Datto review | TechRadar

Datto is a cloud-based RMM software provider founded in 2007. Built for MSPs, the platform has more than 1 million users in 20+ locations. Datto was acquired by Kaseya in April 2022 for a whopping $6.2 billion. However, to this day, Datto RMM exists as an independent RMM product, catering to MSPs all around the world.

Datto aims to simplify remote endpoint management. You can automate patch management through pre-made and customizable scripts. The platform is also well-known for its integrations, especially Microsoft 365 Management, which allows MSPs to monitor the endpoint’s Microsoft suite from a single dashboard. Plus, it’s the only RMM platform that comes with native ransomware detection tools.

With that said, there are a few downsides as well. For starters, it’s very secretive about its pricing – you’ll have to get a custom quote if you want to purchase a plan. What’s more, patch management only works on Windows endpoints, meaning you’ll have to employ a workaround for macOS. Read on to find out everything about Datto, including whether it’s ideal for your requirements.

Datto: Plans and pricing

Datto RMM offers custom pricing, which means you’ll have to contact their sales team with your requirements for a customized quote. This means you’ll be able to get a highly tailored deal ideal for your needs. 

However, this can be a time-consuming process – you’ll first have to explain your requirements and then negotiate with them to arrive at a workable deal. Plus, even after spending so much time, it’s hard to guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the pricing you get. 

For this reason, we believe that it’s better to know upfront how much you’d be paying so that you can make a quick decision. However, this is indeed a subjective matter, and companies may just as well like Datto’s custom pricing.

Datto: Features

One of the standouts about Datto is that it’s the only RMM where you get native Microsoft 365 Management, which helps you administer your Microsoft 365 tasks through a single-user management platform. 

Once you connect an endpoint, you get a dedicated Microsoft 365 menu and a comprehensive overview for each client. Plus, you can seamlessly navigate to the various Microsoft client portals for each endpoint.

Like other RMM software, Datto also supports automated patch management for operating systems and third-party applications, such as Google Chrome, Oracle Java, and Adobe Acrobat.

Its advanced Software Management gives technicians access to more than 200 additional applications, ensuring a wide range of third-party patching. Furthermore, you can set flexible parameters to deliver patches to all your endpoints.

Datto also allows technicians to set up policy-based patch approvals along with device-level compliance reporting. We liked that there’s an extensive library of pre-designed scripts and policies so that you don’t have to build one from scratch.

One downside is that Datto does not inherently support macOS patch management. For that, you’ll have to download “Install Updates with SUPER [MAC]” – a ComStore component. ComStore is a page with data scripts, installers, and device monitors, which are collectively called components.

With that said, however, Datto RMM goes a step ahead of traditional patch management and offers native ransomware detection. In fact, Datto is one of the few RMM software to do so.

Sure, patched antivirus helps you detect all kinds of digital threats. However, it’s always good to have an extra layer of protection, which is exactly what Datto RMM does. The platform uses behavioral analysis to detect ransomware on connected endpoints and send alerts to MSPs so that they can take preventive steps in time.

Datto also isolates the infected device from the network so that the ransomware does not spread through other client devices. This helps businesses reduce downtime and losses from ransomware.

MSPs often use dedicated network scanning platforms to configure all points and devices in a particular client site. However, Datto comes with built-in network topology mapping that gives technicians a detailed tree-style map of all discovered components. This ensures that no device is accidentally left unmonitored.

Datto: Interface and performance

Datto RMM offers a graphics-oriented dashboard that helps you grasp the status of all your endpoints at a single glance. You get a total of 3 dashboard options: blank dashboard, default dashboard, and Datto EDR & Security dashboard. 

The blank dashboard, as the name suggests, is just like a blank piece of paper, where you can add as many widgets as you want from Datto’s widget library. You get 28 widget options to choose from, with various graphs such as line, doughnut, table, and tree map.

The default dashboard comes with widgets like antivirus status, Windows patch status, open alerts, offline devices, and recent alerts. Needless to say, you can customize the board the way you want.

Lastly, the Datto EDR & Security dashboard focuses on the security aspect of connected endpoints. You get information about security threats, ransomware status, and Windows Defender status of all the devices.

Overall, we like the information-oriented approach by Datto, and unlike other RMM software, you get a lot more control with the dashboards.

Datto: Security

Datto RMM employs several security protocols to ensure all its users and their data are safe. For instance, it uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption to encrypt all the data on its platform. Users are required to set strong 9-character passwords, which expire every 30, 60, or 90 days (optional), for added security.

Besides this, you can also enable two-factor authentication and use one-time passwords to add an extra layer of protection.

The good news keeps coming as the platform is hosted on a separate AWS Account with no shared access, which is housed in nondescript facilities. AWS also complies with several certifications and attestations, such as SAS70 Type II, PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 27001, and FISMA.

Apart from this, Datto conducts regular penetration testing in partnership with approved authorities to ensure that there are no exploitable vulnerabilities in their systems.

Overall, Datto takes online security as seriously as a top-notch company should and leaves no stone unturned to ensure its users and partners have a safe experience.

Datto: Support

Datto RMM offers 24/7/365 support through various channels such as live chat, call, and email tickets. What we liked the most is that it has dedicated phone numbers for various regions and countries with more than 500 support team members worldwide. This ensures that users get priority support with quick response times. 

The platform also authenticates every single user and ensures that the information submitted in the ticket is private and protected.

Additionally, we found a lot of documentation, help articles, official YouTube videos, and troubleshooting guides from Datto that will sort out common queries. Plus, Kaseya’s active peer-to-peer community ensures that there’s always someone to help you out immediately.

Datto: Final verdict

Datto is a well-known remote management solution crafted specifically for MSPs. Founded in 2007, Datto is super secure and is the only RMM solution that offers native ransomware detection. It alerts the technicians if it finds traces of ransomware on any system and even isolates it from the rest of the network. 

Much like other RMMs around, it allows you to automate patch management for your client. However, what we liked the most is that it gives technicians access to more than 200 third-party applications, making it one of the best RMMs for third-party patching. 

Overall, it’s a top-notch RMM solution, especially if you’re a MSP. However, there are also a few downsides worth factoring in before you commit. For instance, it cannot patch macOS systems, meaning you’ll have to download a custom component from its store – a workaround that may not work as well as inherent macOS patch management. Plus, Datto’s doesn’t reveal its pricing publicly, so you’ll reach out to their sales teams for a quote.

Datto: FAQs

We’ve listed the best network monitoring tools.