Apple Remote Desktop vs. Remote Desktop Manager

ARD for me is based on a LAN, but can be used over WAN via VPN, but the latency makes ARD a less ideal tool. There are other cross platform tools that can do what ARD does which to me add value when managing a mixed environment

Incentivized

Well suited for employees (IT folks) that need to connect to multiple servers frequently and switch between those servers. in particular if not all are in the same domain or use the same OS (Windows/Linux, etc.) Less appropriate for users that only connect to a single remote device in particular if that is less frequent. The standard RDP solution is more than adequate for those users

Incentivized

• Automator Actions: This is a very cool feature and cost saving as it reduces human effort by automating the workflow of tasks.
• Curtain Mode: This lets you block your local user's view of the desktop while performing administrative tasks.
• Spotlight Search: It can perform lightning fast searches on machines using the spotlight search feature of OS X and thus saves a lot of time.

Incentivized

• Customer service delivery, whereby you can connect to clients to assist and resolve an incident.
• Working from home logging onto office based machine.
• It helps to attend to a problem more quickly, thereby saving the cost of relocation and commuting to distant places.
• Speed and cost elements are critical here.

Incentivized

• It's onsite only without setting up a VPN or some other form of remote network access.
• It can be a little slow sometimes when compared to local access.
• It seems to be a neglected product by Apple and not continually developed.

Incentivized

• Occasionally there is a UI bug where the sidebar goes missing and you have to delete some files in %localappdata% to bring it back
• Would be great if it could also connect to serverless SQL instances like Azure SQL
• If computer sleeps and wakes with Remote Desktop Manager open it will comtimes ask you to re-login for no reason - as when you close and reopen Remote Desktop Manager it works

Incentivized

It is a fairly unique tool in the level of integration it has with Apple Desktop products. It definitely needs some engineering attention, and it should be expanded to the iOS arena. It is not perfect, but it is very useful and fills an otherwise fairly empty niche in the support toolkit realm. The built-in screen sharing app in macOS handles the direct screen control or viewing function fairly well, but it does not have all of the other mass control features that Apple Remote Desktop supplies.

Incentivized

I've been using RDM for about 10 years now. I started with the free version, which I used for a few years, and eventually switched to the Enterprise version. I can never go back now! I use this tool for everything and cannot see doing my job without it! Whenever we have someone new come in or bring in a vendor/contractor, they always ask me what RDP tool I'm using. Once I explain about it's features and all, they're usually instantly sold on it. :)

Once it is set up, it is quite straightforward to use. However, currently, it requires both a script to run to set up permissions and controls, AND a command from the MDM to authorize it to be active. The MDM management command is manual. This is not conducive to an automated workflow, and sometimes gets forgotten. Then, the endpoint is not contactable until someone realizes that the MDM command was not sent or was not successful.

Incentivized

The software is easy to use and intuitive for a team that already works with Cloud or Infrastructure, and it is easy to adapt for teams that use it. (TR) O software é fácil de usar e intuitivo para uma equipe que já trabalha com Nuvem ou Infraestrutura, e é fácil de adaptar para equipes que o utilizam.

Incentivized

I've never had to get support for ARD, so I can't give a real opinion.

Incentivized

I've never had to use support as I've never had an issue. That said, you can open a support ticket right from the UI. The user forums are active, and there are thousands of threads covering many topics. Very easy to get support if needed. This is an easy ten.

Incentivized

None, very easy to setup and install.

Incentivized

The implementation was completely successful. We had no issues!

I would feel much more comfortable having one of these alternative solutions as our Remote Desktop management tools. Each has their drawbacks and expenses associated with them, but we simply have too large of a deployment to not be considering alternatives. If it is the only solution you can afford, it is OK to start here. I could see where this would have a return on investment, but it is really only suitable for a very small and localized scale. If employees are at all mobile, the duct taping of products necessary (VPN, distribution points, script repositories) would be very cumbersome.

Incentivized

I could detail what each one does, better or worst than Remote Desktop Manager, but the main thing is, RDM (Remote Desktop Manager) does everything other tools do, faster and more integrated than others. And still saves credentials that could be used by one or more connections, in a better way than other tools.

• Apple Remote Desktop has a positive return on investment because for the expense to the school, the value it brings to teachers is important. The return on improved student performance is very difficult to measure financially, but there is a definite return.
• The overall objective of education is to increase student learning, ARD does that phenomenally. Parents see the tool used and are impressed at what the capabilities of the tool can do and how it impacts how active their students are as well as how well they can learn.
• One negative impact is that teachers rely too much on this tool rather than on actually teaching sometimes.

Incentivized

• A common place for storage for all users. Instead of employees using multiple different password management systems, they all use Remote Desktop Manager to store them now.
• We don't have to buy licenses from multiple vendors when everyone uses Remote Desktop Manager.