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Mobile device management (MDM) is an important part of any network monitoring solution, providing visibility and security to portable endpoints like phones and laptops. IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs) need to keep a close eye on users’ mobile devices because of the security risks that arise when these devices are compromised or stolen.
Both ManageEngine and Kaseya offer enterprise MDM solutions to organizations and service providers. Each platform has advantages and drawbacks that IT decision-makers should be aware of. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Overview of ManageEngine
ManageEngine provides a comprehensive suite of tools for mobile device management through a series of software packages. Both its Mobile Device Manager Plus and Endpoint Central packages offer device management feature sets, and are designed to make it easy for IT teams to manage all types of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and smart displays. ManageEngine also offers additional options for solutions like endpoint security, firewall configuration, and more.
Some of Mobile Device Manager Plus’ key features include:
- Easy enrollment and authentication. ManageEngine removes some of the obstacles that come with enrolling and authenticating new devices.
- Configurable policy profiles. Security teams can group devices into policy profiles that dictate access to Wi-Fi, VPN, and other channels.
- Remote troubleshooting. IT teams can remotely control mobile devices and troubleshoot user issues in real time.
Endpoint Central offers similar MDM features bundled together with additional tools for patch management, vulnerability management, and asset management for a more unified endpoint management (UEM) approach.
Overview of Kaseya
Kaseya VSA is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution that unifies mobile device management with wide-ranging endpoint management. This gives IT teams a centralized point of reference for managing security and usage policies for mobile devices, servers, virtual machines, and more.
Here are some of the key features Kaseya offers to customers:
- Intelligent automation. The product includes a comprehensive automated workflow builder with an extensive script library.
- Built-in detection and response. The platform monitors networks for suspicious behavior and quarantines compromised endpoints automatically.
- Advanced patch management. Kaseya enables organizations to automate the process of updating security patches and mitigating exposure to emerging threats.
Comparison of ManageEngine vs. Kaseya
It’s easiest to compare the two platforms by starting with how they are similar. Both ManageEngine and Kaseya are large, established companies in the IT management space, and they offer robust feature sets for managing, monitoring, and securing devices. The main difference between the two is in the packaging and implementation of each platform’s management capabilities.
ManageEngine’s products are siloed against one another and must be integrated piecemeal. ManageEngine’s Mobile Device Manager Plus is more narrowly focused on mobile devices, while Endpoint Central is a more comprehensive approach to endpoint management. There are a ton of additional potential SKUs available to purchase as well.
Kaseya offers a wide range of features for endpoint management through Kaseya VSA although it has not historically been an MDM platform. It primarily leans on its legacy as a security-focused remote monitoring and management solution (RMM) for IT service professionals, but has released many capabilities to help its customers meet their MDM needs in recent years.
Pricing Comparison
ManageEngine has multiple pricing tiers, including a free edition suitable for small and mid-sized businesses, and many customers have expressed satisfaction with the value they receive for the cost.
Kaseya’s standardized value-based pricing model has traditionally been popular among businesses with less than 50 employees. However as the product has expanded over time and adjusted licensing, some small businesses are finding Kaseya to be less cost-effective. Also note that Kaseya has received consistent criticism for billing issues after their acquisition of Datto.
Here’s a breakdown of each company’s pricing specifics:
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya |
| Tiered plans | 4 tiered plans: Free, Professional, Enterprise, and Unified Endpoint Management. | One standard plan that provides unified endpoint management. |
| Free trial | Full-featured 30-day free trial. | 14-day free trial. |
| Value for features | Flexible according to business needs. | One-size-fits-all. |
Ease of Use and Setup
When it comes to implementation and ease of use, it’s a toss up and depends on your specific organizational needs. Since ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is more narrowly focused on MDM features, it offers a more streamlined experience for users. However, if you need additional ManageEngine SKUs on top of that, implementation and day-to-day management can quickly become complicated due to the siloed nature of their products.
On the other hand, Kaseya’s feature-rich approach demands far more of its user interface, which can make certain tasks more confusing than they need to be. Overall, there are mixed reviews about the ease of use, some customers find the product user-friendly and intuitive while others believe there is a steep learning curve. A key decision factor may be the level of experience of the IT team in your organization.
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya |
| Web-based interface | Yes. | Yes. |
| Well-documented implementation process | Yes, and all documentation is available during the free trial. | Yes, but may require additional support and technical expertise. |
| Learning curve for new users | Relatively simple. | Can be steep. |
Device Management Capabilities
Both ManageEngine and Kaseya offer a rich set of device management capabilities, and options for extending those capabilities beyond mobile devices. Since it can group servers, virtual machines, and other assets into groups and policies, Kaseya VSA is a more powerful option overall as a standalone product. However, organizations that only want to manage mobile devices may be better served by ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus.
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya |
| Updates and patch management | Supports automation and scheduling. | Supports automation and scheduling. |
| Device enrollment process | Simple and well-documented. | Easy for devices that support QR codes, but more complicated for other devices. |
| Cloud capabilities | Some features do not work well with cloud environments. | Includes support for monitoring cloud infrastructure. |
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
RMM capabilities allow organizations to expand the capabilities of their mobile device fleets. Kaseya has a more robust approach to automation, remote control, and plugin support, giving it an edge on remote features.
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya |
| Automated scripting | Supports custom scripts, but only comes with 40 predefined configurations. | Includes a high-quality scripting engine with out-of-the-box functionality. |
| Full-featured remote control | Fast and secure, supporting more than 25 OEM brands, including POS devices, digital signs, and kiosks. | Fast and secure through LiveConnect. Supports a wide range of devices and OEMs. |
| Plugin support | Limited plugin support. | Kaseya supports a wide range of plugins for adding new remote-enabled functionalities. |
Security Features
Endpoint visibility, malware detection, and automated patch management are major elements of secure mobile device management. Both ManageEngine and Kaseya offer these features, but each platform implements them in a slightly different way.
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya |
| Visibility and policy management | Included, with options to reduce the attack surface and lock down compromised devices. | Included, with automated endpoint detection and response capabilities. |
| Malware detection and remediation | Supports loss prevention, conditional access, and automatic restrictions for compromised devices. | Includes comprehensive antivirus and antimalware features, as well as backup and disaster recovery. |
| Automated patch management | Pushes new security patches to qualified devices automatically. | Pushes new security patches to qualified devices automatically. |
Integration Options
ManageEngine supports a variety of integrations with IT service management providers, app development platforms, business analytics, and mobile threat detection solutions. Customers may also use its public REST APIs to create custom workflows and integrate additional apps directly into the ManageEngine workflow.
Kaseya’s Technology Alliance Program has a more formalized approach to third-party integrations. The company invests in building native integrations with select partners, which include some of the industry’s most recognizable names. These integrations cover a wide range of use cases, from asset management to security and IT assessments. Kaseya also makes public REST APIs available for its products.
Support and Customer Service
Many users complain about the quality of support from both ManageEngine and Kaseya. In both cases, people have encountered long wait times and unforeseen obstacles when relying on support teams to solve business-critical problems.
- ManageEngine users complain about long ticket resolutions, and even cases where the company does not resolve open tickets. The company has an established history of lackluster customer support.
- Kaseya users are not happy with the quality of the company’s documentation, which leads to them relying on customer support far more frequently than they would like to. However, user satisfaction with support is low as well.
JumpCloud as an Alternative Solution
Not every organization needs to choose between ManageEngine’s strong but siloed service architecture and Kaseya’s module-heavy approach. JumpCloud is an alternative MDM provider that offers a robust set of features designed to meet the needs of growing cloud-enabled organizations with strict security priorities.
JumpCloud’s mobile device management solution includes comprehensive remote access and file transfer capabilities, as well as advanced encryption and privilege management. What makes JumpCloud stand out is that it is not solely a device management provider. IT admins and MSPs can unify their cross-OS device tooling together with directory services, Zero Trust security, and access management features including user management, SSO, MFA, LDAP, RADIUS, and more.
As a truly cloud-enabled solution with a strong support system in place, JumpCloud can deliver a comprehensive, streamlined approach to IT management to reduce your total cost of ownership (TCO) in a way that ManageEngine and Kaseya cannot.
Comparison: ManageEngine vs. Kaseya vs. JumpCloud
Here’s a quick comparison of the main features each platform offers to customers:
| Feature | ManageEngine | Kaseya | JumpCloud |
| Pricing | Multiple complex subscription tiers with strict limitations. | Hidden behind a value-based quotation system. | Device management only for $9/user per month. Platform: $19/user per month. MSP-specific pricing via partner program. |
| Ease of use | Streamlined with limited features. | Complex due to its one-size-fits-all approach. | Easy enrolling with an intuitive user interface. Multi-tenant option available. |
| Cloud-ready | Not all products are fully cloud-enabled. | Includes cloud infrastructure management. | Fully cloud-native, with support for all major cloud providers. |
| Customer support | Not timely, often leaves tickets unanswered. | Not enough documentation. | Extensive documentation, with a helpful and responsive customer support team. |
Addressing Common Concerns and Issues
IT decision-makers often need to balance their organization’s cloud initiatives with the capabilities of their internal tech stack. ManageEngine can present serious obstacles to achieving streamlined management in the cloud, yet it often remains the go-to choice — likely due to cost savings as the customer experience is not enjoyable.
Kaseya provides a much more comprehensive set of features, but deprives organizations of the ability to select between them. Customers who don’t share its vision of unified endpoint management can easily end up paying for features and services they don’t actually use.
JumpCloud addresses all of these issues by providing a cloud-native MDM product with flexible product options and a unified, intuitive interface. IT leaders can implement a full suite of advanced security, device, identity, and access technologies through JumpCloud PlatformPlus, or customize their subscription with an individual set of features a la carte.
Conclusion
Choosing an MDM vendor is no easy task. IT leaders have to keep many different considerations in mind, including the capabilities of their existing tech stack and their current mobile device policies. IT professionals and service providers should look carefully at the features that industry-leading vendors offer, and consider the level of service, transparency, and flexibility they provide.
Not sure whether JumpCloud is the right fit for your organization’s needs? Test out the platform for yourself and sign up for a free account today.
