The Top 10 Patch Management Software For Business

Heimdal™ Patch and Asset Management is a fully featured patch management solution, enabling organizations to seamlessly deploy and patch software via a modern, cloud-based admin console that provides visibility and control across all software inventories. The platform supports deployment and patch management for any Microsoft, Linux, third-party and custom-made software. Heimdal™ is a quickly growing cybersecurity company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their solutions are currently deployed in more than 45 countries and secure more than two million endpoints, for over 10,000 enterprise customers.

Heimdal™ Patch and Asset Management is designed to enable organizations to view, manage and update their software inventory from anywhere in the world in order to ensure all software is up-to-date, secure against any vulnerabilities and fully compliant. The platform is automated, ensuring that software is updated immediately when patches become available, and saving your IT team time and cost. Key features of the service include a modern user interface, with granular policy controls around managing software deployment and privilege management, comprehensive reporting, and advanced scheduling of patches, including enabling force-reboots and on-demand updates.

This solution is a comprehensive platform for managing software updates and ensuring endpoint devices are kept secure. It’s high customizable, with a clean, modern user interface that enables easy configuration of policies, reports and patch scheduling. One of the key differentiators for this solution is the ability to manage patches both on Microsoft and Linux under the same admin console, as well as automated patch management for over 120 different third-party and customized applications.

Customers praise this solution for its customizability, simplicity, and ease of use, with many highlighting how straightforward the platform is for administrators, saving both time and money. We recommend this solution for organizations of any size looking for a comprehensive, highly customizable patch management solution, with a focus on both granular functionality and ease of use.

SecPod is a cybersecurity provider that enables IT and security teams to identify and mitigate security risks and exposures, with a focus on endpoint management. Their SanerNow platform offers modules in vulnerability management, compliance management, asset exposure, endpoint management, endpoint query response, and patch management. Each of these modules can be utilized as a standalone solution or integrated with the others for a unified approach to endpoint security. SanerNow Patch Management supports patch management for workstations and cloud workloads, as well as Windows, Linux, and MacOS devices.

From the Patch Management dashboard, admins can access a visual overview of device and asset posture across their network. They can drill down into patch data, filtering by security-specific patches or non-security patches, and view their most critical patches— those that could be exploited by a cybercriminal—in isolation for faster remediation. SanerNow offers integrations with hundreds of third-party applications for patch management, and customers can request that SecPod creates a new integration for any product that isn’t already covered. Patches can be tested on Test Devices to ensure they’re working correctly; once happy with a patch, admins can schedule them to be deployed automatically. The platform also offers a rollback feature.

SanerNow is relatively easy to deploy; admins need only install the agent on all covered devices for the platform to start scanning them for vulnerabilities. The platform also integrates with Active Directory for easy user onboarding and permissioning.

Customers praise SanerNow for the simplicity with which they can deploy updates across their endpoints. They also commend SanerNow’s support for third-party patches, which enables them to manage updates without having to leave the platform. Because of its ease of use, SanerNow Patch Management is a strong solution for SMBs. However, its multi-tenant interface, powerful automation capabilities, and integrations with other modules in the SanerNow platform also make this a suitable tool for larger enterprises and MSSPs looking to replace multiple patch and vulnerability management tools with one unified solution.

NinjaOne, formerly NinjaRMM, is an IT operations provider that specializes in remote monitoring and management (RMM), system backups and IT support operations. Ninja Patch Management is their vulnerability scanning and patch management solution designed to give IT teams and managed service providers (MSPs) greater visibility into their endpoint security and help them automate patching across their endpoints. The platform is priced per device and billed monthly.

With Ninja Patch Management, IT teams can automate their patch management workflows to more efficiently keep their endpoints protected. Ninja’s patching engine and built-in tools for software deployment, removal and blacklisting ensure that operating systems and popular workplace applications are kept up to date, helping to minimize app-related vulnerabilities. Ninja also offers endpoint health and performance monitoring and alerting, enabling admins to more quickly identify potential issues and remediate them before they can be exploited. Finally, the platform offers a variety of integrations with remote access, endpoint security and analytics solutions among others, helping IT teams to obtain a comprehensive, unified view of their threat data.

Ninja Patch Management is cloud-native and compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux OSs, and also supports patching for over 135 third-party applications. With Ninja, IT teams can patch all endpoints without the need for a VPN or a connection to the company network. Customers praise NinjaOne for its user-friendly interface, continuous software improvements based on customer feedback, and the vendor’s dedicated support team. We recommend Ninja Patch Management as a strong solution for small- to mid-market MSPs and organizations in the government or education sectors looking for an intuitive patch management tool that they can manage with a smaller IT department.

ESET is a leading endpoint security and management provider, securing millions of customers and hundreds of thousands of enterprise organizations globally. ESET Vulnerability & Patch Management tracks vulnerabilities across device operating systems and applications, with automated patching via ESET’s integrated endpoint security platform. ESET Vulnerability & Patch Management automatically and continuously scans your endpoint and third-party applications. Reports are instantly generated in the admin console, where admins can configure automated patching workflows to ensure devices are kept secure.

ESET’s vulnerability assessment tool supports multiple versions of Windows, and scanning for thousands of applications, including Adobe Acrobat suite and Zoom. Support for MacOS devices is set to launch soon. Vulnerability scans are fully automated, and the system can instantly detect over 35,000 common vulnerabilities (CVEs). Reports are instantly generated in the admin console, prioritized and filtered by exposure score and severity.

Admins can configure immediate patches, or manually push updates when vulnerabilities are detected. Patches and updates can be prioritized based on the severity of vulnerabilities or the importance of specific assets. Less critical updates can be scheduled for off-peak times in order to avoid disruption. Full details of patches are available in the dashboard, with patch names, app versions, affected applications and further details.

ESET’s vulnerability and patch management solution is fully integrated with the wider ESET PROTECT platform, which provides highly effective protection against endpoint threats such as malware, ransomware and fileless attacks. Admins can manage endpoint protection, all endpoints in the centralized admin console. ESET PROTECT bundles also includes XDR, server security, full disk encryption, email security and cloud app protection. A managed version of the service is also available.

We recommend ESET Vulnerability & Patch Management for organizations looking for powerful endpoint security, vulnerability management and patch management, delivered in a easy-to-use, unified admin console. ESET provides fully featured patch management and powerful protection for your entire endpoint network.

Atera is a provider of remote access and support technologies designed for MSPs and IT service providers. Their platform offers remote monitoring and management (RMM), professional services automation (PSA), and remote support, and reporting—all of which IT teams can use to streamline the process of scanning their clients’ devices for vulnerabilities and ensuring their endpoints are updated. Atera’s solution is available in three packages, each of which is billed per technician, not per device: Pro ($89 USD/user/month), Growth ($129/user/month) and Power ($169/user/month).

With Atera, IT technicians can automate system scans, update checks and system reboots; the platform monitors client endpoints in real-time and alerts IT admins of any vulnerabilities or bugs as soon as it detects them. IT teams can also use Atera’s powerful automation capabilities to automate patch management for operating systems, software and hardware, configuring different settings for individual devices and device groups to ensure that all endpoints are secured without relying on end users to run updates. IT teams can also remotely install and uninstall applications as needed. Finally, Atera offers robust reporting functionality that gives IT teams complete visibility into their systems. Reporting capabilities include a Patch Status Summary, which displays a full overview of patch management, including a list of missing patches, and a Patch and Automation Feedback report, which notifies IT teams on any updates that haven’t worked.

Atera integrates seamlessly with a number of third-party applications, including Chocolatey, enabling IT teams to automate Mac and Windows updates for popular software such as Chrome, Zoom, Dropbox and Java. Customers praise the platform for its user-friendly interface and remote support capabilities via the mobile app. We recommend Atera as a strong solution for small- to mid-sized MSPs and IT service providers looking to automate and simplify their patch management processes.

Chocolatey is a software management solution that enables individuals and organizations to manage their Windows software environments more efficiently—improving security whilst saving time and resources. Chocolatey for Business (C4B) is their corporate solution for SMBs and enterprises. The C4B package is priced per node (device to be managed) and pricing starts at $16/node/year, but organizations can test some of Chocolatey’s features (including software packaging and software upgrading) before investing by installing the Open Source package. Once subscribed to C4B, organizations also benefit from central management, auditing, and dedicated support, among other features.

Chocolatey is a package manager: it enables IT teams to manage all software deployments, updates, and removals across their Windows environments via a single interface, rather than having to monitor them individually. Chocolatey wraps each piece of software (including installers, executables, zips and scripts) into a single package file, making it much easier to manage. With Chocolatey, admins can automate software and application updates or, within the management portal, manually update, reinstall, and uninstall individual apps in a few clicks. Finally, Chocolatey offers a wide range of integrations, including with third-party endpoint management solutions such as Connectwise Automate and Ivanti, to sync vulnerability data and more effectively identify any risks within an environment.

Chocolatey is compatible with a wide range of Windows environments, from Windows 7 and Windows Server 2003 through to the most current operating systems. It also supports cloud environments such as Azure and AWS and runs on Windows Server Core and Docker Windows containers. Customers praise Chocolatey for its easy software deployment functionality. However, there is a learning curve to using the platform, and users do need some experience with PowerShell scripting. As such, we recommend Chocolatey for mid-sized to larger organizations with dedicated technical IT staff looking to run updates and install patches across their Windows environment more efficiently.

GFI is an IT services provider that offers a range of solutions encompassing web, email and network security. GFI LanGuard is their patch management, auditing and vulnerability scanning solution, designed to give organizations increased visibility into the state of their endpoints, and help them to identify and patch vulnerabilities. GFI LanGuard is available via three packages: Small, for 10-49 nodes, is priced at £20/node/year; Medium, for 50-249 nodes, is priced at £10.50/node/year; Large, for 250+ nodes, is priced at £7.50/node/year.

GFI LanGuard scans all endpoints for vulnerabilities using its vulnerability assessment database, which is continuously updated with data from BugTraq, SANS Corporation, OVAL and CVE, as well as newly released Microsoft updates, to ensure that LanGuard identifies both known and zero-day vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities are categorized according to type and severity, before LanGuard recommends a course of action to mitigate the threat. From the web-based reporting console, admins can access a centralized view of the current and historical vulnerability status of all their scanned devices. Reports can be generated on demand or scheduled, and they can be exported to most popular formats. This helps ensure compliance and makes it easier to share reports with key decision makers.

GFI LanGuard is compatible with Microsoft, Mac OS X, Linux, Android and iOS operating systems, and also offers patch management for third-party apps and any web browsers running on Windows systems. The platform offers robust integrations with over 4,000 security applications, including endpoint and email security products, enabling admins to sync their threat data more easily. Customers praise the solution for its in-depth reporting and ease of use. We recommend GFI LanGuard as a strong solution for small- to mid-size businesses looking to automate their patch management processes and ensure they’re meeting compliance requirements.

Ivanti, formerly LANDESK and HEAT Software, is an IT security and management provider that specializes in products that unify and consolidate IT processes. Ivanti Patch is their range of patch management solutions, which includes “Patch for Linux, UNIX, Mac”, “Patch for MEM” and “Patch for Endpoint Manager” (an add-on for Ivanti’s Endpoint Manager solution). Ivanti Patch supports a wide range of operating systems across remote, physical and virtual devices, as well as third-party applications, including the Microsoft 365 Suite and Java, and internet browsers.

With Ivanti Patch, IT teams can automatically distribute patches across their environments—including remote and mobile endpoints—with minimum impact on end users. All patches are tested before release to ensure compliance and security. Ivanti’s remote patching functionality enables IT teams to patch the devices of remote workers, and also devices that are asleep, to ensure that all systems are up to date and secure. From the centralized management console, admins can manage their software updates and access role-based dashboards that provide in-depth, real-time reports into their security posture to help guide actions and demonstrate compliance.

In terms of the differences between the solutions, Patch for Linux, UNIX and Mac enables IT teams to deploy patches across a heterogeneous environment via a single interface, mitigating the risk of any devices being forgotten. Patch for MEM offers a native plug-in that enables admins to configure all patches via Intune and the configuration manager. Finally, Patch for Endpoint Manager integrates with Ivanti’s unified endpoint management (UEM) solution to detect vulnerabilities and automatically apply patches across most popular OSs and third-party apps. Customers praise Ivanti’s centralized patch management and software update distribution. We recommend Ivanti’s patch management solutions for midsize organizations looking for comprehensive vulnerability management and response tailored to their specific use case.

ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, is a provider of comprehensive IT management software that helps organizations optimize and integrate their IT processes, from device management to helpdesk operations. Patch Manager Plus is ManageEngine’s patch management and vulnerability scanning solution. The platform is available via three packages that can be deployed on-prem or in the cloud: Free is the cost-free version for SMBs with up to 20 workstations; Professional is priced at $245 (on-prem) or $345 (cloud); Enterprise is priced at $345 (on-prem) or $445 (cloud), with added antivirus definition updates, driver and BIOS updates and automatic patch testing. Note that this pricing is based on an annual subscription for 50 computers with a single technician.

Patch Manager Plus scans all connected endpoints to identify vulnerabilities then, as per admin-configured policies, automatically deploys the necessary operating system and third-party application patches from its repository. Before deploying patches, the platform tests each one to mitigate security risks and ensure all devices are fully secured. From the management dashboard, IT teams can generate reports into the state of security across each of their endpoints, which they can use to track patching across the business as well as prove compliance with data protection standards.

Patch Manager Plus is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems, and also supports patching for over 900 third-party apps and updates for over 500 third-party apps. The solution is available on-premises and in the cloud, making it highly flexible to suit any infrastructure, no matter your organization’s state of cloud migration. Customers praise ManageEngine’s solution for its user-friendly interface and ease with which admins can set up automatic patch deployment. We recommend Patch Manager Plus to SMBs looking for an easy-to-use, intuitive patch management solution with reliable reporting capabilities.

Part of Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS) Suite, Intune is Microsoft’s mobile device and application management solution designed to deliver software updates to mobile Windows devices. With Intune, IT teams can manage the Windows Update for Business configuration on each endpoint. Windows Update for Business is the update configuration built into Windows operating systems. Intune is available as a standalone Azure service billed per user, but also as part of the following Microsoft 365 licenses: Business Premium, E3, E5, F3 and Government.

Intune offers granular update settings that enable IT teams to defer and schedule update installations across their users’ endpoints. Admins can also block the installation of certain features from new Windows versions to keep certain devices running smoothly, while still rolling out security updates. IT teams can monitor and manage their patch and software updates from within Intune and, to help with this, Intune offers robust reporting functionality. The platform can generate reports into the status of discovered vulnerabilities and current updates, including failed updates and rollbacks.

Deployed in the cloud, Intune is a highly scalable solution and, being Microsoft owned, it integrates seamlessly with all Windows OSs and Microsoft applications. We recommend Intune as a strong patch management solution for organizations looking to deploy software updates across their corporate-issued and BYOD mobile endpoints running on a Windows OS. For updating operating systems, software and applications across desktop devices, organizations should consider Microsoft Endpoint Manager (formerly SCCM).