The New Approach to Remote Monitoring and Management for MSPs and IT Professionals in 2021

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT professionals are constantly trying to simplify and streamline their workloads. In this process, they are coming to rely on solutions like Atera’s remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. Atera provides an all-in-one management platform. IT Central Station members who use Atera have shared how it enables them to shift from being reactive task-takers to proactive problem-solvers.

Atera Use Cases

From remote IT monitoring and management through powerful ticketing and customer satisfaction surveying to billing and invoicing, Atera brings the entire IT business together. One IT consultant uses Atera as endpoint management for multiple companies that he services. He described his use case by saying, “Basically, they don’t have a domain, each one is an individual. Atera allows me to manage them as if it was on an active directory, but it’s not. I can push out commands through the agent that’s on each endpoint.”

Avi V., an owner at a security firm that provides client support services and protection, uses Atera as a managing solution. He said, “We are using Atera to get control on a machine, results, information, license keys, serial number information, performance on the machine, and rates of the hard drive; e.g., if it is SSD or HDD. Everything is possible to do.” They also put Atera to work running background scripts without interrupting users. They use a command line and PowerShell if they require it. He added that “it is an easy, light tool to use.”

For Kimberly B., chief technology officer at a small tech services company, the original Atera use case involved using the platform to set up remote management systems for their clients. As she explained, “Many of the companies that we worked with didn’t have any type of remote management.” They also utilize Atera for invoicing services.

Danny M., CTO at an ICT provider, uses Atera for managing and supporting his customers’ computer environments. He shared that “the use case is for remote support, monitoring, and management of their IT systems.” Meanwhile, Dave L., a director of development at a managed IT support company, “uses Atera for ticketing, keeping track of work with our clients, and monitoring our clients’ computers and devices.”

Finally, JL C., a network administrator at a university, said his use cases depend on the customer’s requests. He elaborated, commenting, “We need to provide an automation script. We check for feature availability in terms of the two print automation scripts that Atera offers. If they don’t have it then we create customized scripts. It provides remote automation.”

The Value of Integrations

Atera’s third-party integrations enable users to create a more robust solution and achieve their business goals. When thinking about Atera’s most valuable feature, JL C. pointed to the ability to connect a remote via Splashtop. He said, “That and implementing updated automation and the alerts are the features that help me troubleshoot customers’ problems or requests.”

Kimberly B. mentioned that, over the past couple of years, Atera has brought out many extra integrations that have been helpful in improving antivirus work, such as Bitdefender. Regarding integrations, she added, “Atera has an API area where you can try to tie it into something yourself if they don’t have it integrated already, which is cool.”

She also shared that she’s been impressed with how much Atera listens to its community to focus on more integrations, especially since so many companies are using different types of antivirus solutions. “Over the past year, Atera has added additional antivirus integrations,” she said. “If there has been one antivirus that we’ve been working with most, but, over time, another one has really stepped up, Atera is already working on an integration for that because that antivirus is being used around the world. I’ve really enjoyed that piece.”

When Danny M. creates a new customer in Atera, he attaches some automation profiles to the customer and everything runs automatically. He said, “Monitoring is set up automatically, and software is installed automatically through Chocolatey or Homebrew. The basic configuration of the endpoints is also automatic. The ease of use and user interface definitely help. The automatic deployment is very straightforward and very easy.”

He also likes how he can add Atera to other systems through API application interfacing, as well as to other kinds of individuals. He shared, “Let’s say you use Kaspersky; you can API it into the dashboard and it will keep up tabs with it – the same thing with your backup solutions; it’s very versatile on that part.”

To learn more about what IT Central Station members think about Atera, visit https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/atera-reviews