A few weeks ago I mentioned some of my concerns about the ever-growing Gartner Magic Quadrant research effort. Now, it’s time for me to reverse course — just a little — because I’m very curious about the new Gartner Client Management Tools Magic Quadrant research. The research includes Kaseya — but it stops short of covering additional MSP-centric software companies that offer remote monitoring and management (RMM) platforms. Here’s some perspective.
For inclusion in the Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools, Gartner says vendor solutions were considered based on the following functions:
- Data/Settings Migration;
- Inventory;
- OS Deployment;
- Patch Management;
- Remote Control;
- Software Usage;
- SW Packaging & Distribution;
- Power Management.
- Mobile Device Management was another component, along with Application and Desktop Virtualization.
Who’s Included?
That lengthy list pretty much describes the remote management capabilities that VARs and MSPs require. The Gartner report covers such technology companies as:
- Absolute Software
- BMC Software
- CA Technologies
- Dell Kace
- FrontRange
- HP
- IBM
- Kaseya
- LANDesk
- Matrix42
- Microsoft
- Novell
- Numara (now owned by BMC Software)
- Symantec
Gartner organizes those vendors into this Magic Quadrant grid:
How About SMB Remote Management Tools?
Alas, many MSP-centric software providers aren’t covered in the Client Management Tools report. I’m curious to know if Gartner has a separate report or Magic Quadrant for SMB remote monitoring and management tools, in particular.
Of the vendors listed above, only Kaseya and Microsoft (Windows Intune) have SMB-centric solutions, according to Gartner. And Kaseya is the only vendor mentioned as to having a managed services provider (MSP) focus.
Slightly Wrong on Kaseya?
Also, I don’t exactly agree with Gartner’s analysis of Kaseya, which states:
“Kaseya is a relatively new player in the client management space. The company has existed since 2000, but has focused mainly on selling its product through managed service providers, rather than directly to IT organizations. The company has shifted its focus in the last two years, and is now used by IT organizations to manage their internal environments.”
Huh? I believe Kaseya has sold direct into IT organizations for at least five years. (MSPmentor launched in beta in September 2007; I didn’t track the market before that point.) I also believe Kaseya lost a bit of its focus on the MSP market in 2010, but began to sharpen its MSP focus again in mid- to late-2011.
Gartner’s Conclusions on Kaseya
Gartner praises Kaseya in three areas and questions the company in three areas.
- The praise includes: Applause for Kaseya’s SaaS approach on inventory and patch management; mobile device management for Apple iOS and Android; and extensions like PC backup and system performance monitoring.
- The cautions include: Immature Mac management capabilities; lack of application virtualization support (Microsoft App-V and VMware ThinApp) and potentially weak reporting capabilities.
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) Requires Coverage
I don’t always agree with the Gartner Magic Quadrant. And I worry about all the “hype” about which vendors are in the Magic Quadrant. But it would be great to see a list of MSP-centric software companies, along with strengths and cautions listed for each platform.
Does such a Magic Quadrant exist for RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers?
(Side note: The Gartner Client Management Tools Magic Quadrant replaces the Magic Quadrant for PC Configuration Life Cycle Management due to the emergence of mobile device and Mac management needs. Smartphones, tablets, Macs, virtual desktops and virtual applications all represent emerging targets of management.)
Read More About This Topic
Share This Post
Posted In: Professional Services Automation (PSA) | Remote Monitoring & Management Software | Research and Markets
Tags: Client Management Tools | Gartner Magic Quadrant | Kaseya | Remote monitoring and management | RMM Software
Interact: Add a Comment | Trackback Link | Permalink
Subscribe: RSS Feed
Take a look at our 
Hi Joe –
As the Services Business Development Manager for our RMM category at Ingram, I concur with the need for an independent assessment of the RMM category vendors (Ingram RMM vendors currently include: Level Platforms, Nimsoft, N-able and Kaseya) – listed in the order we signed them.
We explored a Gartner Magic Quadrant RMM comparison in mid 2011. We were informed that only RMM vendors that are not 100% through the channel (ie: those that also sell directly to end clients) are able to be included. The reason is that Gartner obtains their information primarily from end client interviews – the list of which is provided to Gartner by the vendors. RMM vendors that are 100% through the channel are not able to provide this end client information – understandably.
As a result, our RMM services category has had to build our own internal intelligence in differentiating where each of our RMM vendors best meet the needs of our MSP partners along with their comparative strengths and weaknesses – not only in comparision to our other RMM offerings, but to other solutions in their space as well.
I am very much with you, that a Magic Quadrant type comparison of the SMB & Mid-Market RMM leading vendors in particular (as there are many) would be extemely valuable for partners to reference as they look into a solution. I have yet to find any independent study or report that does this.
I will continue to look, please let me know if you or any MSP Mentor readers find one!
Hi Joe,
As you can imagine we were excited to be named a visionary. You and I have been around this industry long enough to understand that most names like Gartner, and the others in the report have had some trouble understanding the MSP market over the years. I think the renaming of the quadrant was a nice step in the right direction, but also understand that a typical MSP doesn’t necessarily invest in Gartner research as they look to make decisions. Combine that market reality with where Gartner’s heritage is and it illuminates why we don’t have more MSP focused research. Peer groups and industry sites like this one I think continue to be the most significant influencers on the MSP markets.
That being said, having been named to the Magic Quadrant helps our targets, both MSPs and Enterprises, better understand how we stack up against larger, more familiar names. Our roots run deep and will continue to run very strong and deep in the MSP space.
Final note: I, personally, share some of the same sentiment about their analysis as Kaseya being a “relatively new player” but when you put us next to IBM and Novell, we do look young.
We have some exciting plans for 2012 for all of our customers and the respective opportunities in front of us all.
Brendan Cosgrove
Kaseya
Brian@1,
Big-time thanks for that background. My updated thoughts:
1. Strengths and weaknesses of each vendor — I think that would be a valuable list from a research firm.
2. Yet Another Magic Quadrant Chart Filled With Vendor Names — I don’t think I’d see much value in that. I already have such strong opinions about who I think the market innovators are… I doubt a Gartner report could influence my thoughts on that. But I’d give it a look if one existed.
Brendan@2: Yup. Simply put I think Gartner has to get beyond some of the big vendor names and start to look at the next generation of IT management platforms…
-jp
Having used both Kaseya and ThinApp, I can say Kaseya already supports the use of ThinApp since ThinApp can create an MSI of the ThinApp packaged app and Kaseya can deliver an MSI (native install or ThinApp packaged app). Same goes for SCCM.
Hi Joe,
That is definitely a disappointment in what Brian shared on how Gartner obtains their information. We are a very satisfied partner of Level Platforms, that being said it would have been nice to see how they stacked up against the rest. Like many of our selected vendors, I’m glad they are 100% committed to the channel. I guess it is safe to assume I won’t be seeing our vendors appear on the Magic Quadrant chart
Rick
Cat-Tec
Rick@5: One side thought… Gartner has to realize that the MSP-centric software companies “are” selling direct. In this case the customer = the MSP or VAR.
-jp
@Rick – I agree, its a disappointment. Look at Gartner’s historical business though. They sell research. Enterprise IT guys buy that research, traditionally, more often than MSPs. My best guess is that Gartner hasn’t taken time to figure out how to sell to the channel. Gartner’s Magic Quadrant has simply become the new “you can’t go wrong choosing IBM” now its “you can’t fire me for choosing a vendor from the magic quadrant.”
Alas, asking Garnter to pay more attention to the MSP space might be akin to asking ExxonMobile to work more on solar panels. I will still hold out hope though. for both.
-brendan