Four ways to manage Macs in a MicroSoft world (Active Directory)

Review: Four ways to manage Macs in a Microsoft world | Network World

What’s offered In MacOS

Thursby ADMitMac 10

Centrify For Mac

Parallels Mac Management for SCCM

 

SUMMARY

We wouldn’t go out and deploy SCCM 2012 just to control Macs, as SCCM is an armada of components tied onto a hefty platform, but if an organization is using SCCM already and has some fluency, Parallels Mac Management extensions to SCCM are invaluable.

By contrast, Centrify contains a very strong and professional approach to tying Macs to a controlled platform under the control and aegis of the Active Directory tools that every Active Directory admin already knows, but it lacks a few of the secret sauce ingredients that Parallels for Mac SCCM has.

And life is not only simpler with Thursby’s ADMitMac, but it will appeal to Mac admins who may be (begrudgingly) only now connecting to an Active Directory Network. AdMitMac connects the dots that Apple and Microsoft left out of the box in a satisfying, thoughtful, and uncomplicated experience.

If we had all of the budget and personnel power, we’d go Parallels, but the other two are close and for different reasons.

Scorecard

	Thursby	Centrify	Parallels
Installation, Architectural Flexibility	3.5	4.5	4
Features and Security	4	4.5	4.25
AD Controls for Macs	3.5	4.25	4.5
Administration, Docs	4	4.25	4.5
Total	3.75	4.375	4.3