Product Comparison: RMM Software 2016 - SolarWinds N-able

  1. NOC
    1. Do you offer NOC services?  
      Yes
    2. Yours or a 3rd party?  
      Third party
    3. What is the additional cost? 
      MSPs, please contact SolarWinds N-able for pricing.
    4. NOC location(s):
      UK and North America
       
  2. SaaS or On-Premise? Any differences to cost? 
    Both. SaaS is 10% more than on premise.
     
  3. Agent/Agentless/Both?
    Both
     
  4. Which mobile platforms do you support for monitoring?
    Both iOS and Android, but stronger on iOS.
     
  5. What is the pricing structure for the RMM product? (what kind of cost/commitment is required before an MSP can start selling this product?) 
    There is a minimum commitment, but completely a-la-carte.
     
  6. What additional features/functions does the RMM software include? (e.g. antivirus, antispam) 
    The SolarWinds N-able N-central® RMM automation platform features a wide range of tools for the busy MSP, including:
  • Easy-to-use, drag-and-drop IT automation tools;
  • Robust, graphics-rich executive, summary and detailed reporting;
  • Advanced security and data protection including anti-virus/anti-spam;
  • Reliable and fast backup and disaster recovery;
  • Automated, time-saving patch management;
  • Full-featured help desk and ticketing;
  • Fast and easy remote access and control of client devices and networks;
  • Streamlined mobile device management;
  • IT service management through integration with SolarWinds N-able MSP Manager;
  • Advanced PSA integrations; and more.
  • AV, patch and backup services are all integrated into the N-central platform.
  1. What do you feel are the competitive advantages of your RMM vs other vendors?
    From managing and monitoring Windows, Linux and Apple devices, to mobile device and cloud management as well as creating meaningful reports for MSPs and their customers, N-central is a RMM and MSP automation platform that does it all — from a single pane of glass.  N-central stands out in the market for its focus on creating an exceptional user experience for the MSP, and is designed to save MSPs valuable time, allowing them to deliver excellence to clients and increase bottom line revenues.

    Featuring advanced integration with the most popular Professional Service Automation (PSA) platforms as well as a full complement of both reactive and proactive IT services, N-central is purpose built to empower MSPs to provide value and world-class services to their customers. N-central is supported by SolarWinds N-able’s comprehensive business enablement services to help MSP businesses thrive, and N-able offers a unique business-building Freemium licensing model that helps MSPs grow faster and with greater profitability. N-able is also backed by the trusted technology leadership of parent company SolarWinds, and the award-winning N-central RMM automation toolset is proven in the market and successfully used by the world’s most successful MSPs in every corner of the globe.
     
  2. 8. Please highlight the new features of note since last year’s article (May 2015)
    In January 2016, SolarWinds N-able released N-central® 10.1, a RMM automation platform featuring seamless integration with SolarWinds N-able MSP Manager, the company’s born-in-the-cloud IT service management platform. N-central 10.1 makes it easy for SolarWinds N-able partners to take advantage of MSP Manager and assists its MSP partners in running an efficient, effective and profitable business, using centralized customer knowledge management, simplified ticketing, easy time-tracking and fast and efficient billing.

Celebrated for its ease of use and sophistication, MSP Manager allows users to perform a full range of management tasks directly within N-central. This includes automatic ticket creation and closure, manual ticket creation and updating, incrementing service item counts, service item updates in an asset, time entry updates, and customer and device class mapping.

Beyond the integration with MSP Manager, N-central 10.1 offers a number of high-value enhancements including new features impacting ease of use and support. New additions include:

  • Customer sites: MSPs can organize customer devices into groups that reflect how they are managed, including physical locations or device type.
  • Patch on-demand: MSPs can now initiate a patch cycle on one or more devices on-demand, outside of a regular schedule. This allows the flexibility to patch customers without a set install schedule, or to update outlying systems that are only available during random intervals.
  • Patch events: Detection, download, install and reboot can now be scheduled in maintenance windows for added flexibility and increased control, and an option has been introduced to the Patch Profile that will instruct devices that missed their scheduled patch window to begin a full patch installation cycle on their next system startup.
  • Patch wizard: A new wizard eases the process of setting up a new patch cycle. The wizard allows technicians to select an existing profile or create a new one, configure the four patch windows, and generate a final rule with ease.
  • Re-drag and drop: The N-central 10.1 Automation Manager feature now includes re-drag and drop capabilities, allowing MSPs to drop an object into a policy, and re-drag and drop it into a new spot as needed. Automation Manager now also offers watermarking, inline help, training videos and an updated user interface.
  • Robust Direct Support: For the N-central Direct Support feature, SolarWinds N-able has renamed the Automation Policies tab to Scripting, and provided the added capability to run all scripting tasks so that technicians can use the full arsenal of scripts and executables to resolve customer problems.

In addition, in May 2015, SolarWinds N-able launched the N-central® 10 platform. The comprehensive RMM platform – a milestone release for the company – was designed to transform the way MSPs support their SMB customers while driving the highest levels of MSP growth and profitability. Many of the new features and functionality included in N-central 10 are the result of feedback from SolarWinds N-able’s MSP Elite and Super Elite partner communities.

  • New support tools offering a unique ensemble of capabilities for MSPs to troubleshoot, diagnose and remediate help desk issues.
  • Support for drag-and-drop automation as well as support for real-time direct support tools as a-la-carte licenses, allowing MSPs to improve support and help desk functions to end-users.
  • An entirely new user interface that delivers a more streamlined and simplified user experience.
  • A new “device overview” page provides detailed information for each client device in a single dashboard to manage tickets and quickly troubleshoot and resolve issues without interrupting end-users.
  • Industry-leading integrations with the top professional services automation (PSA) offerings, including Autotask®, ConnectWise® and TigerPaw®. These integrations offer improved workflows and interoperability to help MSPs resolve client issues faster, update and close tickets and manage billing directly from within the RMM platform.
  • Further enhancements and support for the NOC and the help desk, offering automated device discovery, AV/patch deployment, backup, remediation/self-healing and advanced reporting.
  • The N-central 10 platform provides MSPs with advanced monitoring, management and remediation for both NOC and help desk services that span the MSP services lifecycle. Here is a list of the many new features and functions included in this next-generation platform:

Upcoming features in the next version of N-central (slated for Q2 2016) include the integration of SolarWinds N-able’s MSP Anywhere technology plus many other instrumental adds including near-instant connections and a robust tool-set that goes beyond remote control to deliver an enhanced experience for both the technician and the end-user.  

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