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Beats VS SolarWinds Patch Manager

Compare Beats VS SolarWinds Patch Manager and see what are their differences

Beats logo Beats

Beats is the platform for single-purpose data shippers that is installed as lightweight agents and send data to machines to Logstash or Elasticsearch.

SolarWinds Patch Manager logo SolarWinds Patch Manager

SolarWinds Patch Manager is an intuitive patch management software for quickly addressing software vulnerabilities.
  • Beats Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • SolarWinds Patch Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25

Beats features and specs

  • Lightweight Agents
    Beats are designed to be lightweight, which allows them to easily run on edge devices without significantly impacting system performance.
  • Eclectic Set of Data Shippers
    Beats offers a range of specialized shippers like Filebeat, Metricbeat, Packetbeat, and others, each tailored for different types of data collection, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
  • Easy Integration with Elastic Stack
    Beats seamlessly integrates with other components of the Elastic Stack, like Elasticsearch and Kibana, providing a unified data collection and analysis ecosystem.
  • Extensible and Open Source
    Being open-source, Beats can be extended and customized to meet specific needs, allowing users to modify or enhance functionalities.
  • Community and Support
    Beats has a strong community and offers extensive documentation, which aids in troubleshooting and enhancing user knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Beats

  • Limited Processing Capabilities
    Beats is designed primarily for data shipment and lacks powerful processing capabilities, which may necessitate additional processing tools like Logstash.
  • Complexity with Scale
    Managing many Beats agents across a large infrastructure can become complex, requiring orchestrations and management strategies to avoid configuration drifts.
  • Memory Consumption
    While lightweight, some Beats can still consume a notable amount of memory, particularly when processing large datasets or complex configurations.
  • Learning Curve
    For users not familiar with the Elastic Stack ecosystem, there might be a learning curve in configuring and optimizing Beats for specific use cases.

SolarWinds Patch Manager features and specs

  • Comprehensive Patch Management
    SolarWinds Patch Manager offers a wide range of patch management capabilities for both Microsoft and third-party applications, ensuring that systems stay updated and secure against vulnerabilities.
  • Automated Patching
    The automation features allow for streamlined scheduling and deployment of patches, reducing the manual workload and risk of human error in patch management processes.
  • Integration with WSUS and SCCM
    SolarWinds Patch Manager integrates seamlessly with Microsoft WSUS and SCCM, enabling enhanced control over patch management processes and leveraging existing infrastructure.
  • Detailed Reporting and Compliance
    The tool provides comprehensive reporting and compliance features, offering insights into the patch status and compliance levels across the organization.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, facilitating quick access to necessary tools and information for IT administrators.

Possible disadvantages of SolarWinds Patch Manager

  • Cost Considerations
    SolarWinds Patch Manager can be costly for small to medium-sized businesses, potentially limiting access for organizations with tighter IT budgets.
  • Complex Initial Setup
    The initial setup and configuration process can be complex and requires adequate expertise, which may be challenging for teams with limited experience.
  • Third-Party Vendor Support
    While it supports a wide range of third-party applications, there may still be some vendors whose patches are not supported, requiring manual handling.
  • Performance Overhead
    The software might introduce performance overhead on systems, particularly during scan and deployment phases, potentially impacting system responsiveness.
  • Limited Mobile Device Support
    SolarWinds Patch Manager is primarily designed for desktop and server environments, with limited capabilities for managing patches on mobile devices.

Analysis of Beats

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Beats is generally considered good, especially for organizations already using Elasticsearch and the Elastic Stack. It is praised for its ease of integration, versatility, and the substantial support and community around the Elastic ecosystem. However, the specific effectiveness can depend on your use case and data architecture needs.

Why this product is good

  • Beats, developed by Elastic, is a set of lightweight data shippers that are often used for sending data to Elasticsearch. They are known for their efficiency and ability to handle a variety of data types including logs, metrics, and network packets. Beats are part of the Elastic Stack, which is widely used for real-time data analysis and monitoring.

Recommended for

  • Organizations that already use Elasticsarch as their core data processing tool
  • Teams looking for efficient and lightweight data shipping solutions
  • Developers needing a solution to handle diverse data formats such as logs and metrics
  • Companies investing in real-time monitoring and data analysis
  • Businesses that can benefit from the extensive documentation and community support provided by Elastic

Beats videos

Beats Solo Pro: Return to Excellence!

More videos:

  • Review - The Beats Solo Pro Are The Best Beats Yet
  • Review - Beats Studio 3 Wireless "Real Review"

SolarWinds Patch Manager videos

Solarwinds Patch Manager Demo

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to SolarWinds Patch Manager
  • Review - SolarWinds Lab Bits: A Brief SolarWinds Patch Manager Overview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Beats and SolarWinds Patch Manager)
Monitoring Tools
52 52%
48% 48
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
Patch Management
0 0%
100% 100
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Beats and SolarWinds Patch Manager, you can also consider the following products

Wazuh - Open Source Host and Endpoint Security

WSUS Offline Update - Using "WSUS Offline Update" (formerly known as "ct offline update" or "DIY...

Riemann - Container Monitoring

WHDownloader - A lightweight and easy to use Downloader which allows you to find and apply the latest Microsoft Windows updates....

Fortinet FortiAnalyzer - Fortinet FortiAnalyzer is a powerful product for Security Fabric Analytics and Automation.

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus - Patch Manager Plus, an all-round patching solution, offers automated patch deployment for Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints, plus patching support for 350+ third-party applications You can use it to patch computers within LAN and WAN.