Symantec Client Management Suite logo

Symantec Client Management Suite

by Broadcom · Since 2005
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ActiveAvailable globallyCloud
Quick facts
VendorBroadcom
Year launched2005
StatusActive
Location3421 Hillview Ave Palo Alto California, 94304 United States
Countries servedGlobal
Languages8
Integrations
Free tier
Free trial
Contact salesYES

About Symantec Client Management Suite

Symantec Client Management Suite is a management software from Broadcom that provides endpoint management capabilities. It combines asset management, software delivery, and patch management so organizations can maintain control over their endpoints. This suite helps in ensuring compliance and security through comprehensive inventory tracking and deployment of software updates. Additionally, it simplifies the management of licenses and software distribution across a network. Key capabilities: asset inventory software deployment policy management patch management reporting and analytics Best for: IT administrators who need to manage and secure a large number of endpoints.

This comprehensive review of the Symantec Client Management Suite (CMS) focuses on its immense capability, operational challenges, and financial structure. CMS, powered by underlying Altiris technology, is an extremely powerful solution designed for end-to-end endpoint lifecycle automation, excelling in critical areas like robust, cross-platform patch management for Windows, Mac, and Linux, comprehensive asset inventory, and automated OS deployment. This depth of functionality makes it highly effective at strengthening security and ensuring compliance across large, intricate enterprise environments that need granular control. However, the breadth of its feature set contributes to its primary drawbacks: a high degree of administrative complexity and a frequently criticized user interface. The management console is often described as dated and clunky, creating a steep learning curve and necessitating dedicated, expert IT staff. While highly reliable and effective at detecting threats, the system's intensive operations can sometimes lead to reports of high resource usage on endpoints, which may impact performance for the end user.

Pros & Cons

What users like
  • +Provides a unified platform for patching, deployment, and asset management across diverse endpoints.
  • +Automates manual IT operations, significantly reducing administrative workload and human error.
  • +Delivers deep hardware and software inventory insights that improve visibility and compliance.
  • +Offers robust imaging and OS deployment features for quick device provisioning.
  • +Supports hybrid endpoint environments, including physical, virtual, and cloud-managed systems.
What users flag
  • Setup and configuration are complex and require experienced IT staff for proper deployment.
  • The interface and workflow may feel outdated compared to newer cloud-native management tools.
  • Licensing costs are not transparent and require direct contact with Broadcom partners for quotes.
  • Integration with non-Broadcom or non-Symantec systems is limited and often manual.
  • Some documentation and advanced features are locked behind customer support portals.

Features

Key features

Patch Management
Automates the identification and remediation of OS and application vulnerabilities through centralized patch deployment.
Systems Management
Streamlines provisioning, deployment, migration, and lifecycle management of desktops, laptops, and servers.
Modern Device Management
Enables management of modern devices via OS-native protocols without requiring additional agent installation.
End-User Self-Service
Provides an app-store-like software portal for users to request and install approved applications independently.
Comprehensive Inventory
Maintains detailed hardware and software asset records for accurate visibility and compliance tracking.
Imaging and Deployment
Supports OS imaging and automated mass deployment for quick system setup and recovery.
Reporting and Compliance
Generates detailed vulnerability and compliance reports to assist in audits and security management.

Additional features

Discovery and Inventory
Tracks and catalogs all connected devices, hardware, and software to maintain up-to-date asset visibility.
Patch Management
Detects missing patches, schedules updates, and automates patch deployment to reduce security risks.
Software Distribution
Packages and remotely installs applications across different operating systems and devices.
Imaging and Deployment
Provides tools for OS imaging, PXE boot deployment, and system migration across multiple platforms.
Endpoint Configuration Management
Enforces and automates configuration standards for OS and applications enterprise-wide.
Systems Provisioning
Automates setup workflows for desktops, laptops, and virtual or physical servers.
Remote Control and Troubleshooting
Allows IT staff to access endpoints remotely for real-time issue resolution.
Modern Device Management
Uses OS-native APIs to manage devices without deploying full agents, improving flexibility.
Security and Compliance Reporting
Provides dashboards and analytics on patch status, vulnerabilities, and policy compliance.
End-User Self-Service Portal
Empowers users with a modern interface to request or install approved software.
Role-Based Administration
Enables secure delegation of IT management tasks through granular access control.
Multi-Platform Support
Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and major virtualization environments.
Integration with Altiris Solutions
Natively connects with Asset Management Suite, Ghost Solution Suite, and Server Management Suite.

Pricing

Free trial
Free version
Request a quote
Promo Offer

Countries & Languages

Global
Countries served
8
Interface languages
10
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishFrenchGermanSpanishItalianPortugueseJapaneseChinese

Billing currencies

🇺🇸USD🇪🇺EUR🇬🇧GBP🇯🇵JPY🇦🇺AUD🇨🇦CAD🇨🇭CHF🇨🇳CNY🇮🇳INR🇷🇺RUB

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