WSUS and Patch Manager Plus are essential tools for any organization that wants to keep its systems secure and up-to-date. While they have some similarities, critical differences between these tools make them better suited for different use cases.
Overview
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) is a free tool from Microsoft that enables administrators to manage the distribution of updates and patches to Windows-based computers. It is a robust and reliable tool that has been around for many years and is widely used by organizations of all sizes.
Patch Manager Plus, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive patch management tool. It offers a range of features beyond what is provided by WSUS. It supports Windows updates and third-party applications like Adobe and other operating systems like Mac and Linux. It also provides features such as automated patch deployment, patch scanning, and reporting, which can help organizations streamline their patch management process.
Advantages of WSUS and Patch Manager Plus
One of the key advantages of using WSUS is that it is a free tool included with Windows Server operating systems. This free tool can benefit organizations looking to manage their patching on a tight budget. It is also a relatively simple tool to use once setup is complete. It has a straightforward interface that makes it easy to deploy updates to multiple systems at once.
On the other hand, Patch Manager Plus is a more advanced tool designed for organizations with more complex patch management needs. It offers a range of features that can help organizations automate their patching process. Deployment of updates and patches can be scheduled for specific times or automatically set up for deployment as soon as they are available. It also provides detailed reporting and analytics that can help organizations understand how their systems are being patched and identify areas where they may be out of compliance with set policies.
Case Study
Recently, I installed both tools in the production environment at my workplace. I was so excited to implement these tools in the environment to get my patching routine going. My focus was initially on the Patch Management tool, but then I quickly discovered that I only needed some features offered by the Patch Manager Plus tool. But it had its place, as I will explain shortly.
At my previous place of employment, the Patch Management tool tremendously served its purpose. We had two hundred servers and about four hundred and fifty desktops. The environment also had combinations of Mac computers and Linux servers. About seventy percent of the systems were Microsoft Operating systems, though. The rest were Linux.
So, Patch Management Plus software worked better for this environment than WSUS.
In my existing environment, which only included about twenty servers and a hundred and fifty desktops, WSUS was more than enough. Even though I used WSUS primarily, I still used the free version of Patch Manager Plus to manage about five of our critical servers, including Exchange Server and several Domain Controllers.
I wanted to exclude these servers from the regular patching routine of WSUS. With the free version of Patch Manager Plus, you can manage about five servers and twenty desktops. It is a fully functional version if you keep it in the range of the twenty endpoints.
Decision Time
So, which tool should you choose? The answer depends on your organization’s specific needs and requirements. If you only need to manage updates for Windows systems, WSUS may be sufficient for your needs. However, Patch Manager Plus may be the better choice if you need to manage patches for various operating systems and applications or perform more advanced features like automated patch deployment.
Ultimately, WSUS and Patch Manager Plus are valuable tools that help organizations keep their systems secure and up-to-date. By understanding the differences between the two tools and choosing the one that best fits your needs, you can ensure that your organization’s systems are properly patched and protected against cyber threats.
Conclusion
Even though WSUS is a free tool, it can sometimes get complicated to set up. Modifying the Active Directory and using GPO to configure WSUS is a requirement.
If you prefer Patch Manager Plus for your organization, please visit Here. Manage Engine Patch Manager Plus.
Also, if you need assistance setting up any of these tools, please send me a note in the comments section.