20 RMM Software Tools, Alternatives for MSPs, VARs

As a managed services provider, you know the basics: You need RMM (remote monitoring and management), PSA (professional services automation), and other automation tools to boost customer service, drive down costs and increase your profit margins. Updated: Visit our Top 25 RMM List for 2018. Our original 2016 report: Here’s a look at 20 RMM software and cloud platforms that we’ve tracked over the years, along with some anecdotes about where they potentially fit in the MSP and IT services provider markets. As an added bonus, the list is actually 23 RMM providers. Oh, and don't forget to check out our sister list of 20 PSA options and alternatives for MSPs. Now, onto the RMM list sorted alphabetically: 1. Acorn Energy: File this under "one to watch." Not exactly a mainstream RMM platform, Acorn owns a monitoring system for IoT endpoints, sensors, industrial devices and more. We suspect it will move toward the managed services market at some point... 2. Addigy: This is a cloud-based RMM platform for Apple Macs. Addigy, backed by former Kaseya team members, has a freemium model to help MSPs get started with the platform. Although Addigy is a relatively small company based in southern Florida, we watch the business closely because of the team's extensive experience in and around the MSP market. 3. Atera: The upstart, launched in 2011, has been blending RMM, PSA and business intelligence software. The software platform was designed from the ground up as a single system -- compared to many rivals, which built PSA-RMM integrations based on merger and acquisition activity. 4. Autotask Endpoint Management: After generating success in the PSA market, Autotask acquired CentraStage in 2014 to begin an RMM push. Fast forward to 2016, and Autotask has delivered a unified PSA-RMM platform, which basically means the data management systems are coming together for enhanced MSP performance. 5. Auvik Networks: This relatively new RMM platform focuses on the network layer. Poke around the company and its MSP ecosystem and you'll see signs of growth. Plus, we heard rumors about a potential funding round -- or perhaps even a takeover -- in mid-2016./ 6. AVG Managed Workplace: AVG Technologies acquired Managed Workplace, an RMM platform, from Level Platforms in 2013. Managed Workplace had reasonable market share heading into 2011 or so, but debt came due and Level Platforms essentially was forced to sell its assets in 2013. Under a new owner and intensified competition, Managed Workplace struggled to maintain momentum in 2014 and 2015, but a major upgrade -- version 10 -- arrived in 2016. Still, the latest inflection point involves Avasts's $1.3 billion buyout of AVG. Avast CEO Vince Steckler tells us he's committed to AVG's SMB software market. 7. CA Technologies  UIM: When CA Technologies acquired Nimsoft in 2010, it was part of a major push to engage midmarket MSPs. Originally an on-premises solution, CA and Nimsoft introduced a cloud version and ultimately rebranded the plartform to Unified Information Management. Fast forward to present day, and UIM has quietly built cloud monitoring momentum with MSPs. But frankly, the MSP market needs to hear more from CA on then UIM front. 8. ClearCenter: Certainly not your traditional RMM platform, ClearCenter is a hybrid IT management platform. CEO Michael Proper previously built a very successful MSP business. He now sees Hybrid Service Providers as the natural successors to MSPs and VARs. Trust us as we make the following statement: Keep a close eye on ClearCenter in 2017... 9. Comodo One RMM: This platform is positioned as a complete IT and Security Manager offering with built in RMM, service desk ticketing, and patch management -- for free. So what's the catch? Frankly, we're still poking around for more details about the privately held company -- which claims to have 1,000+ employees... 10. ConnectWise LabTech: ConnectWise sparked the march toward MSP suites when the company extended beyond its PSA roots and invested in LabTech Software in 2010. Fast forward to present day, and ConnectWise has reorganized into a single company that offers a range of MSP offerings -- including the overall ConnectWise Business Suite and the LabTech RMM component. LabTech now has one of the MSP industry's largest RMM installed bases.

Go to Page 2 for Companies 11 to 20

Welcome to page 2 of 2, as we continue our look at 20 RMM software options and alternatives for MSPs and VARs. 11. Continuum: Private equity firm Summit Partners acquired this RMM business in 2011, installed new executive leadership and rebranded it as Continuum. The road forward ahead wasn't easy. The new leaders had to fix a range of software and support issues. But the leadership team delivered software updates like clockwork, which generated MSP loyalty. Fast forward to present day and Continuum's expanded platform (RMM, NOC and BDR services) has generated strong growth. 12. Kaseya: An early RMM market pioneer, Kaseya stumbled a bit after a private equity firm acquired the company in mid-2013. By mid-2015, a new CEO arrived and the company sharpened its focus on MSPs. More recently, Kaseya has acquired Vorex as part of a push beyond monitoring and management tools toward PSA. 13. LogicMonitor: The company positions itself as a performance management platform rather than RMM. Many mid-market MSPs use LogicMonitor in tandem with more traditional RMM tools. In mid-2016, the company attracted a $130 million investment -- which should help to fund expanded R&D and more business growth. 14. LogicNow Max Remote Management: LogicNow, acquired by SolarWinds in June 2016, has a range of MSP-centric tools -- including the Max Remote Management platform. LogicNow also has a large installed base in the SMB-centric MSP market. The company now sits within the recently formed SolarWinds MSP group -- which also includes SolarWinds N-able. MSPs are waiting for unified product roadmap that more clearly communicates how the LogicNow and N-able software stacks will evolve 15. ManageEngine: Part of the Zoho family of companies, ManageEngine has quietly become one of the largest privately held provider of IT management software. A portion of that portfolio includes RMM-oriented software for MSPs. 16. Microsoft Intune: Originally Windows Intune, this offering never really gained a big following with MSPs. But under current CEO Satya Nadella, we expect Intune to gain more and more cross-platform management capabilities. 17. Nagios: An extremely well-known player for server, network and application monitoring. Widely used by MSPs even without much of a formal MSP push by Nagios. 18. Navarisk: Acquired by ECi Software Solutions  in mid-2015, but we haven't heard much about Navarisk since that time... 19. NinjaMSP: Launched by several PacketTrap veterans, NinjaMSP started in RMM and is now branching out into additional areas. Plenty of MSPs loved PacketTrap before Dell acquired and killed the platform. Fast forward to present day and NinjaMSP is catching on with many of those former PacketTrap channel partners. 20. Pulseway MSP: Pulseway claims to be a mobile- and cloud-first RMM platform for MSPs. Pulseway MSP is available now at starts at $2.40 per server per month, with no contract and no setup fees. 21. SolarWinds N-able: SolarWinds acquired N-able in 2013, and funded the MSP-centric software business to rapidly increase its installed base. SolarWinds N-able also gained various remote control and service desk capabilities. Looking ahead, the big priority is integrating the SolarWinds N-able business with the LogicNow business, which SolarWinds acquired in June 2016. 22. SpiceWorks: A free inventory and asset management tool that some MSPs have embraced. It's also an active online community, though SpiceWorks did have layoffs in 2016. 23. WhatsUp Gold (IpSwitch): Positioned for network and application monitoring, WhatUp Gold has a partner program though it looks more like a reseller opportunity than an MSP-modeled program. 24. Whom Did We Miss?: Surely we've overlooked a range of RMM-oriented monitoring and management tools for MSPs. We purposely skipped remote control offerings as well as many of the latest cloud monitoring and management tools, most of which weren't initially designed for MSP. But we're open to feedback, criticism -- and "you forgot to mention..." emails.