Did you know that 41% of US employees presently work in hybrid setups, and 58% of white-collar workers prefer to work from home at least three days per week? In addition to this, approximately 22% of the American workforce will shift to fully remote environments by 2025.
This shift toward hybrid and remote work environments highlights the growing need for effective remote IT solutions, which can be achieved through robust remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools. Designed to help managed service providers (MSPs) monitor an organization’s networks, devices, and endpoints from afar, RMM software makes remote work possible. The top RMM platforms come equipped with advanced features, such as patch management, continuous monitoring, and real-time alerts.
Deciding on the best RMM tool for your MSP, however, can feel like a challenging task.
So, we’ve rounded up the top RMM solutions for MSPs to simplify the process and ensure you can provide nothing but seamless, first-rate service for your clients.
Criteria for evaluating RMM software
Leading RMM software enables MSPs to proactively identify and resolve issues on their clients’ networks, whether their primary office is located worldwide or across the street.
When it comes to selecting the most valuable RMM solution for your organization, it’s vital to weigh the following:
- Integration capabilities: The best RMM software for MSPs makes your life simpler—not more complex. To that end, consider the value of implementing RMM software that integrates easily into your existing business management solutions. More specifically, you may want to search for an RMM solution that eradicates the need for double data entry.
- Price: Cost is a crucial component to consider when investing in any new tool. Eye the price of the RMM solution in the immediate and long term. The top RMM tools accommodate your capacity to scale your business and help you save money long-term through automation and increased efficiency.
Our tip: Don’t just look at the price per agent or user—consider the overall return on investment. Also, be wary of core features, such as patching, that are not included in packages. Add-ons can add up!
- Powerful (and easy to use) scripting engine: Routine tasks can be a time sink, especially if they can be decreased—or eliminated—with automation. As such, you may want to land on an RMM solution with a robust but accessible scripting engine. Ultimately, this should enable your team to do their best work and focus on challenging, profitable initiatives rather than mundane tasks.
- Security focus: Cybercrimes are at an all-time high, which emphasizes the criticality of finding an RMM solution with strong cybersecurity integrations and multi-factor authentication (MFA) options for your team.
- Number of client endpoints it can support: Your needs will be specific to the size of the businesses you support now, usually measured by the total number of endpoints you manage for your clients. However, it’s also important to consider your company goals to ensure software limitations don’t limit your potential growth.
- User-friendliness: In a competitive labor market, you may benefit from a solution that your team enjoys using and is set up to make onboarding new techs easier. So, remember to evaluate remote monitoring tools based on their simplicity of use without sacrificing advanced capabilities.
- Customer support: Even the most accomplished MSPs may encounter hiccups and headaches when learning a new software system. Consider the support resources, such as onboarding, consulting, chat support, documentation, coursework, and in-person or virtual training programs that can help your team find answers fast, get the support they need, and become power users.
Lastly, remember that the right RMM software ought to enrich your company. Search for a tool that provides the flexibility you need to achieve your business goals.
Top RMM software for MSPs: A detailed comparison
RMM software reviews can be immensely helpful when investing. Let’s look at five of the most popular RMM softwares for MSPs today.
1. ConnectWise RMM™
ConnectWise RMM blends advanced automation capabilities with integrated expert services on the only purpose-built platform for MSPs. It was rated Channel Program's 2024 Q1 & Q2 Category Leader for RMM and is reviewed favorably for its:
- Ease of use
- Automated patching and NOC-assessed security updates
- Reduction of alerting noise through intelligent alerts
- Automation capabilities including remote access
- Integrated NOC and Help Desk Services
Built on the ConnectWise Asio™ platform, RMM enables MSPs to simplify their tech stack while setting their business up for unlimited future growth. In addition to its capability to support MSPs at any point in their journey from startup to empire builder, ConnectWise RMM is known for its intelligent alerting, AI-assisted script generation, and integrated expert services, which help technical teams spend their time on rewarding, profitable efforts.
ConnectWise RMM is available through three packages: Essentials, Pro, and Premium, so you can determine the most suitable suite of tools, including ScreenConnect™ and BrightGauge, a ConnectWise solution, to support your clients.
Check out our RMM ROI calculator to quantify the benefits of using ConnectWise RMM.
2. ConnectWise Automate™
ConnectWise Automate is a powerful RMM tool designed to provide flexibility and deep customization capabilities to tailor the RMM tool to your business.
Here are some key features of ConnectWise Automate that make it an excellent choice for many businesses:
- Flexible hosting options
- Advanced automation capabilities
- Language support
- Comprehensive device management
ConnectWise Automate provides a robust RMM solution that can meet the needs of a wide range of businesses. Whether you require an on-premises installation or multi-lingual support, or you’re willing to put in the time and effort to customize your RMM software to fit your needs, ConnectWise Automate offers the power and flexibility necessary to support your business goals.
3. Kaseya VSA
Kaseya VSA, like ConnectWise Automate, has garnered a reputation for its legacy of automation abilities. Like most RMM tools, it can:
- Automate repetitive tasks and patching
- Manage inventory and assets
- Review reporting and analytics
One of the biggest advantages is that Kaseya VSA includes an on-premise installation option and integration with documentation tools.
That being said, Kaseya VSA’s complex features and functionalities can lead to a steeper learning curve, and it lacks some AI features many modern MSPs are looking to take advantage of.
In addition, Kaseya has received several customer complaints, noting unresponsiveness and billing issues.
4. N-Able
- N-Able helps MSPs manage client devices, including ease of use
- Automation
- Patch management
- Physical, cloud, and hybrid support
However, IT management experts indicate that N-Able falls short in three key areas: it requires a substantial amount of time to learn, has fewer third-party integrations than some of its competitors, and can consume significant system resources, which may impact other applications.
Additionally, some users have complained about the lack of immediate chat support—which can be especially frustrating in the event of an emergency.
5. NinjaOne
Finally, coming in at number five is one of the more recent additions to the space, NinjaOne RMM, which is known for its streamlined user interface and competitive pricing. It’s most positively regarded for its:
- Ease of use
- Customer support
- Intuitive design
However, NinjaOne RMM is also criticized for having limited capabilities, specifically lacking features and tools that MSPs need.
Why choose ConnectWise?
When it comes to the best RMM software for MSPs, ConnectWise stands out from the crowd, having the tools needed for your business to succeed now and in the future.
ConnectWise Automate has the power and customizability to tailor the solution to your unique needs and leverage advanced automation with the most granular control. For MSPs eager to explore the more out-of-the-box Asio platform RMM solution, ConnectWise RMM intelligent alerting, NOC-assessed security patches, and integrated expert NOC and Help Desk Services can make it the ideal solution.
In addition to offering two excellent RMM solutions, ConnectWise has been praised for our award-winning Unified Monitoring and Management, Cybersecurity and Data Protection, and Business Management solutions, as well as the wide range of integrated vendors that we partner with or support.
Want to learn more about how you can enhance your operational efficiency?
Give ConnectWise RMM on-demand demo a try.
