration tool used for endpoint protection.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see more automation.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SCCM for three years.
We are using the 2019 version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SCCM is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have not scaled with this solution. I use it for a specific reason.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have never contacted Microsoft technical support. I use our internal support.
How was the initial setup?
I was not involved in the installation of this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.
I would rate SCCM a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director of Professional Services at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Good visibility, and support, but it would be easier to have remote sessions into the box
Pros and Cons
- "It lets you know what your infrastructure is like and what state you are in."
- "The best thing about SCCM is the patch management."
- "It would be nice to have everything in one place. Now they have Intune for the desktops and SCCM to handle their servers."
- "There are so many issues with SCCM, but they are already working on migrating the desktop to the Intune platform."
What is our primary use case?
We use it and our clients use it for device patch management, servers, and management processes.
We deploy it for clients but we don't usually maintain it for them.
What is most valuable?
The best thing about SCCM is the patch management. You can make sure that all of your devices are there. You can see all of them and see your levels.
It lets you know what your infrastructure is like and what state you are in.
SCCM internally works great. On your internal infrastructure, it is fantastic. It gives you everything you want it to do.
What needs improvement?
Because of the way SCCM is, we are moving to the Intune platform similarly to the way that everybody else is. Microsoft is slowly migrating SCCM to the new Intune product for management.
There are so many issues with SCCM, but they are already working on migrating the desktop to the intune platform. They have already improved the management and the patch management. They are also looking at cloud integration and being able to deploy it in Azure properly and run the Azure infrastructure.
The main or legacy issue is not being able to do remote management of devices without being on a VPN to get their updates. It didn't work well on non-corporate networks. This has been resolved by the new Intune platform.
It's Microsoft, they have their issues, but they are getting better. They are integrating it with their office products, and their platforms.
In the next releases, I would like to see them make it easier to do remote sessions into the boxes.
It would be nice to have everything in one place. Now they have Intune for the desktops and SCCM to handle their servers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SCCM for ten years.
We were using some of the older versions.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is only as good as your infrastructure.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of SCCM is good but now that it is on the intune platform, it's even better.
The usage and how extensively it is being used depends on the client and the client's roadmap.
How are customer service and technical support?
As gold partners, you have a direct line to Microsoft technical staff. It is easy for us to get support.
Our experience with the support is a positive one.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have been using Zabbix for ten years. I have deployed it in my infrastructure.
I have integrated it with Grafana.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward.
Depending on the customer and their infrastructure, it could be easy. If it is a small infrastructure the installation could be quite quick. You could fire up SCCM, sent the probes, let them detect it, and put it in.
For large infrastructures or complex networks, it can be more difficult. It can take as long as a day to get it all set up and running or it could even take a week.
One of the joys of SCCM is that one person could easily maintain it but we have two people from the service desk.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
They are always changing their price model, which I don't like. It would be better if they didn't keep adjusting their price model.
The price model is different for every client. It depends on the corporation, the company's subscription balance, and how many machines they have. For us, it fluctuates.
Some clients have a smaller infrastructure, and for those with large infrastructures, it will cost them more. Others will also have multiple versions of it for backup and failovers.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I was looking for a comparison to see if I want to propose them to some of my clients.
What other advice do I have?
If you are implementing from new, go with Intune directly, don't use the on-premises version.
With the transitioning state to the cloud versions, I would rate SCCM a seven out of ten.
They have handled desktops very well but they haven't transitioned servers very well.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Senior Systems Engineer at Datacom
A systems management software that's easy to use
Pros and Cons
- "I like its ease of use. It does what you need it to do, and it's a one-stop-shop for the company and for all your deployments. If you incorporate Intune into it, you can have both. You can bring your own devices and corporate devices, and everything runs out of SCCM and Intune."
- "They should improve their anti-malware policies like the SCEP policies. For instance, you can't have different policies for different servers, there is only one policy in all the servers, and everything is covered under that. For example, say you want to scan one group of servers on Saturday, and then you want to scan another group of servers on Sunday, you can't do that. You have to scan all your servers, a regular scan or a full scan, on the same day and at the same time. That's definitely one thing they need to resolve. In the next release, it would actually be nice if they included Apple products. It will also help if you can use Intune again. Their compliance reporting feature could also be better. They can maybe work a bit on that for patching now. It would be better if SCCM came with the functions of Right Click Tools built-in. If SCCM would have all those functions already built-in, we won't have to go and spend $5,000, just as an add-in from another company to get those functions."
- "They should improve their anti-malware policies like the SCEP policies. For instance, you can't have different policies for different servers, there is only one policy in all the servers, and everything is covered under that."
What is most valuable?
I like its ease of use. It does what you need it to do, and it's a one-stop-shop for the company and for all your deployments. If you incorporate Intune into it, you can have both. You can bring your own devices and corporate devices, and everything runs out of SCCM and Intune.
What needs improvement?
They should improve their anti-malware policies like the SCEP policies. For instance, you can't have different policies for different servers, there is only one policy in all the servers, and everything is covered under that.
For example, say you want to scan one group of servers on Saturday, and then you want to scan another group of servers on Sunday, you can't do that. You have to scan all your servers, a regular scan or a full scan, on the same day and at the same time. That's definitely one thing they need to resolve.
In the next release, it would actually be nice if they included Apple products. It will also help if you can use Intune again. Their compliance reporting feature could also be better. They can maybe work a bit on that for patching now.
It would be better if SCCM came with the functions of Right Click Tools built-in. If SCCM would have all those functions already built-in, we won't have to go and spend $5,000, just as an add-in from another company to get those functions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been dealing with SCCM for nine years.
How are customer service and technical support?
I used to be the SCCM administrator for quite a big company that had 80,000 people. That's pretty much all I did all day, every day.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
BigFix is the poor man's SCCM. It's for people that can't afford SCCM and for small and medium-sized businesses. There's nothing else out there that can do what it can do.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale from one to ten, I would give SCCM a nine.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Lead System Administrator at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Not user-friendly, the reporting needs improvement, and it can't be managed by one person, but it's stable
Pros and Cons
- "It's a stable product."
- "SCCM does not scale well, which is one of the reasons we are not going to continue to use it."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for image and software deployment.
What needs improvement?
It wasn't very user-friendly.
The reporting is not very good.
It was hard to effectively manage with one person.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SCCM for ten years.
We have version 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable product. In terms of our experience with any bugs, glitches, or crashes there were not more than what is normal for Microsoft.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
SCCM does not scale well, which is one of the reasons we are not going to continue to use it.
We have six people in our organization who are using it.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have not had any contact with technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I did not use another solution. SCCM was the only one that we used while I was there.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex.
You need more than one person to manage the environment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently evaluating some EDR alternatives.
What other advice do I have?
I would not recommend using this solution. I didn't really like anything about it. In general, I am not a fan of Microsoft.
I would rate SCCM a four out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Configuration Manager Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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Updated: October 2026
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