When comparing Anturis and SolarWinds RMM, you’re essentially looking at two distinct tools that cater to different aspects of IT management and monitoring. I’ve had hands-on experience with both, and I can tell you that they offer unique features that make them suitable for different environments and user needs. Let’s dig into the details to help you decide which is the right fit for your situation.
Anturis vs. SolarWinds RMM: Overview
Anturis is a cloud-based monitoring solution designed for SMBs (Small and Medium-sized Businesses) and smaller IT teams that need to monitor both internal and external IT infrastructure. It’s simple to use, offers essential monitoring capabilities (like servers, websites, networks, and applications), and is highly cost-effective.
SolarWinds RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management), on the other hand, is a more comprehensive RMM tool designed for MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and larger IT departments. It offers robust features such as remote monitoring, automation, patch management, antivirus integration, and more.
To sum it up:
- Anturis focuses on providing easy-to-use, cloud-based monitoring solutions for servers, networks, and websites.
- SolarWinds RMM is a more robust and comprehensive tool for remote monitoring, management, automation, and security across diverse IT environments.
Key Differences Between Anturis and SolarWinds RMM
| Feature | Anturis | SolarWinds RMM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Simple, cloud-based monitoring for servers, websites, networks, and applications. | Comprehensive remote monitoring and management for MSPs and IT departments. |
| Ease of Use | Highly intuitive and easy to set up, with minimal learning curve. | More advanced; requires some onboarding but offers powerful features and flexibility. |
| Monitoring Capabilities | Focuses on basic server, network, application, and website monitoring. | Advanced monitoring with deeper insights into servers, workstations, and network devices. |
| Remote Access and Control | Limited; not a core feature of Anturis. | Robust remote access and control capabilities built-in, including remote desktop access. |
| Automation and Scripting | Basic automation options, mainly for alerts and notifications. | Extensive scripting and automation capabilities (PowerShell, Bash, etc.) for routine tasks. |
| Patch Management | Not available; relies on third-party tools for patch management. | Built-in patch management for operating systems and third-party applications. |
| Security Management | Basic monitoring for security-related metrics (e.g., SSL, server health). | Advanced security features, including antivirus, web protection, and backup integration. |
| Integration | Integrates with popular tools like Slack, PagerDuty, and email alerts. | Deep integration with a wide range of third-party tools and other SolarWinds products. |
| Reporting and Analytics | Simple, straightforward reports focused on uptime, performance, and alerts. | Comprehensive reporting and analytics on device health, security, performance, and more. |
| Pricing | Cost-effective; pricing based on the number of monitors and features used. | Pricing varies by device, with different tiers based on the number of endpoints managed. |
| Best For | SMBs looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use monitoring solution. | MSPs and IT departments needing comprehensive RMM capabilities and advanced automation. |
In-Depth Comparison of Features
1. Ease of Use and Setup
- Anturis: It’s incredibly easy to set up and get running. I’ve used it in environments where the goal was to have basic monitoring without the overhead of configuring a complex system. The intuitive dashboard makes it great for smaller teams who want quick insights without much hassle.
- SolarWinds RMM: While SolarWinds RMM offers a more robust feature set, it comes with a steeper learning curve. Initial setup and configuration require more time, especially to fine-tune monitoring, patch management, and automation policies. However, once it’s set up, the depth of control and monitoring is unmatched.
2. Monitoring Capabilities
- Anturis: Provides essential monitoring features, including server monitoring, network monitoring, website monitoring, and application monitoring (such as databases). It focuses more on uptime, performance, and basic infrastructure monitoring. It’s perfect for SMBs that need an affordable monitoring solution without the bells and whistles.
- SolarWinds RMM: Offers comprehensive monitoring that covers a wide range of devices, including servers, workstations, and network devices. It allows deep performance monitoring, with real-time alerts on critical issues, and can be tailored to provide more granular data for complex environments.
3. Remote Access and Control
- Anturis: Doesn’t have built-in remote access features. It’s more of a pure monitoring tool, meaning if you need to perform remote troubleshooting or desktop support, you’ll have to rely on other tools.
- SolarWinds RMM: Excels in remote control and management. It includes built-in tools for remote desktop access, which allows technicians to troubleshoot issues directly from the console without needing additional software.
4. Automation and Scripting
- Anturis: Has basic automation for sending alerts and notifications based on predefined thresholds. It’s quite limited in terms of advanced automation or scripting capabilities.
- SolarWinds RMM: Provides robust automation and scripting capabilities. You can use PowerShell, Bash, or custom scripts to automate routine tasks, like software deployment, patching, and even complex workflows. This level of automation is invaluable for MSPs managing multiple client environments.
5. Patch Management
- Anturis: Lacks built-in patch management. You would need to use other tools to handle patching and software updates, which might not be ideal if you want an all-in-one solution.
- SolarWinds RMM: Offers comprehensive patch management capabilities, handling both OS and third-party software updates. It allows you to schedule patches, approve or decline updates, and automate patch deployment, which is crucial for maintaining security and compliance.
6. Security and Integration
- Anturis: While it offers basic monitoring of security-related metrics, it does not provide advanced security management features. It integrates with popular notification and alert systems like Slack, PagerDuty, and email.
- SolarWinds RMM: Has built-in security tools, including antivirus, web protection, and backup management. Its deep integration with other SolarWinds products allows for a more unified IT management approach, which is essential for larger IT departments and MSPs.
7. Reporting and Analytics
- Anturis: Offers straightforward reporting focused on uptime, performance, and basic alerts. It’s easy to generate and understand, which is great for smaller teams that don’t need complex data analytics.
- SolarWinds RMM: Provides advanced reporting and analytics, allowing you to dig into device health, performance, security, and patch status. The reports are highly customizable and can be automated, making it ideal for MSPs who need to present data to clients regularly.
Pros and Cons
Anturis Pros:
- Very easy to use with minimal setup.
- Cost-effective solution for basic monitoring needs.
- Simple, intuitive dashboard suitable for small teams.
- Integrates with popular alerting and notification tools.
Anturis Cons:
- Limited in remote control and management capabilities.
- No built-in patch management or advanced automation features.
- Not suitable for large-scale or complex IT environments.
SolarWinds RMM Pros:
- Comprehensive remote monitoring and management features.
- Advanced automation, scripting, and patch management.
- Robust security features, including integrated antivirus and backup.
- Deep reporting and analytics capabilities for better insights.
SolarWinds RMM Cons:
- Steeper learning curve; more complex to set up and configure.
- Higher cost compared to simpler tools like Anturis.
- Requires more time and expertise to manage effectively.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Anturis if:
- You are a small to medium-sized business (SMB) needing a straightforward, cost-effective monitoring solution.
- Your primary focus is monitoring uptime, performance, and server or network health without deep management features.
- You want a tool that’s quick to deploy and easy for a small IT team to manage.
Choose SolarWinds RMM if:
- You are an MSP or a larger IT department needing a comprehensive tool for remote monitoring, management, automation, and security.
- You require advanced patch management, remote control, and detailed reporting features.
- You need an all-in-one solution that can handle a diverse IT environment, providing robust integration and automation capabilities.
In essence, Anturis is great for businesses that need a simple and effective monitoring solution without the complexity of a full RMM suite, while SolarWinds RMM is ideal for MSPs and larger IT teams that require a powerful and feature-rich RMM platform to manage diverse environments and multiple clients.