ManageEngine Patch Connect Plus

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) was developed by Microsoft in 1994 and has been a popular tool for IT administrators to manage systems in an enterprise environment. Although it is an exemplary tool while distributing updates for Microsoft applications, managing patches for third-party applications can be more complicated.

Without the use of supplementary tools that aid in third-party patch management, an IT administrator must prepare the updates for deployment in an arduous, three-step process: finding the latest patches from the respective vendors' websites, making them available for download from the SCCM console and, once downloaded, triggering multiple syncs with Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) to finally ensure the third-party updates are ready for deployment. These SCCM third-party patch management steps can be exhaustive and time-consuming when managing patches for multiple third-party applications in large commercial networks.

Implementing third-party patch management in a systematic manner is vital for the enterprise's overall security. Unlike Microsoft, that releases monthly security updates to patch their applications, there is no predictable frequency for third-party vendor update releases. Vendors usually roll out updates to fix newly discovered vulnerabilities in their programs as needed, making it crucial to stay on top of third-party application patching requirements, and making it difficult to schedule for them.

Patch Connect Plus ensures third-party patch management is a more efficient and gratifying experience for SCCM users by automating third-party patching workflows. To compliment automated patching, this solution uses an extensive catalog of patches from more than 330 different third-party applications, like Adobe Reader and Java, ready to be published to the SCCM server.

Once automated third-party patching has been set up, Patch Connect Plus routinely scans for the latest updates. When a new update is found, it is automatically downloaded and published to the WSUS server. Patch Connect Plus automatically publishes the patch binaries to the WSUS library and initiates SCCM-WSUS syncs so they are available in the SCCM console for deployment. An IT admin can tailor the automated patch management cycle to address the exact needs of their enterprise.

Patch Connect Plus sends, through email, detailed reports that contain important information about the publishing progress, sync status, deployment failures, and expired signing certificates. These details help IT admins keep a tab on various deployment tasks.

Additionally, Patch Connect Plus supports the deployment of third-party applications by providing a large repository of more than 300 application deployment templates. Users can choose from a range of pre-defined templates for the deployment of applications like Google Chrome, Apple ITunes, and more. Customized deployment enables IT admins to control what happens in client machines before and after deployment.

These deployment templates can, for example, allow end users to postpone the deployment if the application is running, restrict applications from displaying start menu or task bar icons, and can disable desktop shortcuts. Additionally, Patch Connect Plus enables SCCM users to install patches and software with pre- and post- deployment scripts to meet the exact requirements of their enterprise.

Patch Connect Plus comes with its own native plug-in for SCCM. This adds a separate tab to the SCCM console so IT admins have access to the complete list of all third-party updates from one place. It facilitates the deployment of non-Microsoft applications directly from the SCCM console and fetches system-based reports from all managed endpoints.

Patch Connect Plus comes in three editions: Standard, Professional, and Enterprise. The standard edition is completely free and publishes 305 update catalogs to the SCCM server. The paid editions come with a 30-day free trial so you can gain a hands-on experience before deciding to make a purchase.