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Metro Awakening review: a survival horror adventure that’ll land with the right audience, but that’s not me
4:17 pm | November 15, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Virtual Reality Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Metro Awakening is not quite for me. There’s definitely something here for the right kind of VR game fan; namely someone with a better connection to the Metro franchise (this is my first entry), who enjoys slow-burn stories with splashes of horror, and who can stand spiders. That’s just not me, unfortunately.

Review Info

Platform reviewed: Meta Quest 3
Available on: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 2, PSVR 2, Steam
Release date: November 7, 2024

I do enjoy some good ol’ survival horror, mind. Resident Evil 2, 4, 7, and 8 – including the Meta Quest Resident Evil 4 port – are among my favorite games of all time. The gameplay loop of facing your fears and exploring spooky environs to better face the dangers wandering those spaces is one I can’t get enough of, and in this regard, I think Metro Awakening does so much right.

Even the smaller beasts of the Moscow Metro feel intimidating, and there’s an inescapable tenseness to wandering the claustrophobic tunnels. Resources seem reasonably sparse to make management and stealthier approaches essential, but not so sparse that you feel like survival’s an impossible task – as long as you make every bullet count.

I also adore the game’s realistic weapons handling as it adds to the title’s overall terror; there’s nothing worse than hearing *bang* *bang* *click* as you realize you’re out of ammo as a monster charges you, and the only way to reload is to properly eject a cartridge, insert a new one and cock your firearm – simple enough except when you’re terrified. These moments wouldn't feel the same if your gun simply refilled its ammo at the push of a button.

That’s true for a lot of Metro Awakening’s interactive elements. There’s a realness to everything, including miscellaneous props you can find lying around, that makes this world feel fairly alive – which is fantastic for immersion.

Though these high-quality VR aspects are to be expected from Vertigo Games, the team behind Arizona Sunshine and its sequel – shining examples of the post-apocalyptic VR shooter.

Wandering through the dark

Set five years before Metro 2033 we play as Serdar, a doctor who is on a mission to rescue his wife Yana from the haunting voices of her traumatic past. On the quest, Serdar will discover the man he is destined to become: Khan, the mystic ally of the main series’ protagonist Artyom.

Best Bit

A monster launches itself at the player by clambering over machinery

(Image credit: Vertigo Games)

While I wish it came sooner, that first jump scare into your first proper combat was an excellent inciting incident that instantly frightens you in a way you can't shake as you play further.

While the story is well written – creating an intriguing blend of sci-fi and folklore – things take too long to get going. The intro made me feel like I was stuck in an over-extended cutscene broken up by unnecessary exploration between exposition.

There were some moments of action – a big fight scene with a mounted machine gun – near the start but I didn’t feel like I was being immersed in the survival horror setting I was promised. When I finally was, the inciting jump scare gave me whiplash as things went from zero to 100 in an instant.

Fans of a slower burning story will likely enjoy this more gentle pace – perhaps even how it juxtaposes with the titles’ more action and terror-filled segments – but I unfortunately found the intro a slog and from this bad start, I failed to feel compelled by the story. The plot felt like a roadblock to the game I wanted to be playing rather than an integral part of it.

I also had issues with accessibility. We have a whole segment of our reviews dedicated to this aspect so I’ll save some for that but I found the smooth locomotion vignette entirely ineffective – so where I was able to play Arkham Shadow until my headset ran out of charge just fine I kept having to pause Metro Awakening every 20 to 30 minutes, or make do with teleportation movement.

Metro Awakening player wields a a crossbow to protect themselves

(Image credit: Vertigo Games)

A difficult journey

The last of my gripes is I did notice a few performance hiccups, particularly just after passing through a loading zone. I was playing on a Meta Quest 3 and suspect more powerful systems – PSVR 2 and PCVR headsets – would struggle less on this side of things though I can’t confirm that for myself.

Though nothing I experienced was game breaking and it was always only a few seconds of noticeable framerate drops before Metro Awakening returned to

Overall then I think Metro’s VR entry has a lot to offer, especially to fans of the series who want to immerse themselves in the franchise’s iconic setting. The story isn’t for me, but for someone who feels more invested in the plot, I can see how its more gradual pace creates this unignorable tension as even in safer areas you’re agonizing about when the next monster will crawl its way out of the shadows.

Being dropped into this world through VR there’s some proper terror that feels so much more impactful than with a flat game. Horror fans will love what Metro Awakening has to offer, but if you prefer more light-hearted adventures this is one to skip.

Should you play Metro Awakening?

Play it if...

You love the world of Metro
This Metro 2033 backstory will help you learn more about the world and one of Artyom's closest allies, as well as give you the chance to truly experience the Metro's horrors firsthand.

You love horror
Metro Awakening feels intimidating in a way many flat games can't emulate. Be ready for a good fright fest if you pick this game up.

Don't play it if...

You hate slow-burn stories
If you want survival horror action right out the gate this won't be for you, the story takes some time to cook but, equally, that'll be a positive for some players.

You get very easily motion sick when VR gaming
While there is teleportation movement it's very slow, and the smooth locomotion has a weak vignette option that left me queasy.

Metro Awakening is not for the faint hearted

(Image credit: Vertigo Games)

Accessibility

As with many VR games, Metro Awakening requires you to have a full range of upper body movements – though it can be played standing or seated. It also boasts teleportation movement which is ideal for players who can’t yet stomach smooth motion.

Unfortunately, while smooth motion does have a vignette option it’s very weak – so much so that in the game’s darker environments I didn’t notice it at all. The upshot is while I’m generally fine with smooth movement with vignetting on I had to swap to the less enjoyable teleportation style because I was struggling to stay immersed for longer stretches.

Another issue is Metro Awakening has a fair few spiders, and while an arachnophobia mode is coming it isn’t out yet. I found the spiders in the more comedic VR title Kill It With Fire too much to handle so you can bet the spiders of Metro VR were beyond what I wanted to deal with. Horror is meant to be scary, yes, but there’s a distinctly unfun kind of terror that spiders instill in me so I’ll gladly wait for that update.

How I tested Metro Awakening

For this review I played through Metro Awakening using my Meta Quest 3 with the Razer head strap and facial interface, otherwise, it was the standard modeI. While I explored the Moscow Metro I tried a range of approaches to the game's various encounters to test different strategies, and I explored the game's settings to get a good grasp of its accessibility features.

myFirst Camera 50 review: child-friendly introduction to photography, video, and social media
12:43 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Compact Cameras Computers Gadgets | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

myFirst Camera 50: Two-minute review

As technologies continue to collide, cameras for kids become more and more like camera phones, compared to the point-and-shoot cameras of yesteryear. The myFirst Camera 50 is a prime example: effectively, it's a tiny 4-inch tablet with a custom Android operating system that runs the camera and editing features. There's a 20MP rear camera, and for young content creators there's also a 16MP rear-facing camera and a built-in soft selfie light.

This might sound like a lot of technology for a child to manage, but with the camera designed to be used by children aged from 5-12, the controls are simple. There are just three buttons: the power button, a button to turn the light on and off, and the shutter button. The shutter button acts like one on a ‘proper’ camera, with a half-press focusing and a full press taking the photo.

There are, of course, the usual onscreen controls, such as another shutter button and the ability to touch the screen to focus. There's even the usual slider to adjust exposure. Holding down the onscreen shutter button switches to video recording, and while there's no optical zoom, there is the option of a 1x, 2x, or 3x digital zoom.

The camera is powered by a 2,000mAh built-in battery that's claimed to have a life of up to 240 minutes. In practice, how long it will last depends on what you're doing with the camera, but in the hands of a child, expect it to last a few days before it needs charging via the USB-C socket on the side.

Although the myFirst Camera 50 couldn’t be described as a tough camera, it does have a rubberized plastic finish that will help kids grip the camera, and there is a nice pronounced grip. Personally, I would also add a screen protector, as kids will be kids and the camera will get dropped. Within the box, you should find a wrist strap and lanyard so that kids can hold it safely, but these items were missing from my review sample.

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Image showing the sides of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image showing the sides of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)

What kids really want from their cameras these days is the ability to edit images and add photos and stickers, and the myFirst Camera 50 offers this and more.

The custom Android operating system that powers the camera also enables image-editing features. There's a good selection of different filters that can change the color and brightness of images, as well as a few different effects, such as Fisheye, Cross Process, and Vignette.

There's also the option to draw on images or add stickers – kids love stickers. The small array of cartoon stickers proved particularly popular with my children, who enjoyed adding sunglasses and random slices of watermelon to their photos.

Older children will also enjoy the myDiary journal feature. This can be password-protected so that children have some privacy. It allows them to save voice notes alongside images and videos, and then it presents these in a calendar view so that kids can look back on their adventures without needing to have a social media account.

Image edited with the in-camera stickers from the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)

Something else that can be saved to the myDiary are the AI-generated videos. The user selects a series of photos or videos, and the camera uploads these to a server which analyses the content and edits it to create short video complete with music. I found that it did this chronologically, and I’m not entirely sure how much true AI goes into the process, but it does an okay job of creating short highlight videos. (NOTE: When I was writing this review, there appeared to be a bug with saving the AI-generated videos to the camera and uploading them to myFirst Circle).

Those who are more hands-on can use the built-in templates to load their photos and videos, then have the video edited and music added. It's a basic introduction to video editing and is easy to use, although it may be too basic as your child gets older.

One of the key selling points of the myFirst Camera 50 is its integration with the myFirst Circle messaging service. Once you've connected the camera to a Wi-Fi network you're prompted to download the myFirst Circle app and link your camera to an account. Once set up, photos and videos can be uploaded. Parents can invite family and friends to download the app, and can authorize who's able to see their child’s posts and interact with them.

It is a great way to teach children about social media, and about what they may or may not want to share. It's also great for grandparents and other family members to see what the children are up to and keep in touch with them. It also works with the myFirst Frame Live or Doodle, which are Wi-Fi-enabled digital photo frames; when new photos or videos are uploaded to your myCircle account, they will be shown to those within your circle on the digital photo frame. Again, this allows for a passive way for friends and family to share moments almost in real time.

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Screenshots of the various features of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Screenshots of the various features of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Screenshots of the various features of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Screenshots of the various features of the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)

I found the process of setting up the Wi-Fi on the camera, and also a myCircle account on my iPhone, straightforward. The app feels rather basic and simple, which is largely by design to make it easy to use. It feels safe and secure, as much as sending any of your images to a random server could be.

Personally, I would rather wait until my child is a little older before they start getting too involved in social media, but a device like the myFirst Camera 50 and myCircle app seems like a good way to develop an awareness of the social etiquettes and understanding of posting online.

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The myFirst Camera 50 laying amongst some toys

(Image credit: Future)

Going back to the image quality of the camera, the images produced are about on par with what you would expect from a cheap smartphone. With good light, colors, and exposure, they look good, although the detail and sharpness of the image do break down when you view at 100% – the deterioration in quality is due to the small size of the sensor and the associated noise reduction. That said, given that most images will only ever be viewed on the camera, or on a smartphone or tablet screen, they're acceptable.

It's a similar story with the selfie camera, with images showing even lower quality when zoomed. The selfie light works surprisingly well, although the soft, warm light can often cause bits of the face that are in shadow to shift to a much cooler color.

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Image taken with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)
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Image take with the myFirst Camera 50

(Image credit: Future)

Video is a little below par. While the myFirst Camera 50 can record at Full HD 1920 x 1080, there's no stabilization, and footage can be very shaky as a result. Exposure and autofocus also tend to jump very noticeably when shooting video.

Again, though, most children, certainly younger ones, will care little about these technicalities, and will simply be delighted to capture and share their moments.

All the images and videos can be saved to the built-in 4GB memory, or to a microSD card up to 128GB. It's worth noting that if you save images to the internal memory you will need to connect the camera to a computer to save them; they can't be transferred to a microSD card or via a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. Images also can't be downloaded via the myFirst Circle app.

Overall, the myFirst Camera 50 is a simple camera with basic features that will keep a young child entertained while encouraging their creativity.

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Image of the Blue myFirst camera

(Image credit: myFirst)
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Image of the Purple myFirst camera

(Image credit: myFirst)

myFirst Camera 50: Price and release date

  • Available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $129/ £109 / AU$149

The myFirst Camera 50 is available in Vibrant Blue or Cool Purple colors and comes with a wrist strap, lanyard, and some fun stickers so that your child can decorate their camera. It's available to buy now and costs $129.99 from the myFirst store (US) / £109 from myFirst's UK store and AU$149 from the myFirst Australia site.

myFirst Camera 50 amongst a selection of children's toys

(Image credit: Future)

myFirst Camera 50: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Your kids constantly want to take photos with your smartphone
The easy-to-use camera is essentially the same as a smartphone camera. If your children are constantly borrowing your phone to take photos or videos, this should offer them some independence, while you can continue scrolling Instagram.

You want to teach your children about social media
The secure, closed-loop MyCircle app allows children to upload videos and images, but parents have the reassurance that they can see all of the images, and have complete control over who sees the images. It's also great for family members who don't see your children often.

You want to foster child's creativity
Not only does the first Camera 50 provide a means of taking photos and video, it also offers the ability to edit images and video, and even use templates to add music and voiceovers, while the diary feature encourages journalling and reflection. It's great for creative young minds.

Don't buy it if...

You have an older child
Although the camera is recommended for children up to 12 years old, I feel that by the time most children reach around 10 they'll probably be ready for something more advanced in terms of features, particularly when it comes to editing photos and videos, areas where the camera is kept simple by design.

You have a younger child
Although my younger 5-year-old son was fine using the camera and taking photos, some of the editing features were still too complex and caused him a little frustration when he started to use them. It's something that he will grow into, but I would say around 7-10 years old is probably the sweet spot for this camera.

You want the best image quality.
The camera is inexpensive, and although it can produce half-decent images in good light it falls behind contemporary smartphones. If it's important to capture your child's images in as high-definition as possible, let them use your smartphone, or better yet, buy them an entry-level mirrorless camera.

myFirst Camera 50 on a park bench with the image preview screen showing

(Image credit: Future)

myFirst Camera 50: also consider

If our myFirstCamera 50 review has you interested in instant cameras, here are a couple of other options to consider...

Fujifilm Instax Pal
Not much larger than a golf ball, the Fujifilm Instax Pal is tiny camera that connects to a Fujifilm Instax Link printer via Bluetooth of via the Instax app. Your kids will have the freedom to run around snapping away without staring at a screen, with the fun of seeing the photos later, and printing them off so they can share them with family and friends.

Read our full Fujifilm Instax Pal review

Camp Snap
The Camp Snap is a modern reimagining of a disposable camera. It's a basic digital camera with no screen; you must transfer your images to a computer to see your photos. This makes it perfect for those who want their children to live in the moment rather than spending time staring at a screen looking at or editing images. The image quality may not be very good, but for children, the experience and simplicity make up for it.

Read our full Camp Snap review

myFirst Camera 50: How I tested

  • My two children aged 5 and 8, both used the camera on holiday
  • I also tried all of the camera's features

I set up the myFirst Camera 50 and made all the relevant Wi-Fi connections, before I passed it over to my 8-year-old daughter, who used it while on a few days of holiday. She happily shot family photos, mostly of her brother and me, while doing mundane things like eating lunch. She also shot some selfies and even a short vlog, needing no assistance from me.

I then used the camera on our return. I was able to see how easy it was to adjust the exposure and the overall image quality, and how difficult it was to use some of the more advanced features of the camera, such as social media and video editing and creation.

Finally, I connected the camera to my MacBook and transferred the images so that I could view them on a larger screen and upload them for this review.

  • First reviewed November 2024
UltaHost review
7:04 pm | November 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Website Hosting | Comments: Off

Behind every great website is a reliable host keeping things running smoothly. In this review, we’re diving deep into UltaHost, a fresh face in the hosting world that’s been turning heads.

Launched in 2018 by ScriptSun Ltd in Istanbul, UltaHost has quickly made a name for itself. The company offers a diverse range of services, including shared hosting, WordPress, VPS, dedicated servers, and even game, ecommerce, and social network hosting.

Unlike many competitors, UltaHost owns and operates its own data centers. This level of ownership often translates to faster performance, stronger security, and fewer headaches for you. With data centers spanning 15 countries across 5 continents, including the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, and India, it ensures faster loading times and reliable service for worldwide audiences.

We’ve taken UltaHost for a full spin - checking its speed, uptime, and giving their support team a good workout. And trust us, we know hosting inside and out. We’re here to give you the truth so you can decide if UltaHost is the right fit for you.

An image of UltaHost's prices and plans

(Image credit: UltaHost)

Plans and pricing: What types of hosting does UltaHost offer?

Whether you're just starting out or managing a large-scale operation, UltaHost offers a variety of hosting plans to suit everyone. Their options - including shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, and reseller hosting - are designed to meet any challenge you throw at them.

If you're ready to commit to a three-year plan, shared hosting starts as low as $2.99 per month. Alternatively, if you prefer the flexibility of a month-to-month subscription, you can get started for $5.99. It's a small price difference, but a solid entry-level deal if you're new to hosting.

The shared hosting plan comes with perks like unlimited bandwidth, free backups, a free domain transfer, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, the "Starter" plan only offers 30 GB of disk space, which can quickly become a bottleneck for sites with heavy media or rapid growth. As a result, you may need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan sooner than expected.

For those who need more control or power, UltaHost offers VPS hosting starting at $4.80 per month. This includes 1 CPU core, 1 GB of RAM, and 30 GB of NVMe SSD storage, providing dedicated resources for your site. Plus, managed server support and added security like firewalls and a dedicated IP to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely.

If you’re looking for even more control, dedicated servers start at $116.91 per month, providing a full server dedicated to your needs. With powerful specifications and the flexibility to handle high-demand applications, these servers are perfect for large-scale operations. UltaHost also offers virtual dedicated server (VDS) hosting, which offers similar benefits to dedicated servers but at a more affordable price point, starting at $37.50 per month.

While the initial pricing is budget-friendly, it’s worth noting that some plans renew at a higher rate. For instance, the shared hosting plan increases to $5.99 per month once the promotional period ends. Still, there are no major hidden costs, and the money-back guarantee allows you to test it out risk-free.

UltaHost offers a variety of payment options, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin, giving you plenty of flexibility. You can also choose from a range of control panels, including Hestia, CyberPanel, Plesk, and cPanel, with Hestia and CyberPanel available for free.

Our dashboard on UltaHost

(Image credit: Future)

Ease of use: How user-friendly is UltaHost?

Starting out with UltaHost is a cinch - whether you’re launching your first site or managing a bustling online business, the entire process is designed to be as simple as possible.

Our checkout page on Ultahost

(Image credit: Future)

Signing up with UltaHost is fast and hassle-free. Once you choose your hosting plan, you’ll either register a new domain or transfer an existing one. After that, just select your preferred payment plan, fill in a few personal details, and you’re all set. Once the payment is complete, one thing UltaHost excels at is simplicity - cPanel is included in all shared hosting plans, making management a breeze. If you're already familiar with cPanel, you’ll feel right at home. The intuitive dashboard lets you manage everything from emails to domains and databases. Want to set up a site or install apps? It's all just a couple of clicks away.

Our panel view on UltaHost

(Image credit: Future)

For VPS hosting users, UltaHost offers several control panels to choose from, including Hestia, CyberPanel, Plesk, and cPanel. Hestia and CyberPanel come at no extra cost, while Plesk and cPanel require a bit more investment. This flexibility lets you pick the control panel that best suits your skill level, whether you're a beginner or need advanced features.

If you're planning to use WordPress to create your site, you’re in for a treat. UltaHost offers automatic WordPress installations, complete with staging tools, plugins, and backup features. The platform also supports one-click installs for a variety of other apps and software. Need an ecommerce tool or a different content management system? Just click and go. This makes it easy to dive right into building your site without getting bogged down by setup tasks.

All shared hosting plans come with NVMe SSD storage, which means faster site load times, unlimited bandwidth, and free backups. Plus, you get antivirus protection to guard against DDoS attacks, and free backups keep your data safe, even if something goes wrong.

All in all, UltaHost nails user-friendliness. Quick sign-up, a simple control panel, and features like auto WordPress install and daily backups make hosting effortless. Even beginners will have an easy time getting their site online and running smoothly.

An image of TechRadar Pro's UltaHost testing metrics

(Image credit: Future)

Speed and robustness: How fast and reliable is UltaHost?

If there’s one factor that can make or break your site, it’s speed. Thankfully, UltaHost doesn’t disappoint. With a 99.99% uptime guarantee, backed by tier-3 and tier-4 data centers, reliability is clearly a top priority. Using UptimeRobot for our tests, we found zero downtime. The tool pings your site every 5 minutes, and the fact that it recorded no issues speaks volumes about UltaHost's reliability.

But what about speed? UltaHost leverages NVMe SSD storage, which provides faster data retrieval compared to standard SSDs. This means your site loads quicker, even during traffic spikes. Plus, their built-in caching and use of HTTP/2 help reduce server load, further boosting speed. The WordPress-optimized servers also bring performance enhancements specifically tailored for WP sites.

In practice, this translates to a smooth user experience with fast loading times and zero interruptions. Whether you’re running a small blog or a high-traffic ecommerce site, UltaHost delivers. Simply put, UltaHost excels at both speed and reliability.

Security: How does UltaHost protect your data?

UltaHost is backed by a strong security suite, including firewalls and automated malware scans, providing solid protection for your site and data.

It utilizes a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block potential threats before they can harm your site. This proactive layer of defense shields your site from common attacks like SQL injections and cross-site scripting. Plus, DDoS protection is included, safeguarding your site from malicious traffic spikes that could cause outages or slow performance.

However, security doesn’t stop at the firewall. UltaHost offers automatic malware scanning to detect and remove harmful code before it can spread. Additionally, two-factor authentication (2FA) for account logins provides an extra layer of security, protecting your admin credentials. This helps prevent unauthorized access and keeps your hosting account safe from hacking attempts.

In the case of a security breach or technical issue, daily backups ensure you can quickly restore your site to its previous state. UltaHost provides these backups at no extra cost, giving you peace of mind that your data is always safe. A free SSL certificate is also included with all plans, encrypting data exchanged between your site and visitors, which helps secure sensitive information like payment details and personal data.

UltaHost also includes advanced tools like BitNinja to monitor your server and block threats before they cause harm. Plus, there’s IP whitelisting for controlled access, allowing you to specify which IP addresses can connect to your server via SSH or SFTP. This feature is especially useful for developers who want to maintain tight control over server access.

An image of UltaHost's support page

(Image credit: UltaHost)

Support: What is UltaHost's support like?

With round-the-clock support, UltaHost ensures you’re never left stranded. You can choose from live chat, phone, email, or ticket options to get the help you need at any time.

The live chat was a highlight for us. We connected with an agent quickly, bypassing any automated hassle. The assistance was fairly prompt and helpful, but it was a bit annoying when the chat window disappeared after minimizing the browser.

For those who prefer phone support, UltaHost offers dedicated helplines in the US and Turkey. However, our attempt to reach them from outside these countries wasn’t successful.

Email support is another solid option, which is becoming less common among hosting providers. You can also submit a support ticket, which is ideal for more complex issues, as it keeps an ongoing conversation with an assigned agent until your problem is resolved.

For those who like to troubleshoot on their own, UltaHost’s well-stocked knowledge base is packed with FAQs, guides, and video tutorials. We found these video how-tos particularly useful - they’re well-made and simplify complicated topics.

The competition: What are the best alternatives to UltaHost?

When it comes to web hosting, there are several alternatives to UltaHost, each with its own strengths.

Bluehost is an excellent choice for WordPress users, with direct backing from WordPress.org and strong WordPress-focused tools. It excels in customer support and performance, but UltaHost holds an edge with its broader flexibility and free features. While Bluehost is a solid competitor, UltaHost offers better long-term value, especially with its transparent pricing and added flexibility beyond WordPress.

Hostinger is another budget-friendly option, but UltaHost takes the lead with more server location choices, giving users better control over performance. Hostinger’s pricing is attractive, but UltaHost delivers more consistent service and flexibility, making it the better choice for users who need a well-rounded hosting experience.

SiteGround is a superb option for business sites, offering robust performance and advanced tools. However, its pricing is higher than UltaHost’s, and while SiteGround excels in business hosting, UltaHost offers similar performance and better value.

Final verdict

For small to medium-sized sites, UltaHost delivers solid and cost-effective hosting solutions. With strong uptime, NVMe SSD storage, free malware scanning, and multiple server locations, it packs a punch for the price. The user-friendly dashboard is an added bonus, making it a superb choice for those new to hosting.

The limited disk space in shared hosting plans could be a challenge for bigger sites or those scaling quickly. Additionally, keep in mind that renewal prices rise after the initial term.

Still, UltaHost delivers great value, but if you want more space from the start, you might want to explore higher-tier plans or other providers.

FAQs

UltaHost FAQs Can UltaHost be trusted?

Yes, UltaHost is a trustworthy hosting provider. The company has built a solid reputation for delivering reliable, affordable hosting services with excellent customer support. It also offers features like free malware scans and a web application firewall (WAF) to help keep your site secure.

An image of UltaHost's data center network

(Image credit: UltaHost)

Where are UltaHost's data centers?

UltaHost’s worldwide network of data centers should keep your site running smoothly, no matter where your audience is. With locations spread across the US (Seattle, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York), Canada (Toronto), Germany (Frankfurt), the UK (London), Turkey (Istanbul), Singapore, India (New Delhi), South Africa (Johannesburg), Japan (Tokyo), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Mexico (Mexico City), the UAE (Dubai), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), and the Netherlands (Amsterdam), you have plenty of options to choose from.

Thanks to its wide network of data centers, UltaHost guarantees fast and reliable performance with low latency, delivering a superb experience for your users no matter where they are.

Does UltaHost provide an uptime guarantee?

Yes, with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, UltaHost meets the industry standard. This means they’re committed to keeping your site online and accessible with minimal downtime. While no host can guarantee 100% uptime, UltaHost’s track record of solid performance and reliability makes it a trustworthy choice for keeping your site running smoothly.

Ivanti Neurons review
2:43 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

Ivanti Neurons is a platform that helps businesses and MSPs secure their IT devices and infrastructure through remote management and patching tools. Founded in 1985, the company has an experience of almost 40 years and now caters to 40k+ customers worldwide. 

It offers diverse tools to identify various IT assets within a network and then patch them automatically through pre-set rules. Unlike other RMMs, it prioritizes the most vulnerable security issue, ensuring you have a safe environment. Plus, it can secure a vast range of devices, from Windows and Mac to Android and iOS. The onboarding, implementation, and integrations are also simple to execute.

However, Ivanti may be a slightly complex tool for new users and may require a degree of training to get the hang of its functions. Plus, Ivanti does not reveal its pricing, meaning you’ll have to contact their sales team to get a quote.

Ivanti Neurons: Plans and pricing

Similar to RMMs like Datto and NinjaOne, Ivanti Neurons also doesn’t reveal its pricing. You’ll have to fill out a form with your requirements to get a custom quote from the sales team.

This is certainly a time-taking process, as you’ll have to lay down everything you need. However, with Ivanti offering a lot of products for different IT functions, this gives you a chance to customize the entire product and only pay for the features you actually need.

Ivanti Neurons: Features

Ivanti Neurons device details

(Image credit: Ivanti Neurons)

Ivanti Neurons' Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) gives IT teams single-pane visibility on all the endpoints and helps automate the entire lifecycle management of every single device, from onboarding to retirement.

Unlike other RMM solutions, Ivanti follows a risk-based patch management approach, which ensures you can patch the most vulnerable risks as soon as possible. While most RMM platforms follow the human validation of exploits from penetration testing, Ivanti employs a more comprehensive Vulnerability Risk Rating (VRR) method. 

Besides CVSS, the VRR method considers Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) data, open-source threat intelligence, OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), subject matter expertise, and trending information. 

All of this data is correlated to arrive at a VRR score between 0 and 10 –  the higher the score, the higher the risk. This allows technicians to prioritize patches that are more critical.

Mobile device management is as important as monitoring desktops. This is exactly what Ivanti is good at. In addition to Windows, you can also access other operating systems, such as iOS, iPadOS, Android, and macOS. 

Irrespective of the device of the end user, you can use apps like Ivanti AppStation, Ivanti Sentry, and Ivanti Email+ to establish and monitor various safeguards on the devices. However, you’ll have to contact the sales team to get the exact quote for this feature.

What's more, Ivanti also has a dedicated BYOD portal, which allows end-users to bring their own devices into the company infrastructure without compromising the organization's security.

Ivanti also boasts comprehensive application control for Windows, Windows Server, and Linux systems. For example, it allows IT teams to manage user privileges and application access across your asset estate. 

Technicians can even use Trusted Ownership checking to mitigate zero-day malware by checking the NTFS owner of an application. If the owner is non-trusted, the application will not be able to run on the system.

Similarly, Windows privilege management allows you to give end users access to only the apps or tasks that they need and not the entire endpoint. This reduces endpoint vulnerability and helps manage security costs. Technicians can also enforce device-based software license control to set usage and access limits on various applications.

Ivanti Neurons: Interface and performance

The Ivanti Neurons dashboard is clean and defined by user roles. You’ll only (and easily) be able to view the elements critical to your functions. 

A few useful dashboard widgets include Asset Manager (it shows all your assets in different locations) and Asset Manager Analyst (it displays your open tasks, requests, and unassigned tasks). Similarly, the Asset Manager Management dashboard shows you all active asset requests from your team.

Ivanti Neurons dashboard

(Image credit: Ivanti Neurons)

The dashboards are filled with color-coded charts, such as bar charts, pie graphs, pivot tables, and grouped lines. This helps you get a quick overview of the data instead of skimming through complex data records. You can add, modify, or delete a chart (as well as other elements on the dashboard) as per your user role.

Overall, the interface may come across as a bit old at first glance, but it gets the job done. It’s laced with information and can be customized by the admins as per user needs. This is ideal for large organizations with clear-cut role-defined employees.

Ivanti Neurons: Security

Ivanti Neurons offers airtight security, which is evident from the wide range of certifications it has received. For instance, the platform complies with Service Organization Control 2 (SOC2), which requires companies to adhere to certain security standards for data storage, and ISO/IEC 27001, which helps protect it from data breaches and security threats. 

Ivanti is also in active compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has a designated data privacy team that oversees its processes, policies, and standards. The platform also conducts periodic penetration testing to ensure its systems are free of any possible vulnerabilities.

Ivanti Neurons: Support

We were quite impressed by the assortment of support options on Ivanti. For starters, there are dedicated phone numbers for various locations, such as the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. 

The platform also offers a dedicated success portal where, along with viewing other details, you can raise a ticket and request a callback from the support team. If your problem is ‘Severity 1 - Critical,” the team will call you back even outside of business hours, ensuring prompt support. Severity 1 - Critical problems are those where the product isn’t working and cannot be restarted or there’s an unstable third-party, mission-critical application.

Ivanti also has a very active community forum where you can ask questions and expect quick resolutions. What we liked the most is that there are several groups within these communities based on the product type. 

So, there’s a separate group for automation, IT asset management, service management, and so on. These communities also have MVP members along with their LinkedIn IDs to help you reach out to experts.

Ivanti Neurons: Final verdict

Ivanti Neurons is a diverse RMM platform that goes beyond vanilla remote management functions. It offers a lot of products that can be mixed and matched and customized into a unique plan for your  business needs. In addition to automating patch management, its Discovery feature lets you maintain a real-time inventory of your company's digital assets, ensuring no endpoint is missed. 

Ivanti supports Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and macOS, so businesses can manage almost every type of device. The platform has also recently introduced AI-powered automations, which allow teams to manage endpoint patching and technical issues through behavioral analysis. 

Overall, Ivanti is a feature-rich and multi-dimensional RMM platform, ideal for large teams. However, one drawback is that you may have to spend a bit of time learning the ropes around the software since there are a lot of features to work with.

Ivanti Neurons: FAQs

What products do Ivanti Neurons offer?

Ivanti Neurons is an all-around security solution offering various products for different teams. For example, there’s an Ivanti Neurons Suite for IT asset discovery and a separate one for IT automation bots called Neurons for Healing. Next, there's a separate module for Unified Endpoint Management, Network & Endpoint Security, and Service & Asset Management, respectively.

Is Ivanti Neurons legit?

Yes, Ivanti Neurons is a legitimate automation platform that allows you to manage complex endpoint structures with ease. It was founded in 1985 and has a rich experience of over 40 years and thousands of positive customer reviews. It's super secure, too, with compliance with GDPR, SOC2, and ISO/IEC 27001. Overall, the platform is trustworthy.

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TeamViewer review
10:52 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

TeamViewer is a widely popular remote access and device monitoring tool. It was founded in 2005 and currently has more than 640,000 customers worldwide. The platform’s ease of use makes it a popular choice among IT professionals and MSPs.

With easy remote endpoint access, it offers features like endpoint threat protection, mobile device management, automated alerts, and patching. Its pricing structure also caters to a wide market – from single users to large-scale enterprises, there’s something or everyone. Plus, thanks to its robust cybersecurity structures, you can rest assured that your data will remain private. 

However, it's worth noting that TeamViewer can be a slightly costly pick for small teams with less than 100 managed endpoints. Let’s dive deeper into TeamViewer to find out its best features, pricing, support, and security structure to find out if it's the best choice for you.

TeamViewer: Plans and pricing

TeamViewer offers a lot of plans for single users, teams, and enterprise-level businesses. 

As you can see, TeamViewer offers a lot of options for businesses of all sizes – from individuals and small teams to full-blown enterprises. All of the plans allow connection to Windows, macOS, and Linux systems from Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS devices.

However, the number of concurrent connections can vary depending on the plan. For instance, both the plans for single users as well as the TeamViewer Premium subscription support only one concurrent connection, whereas the TeamViewer Corporate plan supports three.

Furthermore, every single tier comes with its own set of features. For example, you do not get asset management and device monitoring functions in the TeamViewer Remote Access plan. 

That said, we found the Teams plans more value for money since they come with almost all the features the platform has to offer. For example, the Premium plan, which can support up to 300 devices, boils down to a rate of $0.38 per endpoint, making it one of the most affordable RMMs around. 

However, this is only true if you have 300 endpoints to manage in the first place. If you don't, it will only increase your per-endpoint management cost.

TeamViewer: Features

TeamViewer has an impressive list of remote management features. You can get a complete view of all IoT assets in your environment with detailed metrics like asset type, disk space, and network monitoring details. 

The platform’s device monitoring features help IT teams keep an eye on various IT aspects, such as S.M.A.R.T. errors, software installations, and bad log-in attempts. You can even set various thresholds for CPU and memory usage.

TeamViewer device management

(Image credit: TeamViewer)

TeamViewer will send you an alert when there’s a new OS update available for download. What's more, you can even automate patch management through pre-defined policies – for either a particular end user or an entire set of assets. The platform also supports third-party application patching.

Integrated ThreatDown Endpoint Protection, powered by Malwarebytes, helps you protect your endpoints from malicious actors such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and even zero-day threats. 

With both signature-based and signatureless detection methods, combined with behavioral analysis with the help of modern machine-learning algorithms, ThreatDown ensures your endpoints are not compromised. 

You also get Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) features, which monitor suspicious activity in real time and isolate files that are infected. Endpoints can also be protected from accessing malicious websites over the internet, suspicious links, and malvertising attempts.

The best part is that you do not need to install any app or extension to deploy ThreatDown. It comes fully integrated with TeamViewer and deployment is as easy as pressing a button.

TeamViewer has also partnered with Ivanti to offer robust mobile device management. This includes onboarding, roll-out, and troubleshooting devices from a single dashboard. IT teams can deploy security enhancements, manage in-app controls and permissions, and enforce policies and standards. 

It’s also possible to remotely lock and wipe devices in case of emergencies and also monitor a device's location in real time.

TeamViewer: Interface and performance

TeamViewer's main dashboard is intuitive and has a modern touch to it. You can quickly look at information like total devices managed, active devices, and devices missing patches. 

TeamViewer dashboard

(Image credit: TeamViewer)

There’s a sleek panel on the left that helps you navigate through various functions and settings on the platform. These options are divided into functions like asset management, endpoint protection, backup, and mobile device management. Under each of these options, you’ll find several other drop-down clickable paths, which simplifies using the entire platform. 

Moreover, every single function has a separate ‘overview’ tab, which helps you quickly drill down on important issues. This also ensures the main dashboard isn’t too cluttered and is easily skimmable.

TeamViewer: Security

TeamViewer pulls no punches when it comes to security. It has designed various policies and internal procedures and set up proper information governance structures according to the GDPR rules. 

It goes a step ahead of other RMMs around and complies with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGDP), which regulates the use of personal data by businesses in Brazil, and the California Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (CCPA), which establishes data privacy rights for customers in California.

To protect your accounts on TeamViewer, you can set up various security checks, such as two-factor authentication. In case you forget your password and have trouble logging in, you can rely on the platform’s zero-knowledge account recovery process, where you’ll need to enter a unique 64-character Zero-knowledge Account Recovery Code. All of this happens without any intervention from TeamViewer’s internal team.

We were also impressed by TeamViewer’s brute force protection. After every unsuccessful password entry, the time you need to wait for the next attempt increases. It can take as long as 17 hours to enter 24 passwords. This will come in clutch when a malicious threat actor is trying brute-force algorithms to compromise your TeamViewer account.

TeamViewer: Support

There are several ways you can reach out to the TeamViewer support team: live chat, phone, and email support tickets. Chat support is available from Monday to Friday between 8am to 6pm EST, whereas phone support can be accessed from Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm EST.

The only downside is that you do not get 24/7 support. Yes, you can indeed submit support tickets anytime you want, but the response may not be instant. However, there’s a special Service Level Agreement (SLA) option, where you get access to the phone number and email address of a dedicated TeamViewer expert, who will then promptly help you with any issues you might have. 

Although not necessary for small teams, the SLA is essential for large enterprises with a lot of managed endpoints. That said, even SLA’s premium support is only available on weekdays.

TeamViewer: Final verdict

TeamViewer is a global remote management and access software that allows IT teams to manage and resolve IT issues remotely from any part of the world. Along with regular RMM features like device management and automated patching, TeamViewer has also teamed up with Malwarebytes to offer endpoint protection on all connected devices. 

Additionally, you can also manage mobile devices in your IT infrastructure, thanks to its collaboration with Ivanti. This makes TeamViewer more than just a regular RMM platform.

The platform’s pricing structure is meant for both individual users and businesses with large teams. With the ability to manage 200-500 endpoints across its plans, TeamViewer is ideal for mid-sized and large businesses. However, small IT teams and MSPs handling less than 100 endpoints may find TeamViewer slightly on the expensive side.

TeamViewer: FAQs

Who is TeamViewer ideal for?

TeamViewer offers plans for individuals, small teams, as well as large businesses. However, you get the best value for your money if you have 200-300 managed endpoints, owing to the platform’s tiered pricing structure.

For example, if you only have 100 endpoints, you’d still have to choose the TeamViewer Premium plan, priced at $112.90 per month, which will bring your cost per endpoint to $1.12.

However, with the same plan, a 300-endpoint IT team will incur a cost of only $0.37/endpoint. Therefore, TeamViewer is more suitable for large and mid-sized teams and may be slightly expensive for small businesses.

Does TeamViewer offer integrations?

Yes, TeamViewer offers 30+ integrations, including popular apps like Slack, Google Meet, Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Microsoft Intune, and Zoho. You also get access to TeamViewer API, which lets you connect other applications and systems to the platform to establish continuity between the endpoint and IT teams.

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Datto review
10:42 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

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.

Datto Microsoft 365 integration

(Image credit: Datto)

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. 

Datto dashboard

(Image credit: Datto)

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

What does Datto RMM do?

Datto is a cloud-based RMM software that allows MSPs to remotely manage their clients’ endpoints. Technicians can install updates, patch the system, and even scan for ransomware on the endpoints using Datto. A standout is that Datto supports third-party patch management like no other RMM tool. MSPs can access 200+ applications on the endpoints and set up policy-based approvals and deployment rules.

How much does Datto RMM cost?

Datto doesn’t reveal its prices, unlike most RMM platforms. You will have to contact their sales team with your requirements to work out a deal. This can be a bit of a hassle, especially for small businesses with limited time and resources.

Is Datto acquired by Kaseya?

Yes, Datto RMM was acquired by Kaseya in April 2022 for $6.2 billion. However, Kaseya hasn’t discontinued the Datto brand. In fact, it has made the product better with improved innovations and integrations. Customers now get excellent support, thanks to Kaseya’s widespread knowledge hub. As per Kaseya’s announcement, it has also promised a 10% decrease in the average price of Datto products post acquisition.

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Viofo A329 Dash Cam review: a premium performer
8:56 pm | November 13, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Dash Cams Gadgets Vehicle Tech | Comments: Off

Viofo A329 Dash Cam: one-minute review

I’m a big fan of any dash cam, no matter what the brand or its capabilities. They just make good sense, and offer some peace of mind when I’m behind the wheel. And, while I really liked recent arrival the Nextbase Piqo for its no-frills setup and operation, the Viofo A329 Dash Cam is an altogether more sophisticated offering.

The Viofo A329 Dash Cam is a step up from the Viofo A229 Pro Dash Cam, which preceded it, but it’s also up against some very stiff competition from the other best dash cams out there. Bear in mind, this is a premium model, so while it comes with lots of features and functions, the Viofo A329 Dash Cam carries a high-ish price tag too: in excess of $300 / £300, though exactly how much you'll pay depends on the bundle you choose.

However, the upside to that added expense is lots of great features. The Viofo A329 seen here also arrives as a two-channel offering, which means there’s a forward-facing camera and a smaller supplementary unit that captures video out of the back of your vehicle. As a result, there’s more work involved in getting it set up and running, with plenty of cable concealment to be done as part of the process.

Nevertheless, I'd say it’s well worth the effort, as the Viofo A329 Dash Cam offers 4K, 60 frames per second, Ultra HD footage at the front and 2K at the back, with each camera equipped with a Sony Starvis 2 image sensor and HDR recording. Add in 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, voice control, and notifications, along with advanced parking mode capability plus support for external SSD storage, and the Viofo A329 Dash Cam soon starts looking like very good value for money.

It’s all about the performance with this premium dash cam. I found the Sony Starvis 2 IMX678 1/1.8-inch 8-megapixel image sensor and rear-facing Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 1/2.8-inch 5-megapixel image sensor more than able in most driving scenarios. Footage captured after dark was no less impressive than the footage taken during dull and grey days, with both cameras adept at picking out details such as license plates and road signs.

Thankfully, Viofo has taken into account the fact that 4K files soon bulk out microSD cards. Therefore, it’s possible to hook up an available SSD drive and store content directly to that, using the benefit of integrated Wi-Fi 6 technology. This is a practical solution for dealing with bulky chunks of data, and promises to be three times quicker, operating in the 5GHz band at speeds of up to 30Mbps. The specification also means that the A329 is optimized so that you can view and manage files quickly and easily via a phone too, using Viofo's own very decent app.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

Viofo A329 Dash Cam: price and availability

The Viofo A329 Dash Cam is available now with a single front camera directly from Viofo being reduced by 18% to $329.99 at the time of writing, while the front and rear camera from Viofo is currently reduced by 15% to $399.99. It’s a similar story for the UK market with the former costing £329.95 (currently reduced to £299.95) and £399.95 (currently £359.95) for the latter two-camera bundle.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam: specs

Viofo A329 Dash Cam: Design

When it comes to design Viofo hasn’t changed too much compared to the Viofo A229 Dash Cam, with the A329 having a virtually identical front-facing camera unit. That’s no bad thing, as I liked the way the A229 was styled, with some neat design touches that make it a little more practical than its rivals. I particularly like the way the camera it can be attached to your windscreen, using the sticky patch on the mount or via static sheets for easier removal. The lens can then be moved into the perfect position using a click-based lever movement that adjusts it upwards and downwards.

There’s also the benefit of a sizable rear screen, which is crisp and clear, with operational buttons directly beneath that. This arrangement allowed me to access most if not all of the controls without the need for the supporting app. However, I also found that it’s possible to squeeze even more from the Viofo A329 Dash Cam by exploiting the software features, especially when it came to file management if I was hooked up using the SSD external drive option.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

The unit itself is chunky, without being overly bulky, and feels nicely made, as the A229 did. Viofo includes everything you need to get up and running in the box, although if you’re very enthusiastic about your dash cam it might be worth considering the additional Viofo accessories for this model. These include a polarizing lens filter and a wireless Bluetooth remote control. In addition, there's an optional hardwire kit, which enables a more permanent installation than plugging the camera in via a 12V vehicle socket.

For the rear-facing camera, Viofo has kept the design lines simple and straightforward. The camera is easily mounted to the glass using another sticky pad, and can be angled into the optimal position using the same type of lens adjustment method.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

Viofo A329 Dash Cam: Performance

The Viofo A329 Dash Cam does feel like a step up from the competition. Much of that is down to the fact that it records video in 4K at 60fps. Having this capability means it trounces many rivals, with many lesser models shooting 4K at 30fps, and upping the frame rate potentially results in smoother and crisper video. I found having the HDMI 4K video-out port made it very quick and easy to view even sizeable chunks of footage too.

Being sure that things like license plates are being captured legibly is reassuring, but this unit is good at helping to pick out things like badges, car logos and even facial features too. The beefier specification is also good for high-speed scenarios, thanks to the faster capabilities of the camera. Of course, there’s a slight trade-off in that this creates a larger bank of video files over time, but Viofo has thought of this by making the A329 Dash Cam fully compatible with external SSDs, so a drive can be used as a backup if my microSD card starts groaning under the weight of content.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

Up front, the Sony Starvis 2 IMX678 1/1.8-inch 8-megapixel image sensor proved very impressive, with footage showing plenty of crisp detail. Even the rear camera, which has a smaller and lower-resolution Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 1/2.8-inch 5-megapixel sensor, was very good when it came to capturing things like license plates. Better still, after dark it proved quite good at capturing the faces of drivers sitting in the car behind, which is notable in itself.

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

All this 4K content soon stacks up mind, so Viofo has integrated Wi-Fi 6 technology for this model. This, it claims, is three times more potent at operating within the 5GHz band and offers up to 30MBps. Viofo reckons a one-minute 4K video can be downloaded in under 10 seconds and, during my time with the dash cam, I see no reason to disagree. Using this in tandem with an external SSD is a good way to go, allowing storage of lots of content for as long as it is needed.

Should you buy the Viofo A329 Dash Cam?

Viofo A329 Dash Cam

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

That price tag is fine
This is a premium dash cam bundle and the combination of twin cameras and a beefy specification means it’s not cheap to buy. However, the Viofo A329 Dash Cam offers potent performance in return.

You need two cameras
The two-channel, twin camera approach is handy if you’re keen to keep all bases covered. This is a serious bit of kit that also benefits from being hardwired into a vehicle in order to get the best from all the features.

You want top quality footage
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make all the difference in the event of an incident or insurance claim. Having the benefit of crisp and clear 4K 60fps video could be invaluable and even the rear-facing camera is impressive too.

Don't buy it if...

You like things simple
The Viofo A329 Dash Cam is intuitive and easy to use, but the dual camera arrangement could be a little too labour intensive for some. There’s quite a lot of cabling to plumb in and the connectors are excellent, though very hard to undo if you’ve plugged the ends in the wrong way around.

You don’t need lots of features
While it’s certainly potent, the Viofo A329 Dash Cam might be more than some want or need. A basic dash cam will capture video and offer the same stripped down features for a lot less money.

You’re not after dual cameras
The simple solution to this is to plump for the single camera edition, although having a rear-facing unit does offer additional piece of mind. Viofo does offer three camera bundles too, however.

How I tested the Viofo A329 Dash Cam

  • I installed the dash cam into a test car for a set period of time
  • I used it for several journeys during both day and night
  • I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings for comparison

I reviewed the Viofo A329 Dash Cam during the course of several days, when it was faced with capturing footage in a range of weather conditions. The camera units were installed in a test vehicle and powered via the 12V socket, rather than being hardwired in. As always, it should be noted that this temporary route does occasionally limit some of the features and functionality, especially when it comes to parking surveillance.

  • First reviewed November 2024
ConnectWise RMM review
2:46 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

ConnectWise was founded in 1982 as an IT solutions provider, making it one of the most experienced players in the industry right now. Over the years, it has continued to introduce and improve its products that have helped IT professionals worldwide. 

It recently won the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 Gala Award in the ‘Preferred vendor’ category for its RMM product. Additionally, it has also won 25 other awards in 2024 across various categories. This speaks volumes abouts its reputation, reliability, and effectiveness.

ConnectWise RMM offers excellent value for money for teams of all sizes. From automated patch management to AI scripting, there’s a lot you can do with ConnectWise. Plus, its informative dashboards, coupled with unified UIs, make it an easy-to-navigate tool, even if you use multiple ConnectWise products. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into ConnectWise, explaining what makes it such a sought-after RMM solution.

ConnectWise: Plans and pricing

ConnectWise offers three plans: Essential, Pro, and Premium. As the name suggests, Essential is the entry-level plan, with features like automated OS and third-party patching, AI scripting, intelligent monitoring, and several third-party integrations. We found this plan sufficient for most small and medium-sized businesses and MSPs.

However, should you decide to upgrade to the Pro plan, you’ll get additional features like advanced intelligent monitoring​, network monitoring, and backup monitoring.

The Premium plan is meant for cloud and SaaS management, as it comes with features like unlimited ScreenConnect Remote, remote camera sharing, and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SaaS backup.

However, to find out the exact pricing of each of these plans, you’ll have to contact ConnectWise’s sales team. It's worth noting, however, that most RMM platforms maintain an on-request pricing structure because they offer customized plans, which isn’t the case with ConnectWise. The plans are all well laid out in advance with pre-determined features. So, keeping an on-request pricing seems a little odd in this case.

ConnectWise: Features

ConnectWise offers a lot of handy features that make remote management a breeze. For instance, it’s one of the few RMM platforms to come with integrated ScreenConnect – its proprietary remote desktop access management software. The best thing is that you get this right from the most basic plan. 

ConnectWise RMM backup monitoring

(Image credit: ConnectWise RMM)

This brings in functions like seamless and quick endpoint connections, a shared toolbox, and universal compatibility. IT teams can solve problems remotely via the user’s camera without any additional downloads. With other RMMs, however, you have to integrate a third-party access software, which doesn’t work as seamlessly as an out-of-the-box solution like ConnectWise.

Speaking of integrations, BrightGauge is another addition we liked. It’s basically a reporting tool that consolidates all your information in one place, giving you access to insightful business intelligence (BI) dashboards. It can capture data to convert it into skimmable charts, which helps you analyze trends and patterns quickly. Just like ScreenConnect, BrightGauge is also available on the Essential plan.

ConnectWise supports both OS (Windows and Mac) and third-party patching. You can even automate the patching function with customizable scripts. What’s more, you don’t have to write a script from scratch, either, thanks to the platform’s AI-generated scripting function that does it for you.

ConnectWise also offers dedicated NOC services, where, essentially, the platform takes the workload off your shoulders. This applies to regular patching activities, day-to-day BDR, routing management, and recovery backup. 

This allows your IT teams to focus on more critical client issues, ensuring a better overall customer experience. However – and it's not very surprising – that this comes at an extra cost and isn’t included in any of the pre-designed plans mentioned earlier.

ConnectWise: Interface and performance

The main ConnectWise RMM dashboard is clean and neatly showcases various widgets. You can find information in the form of charts and graphs, and a quick glance will be enough to know the status of your endpoints.

However, it is ConnectWise’s Asio dashboard that steals the deal for us. Unlike other RMMs, the Asio dashboard combines all of ConnectWise’a product functions and 20+ UIs in a single place.

ConnectWise RMM interface

(Image credit: ConnectWise RMM)

You can get live endpoints, patching, and network statuses from the ‘Unified Monitoring & Management’ tab. The ‘Solutions’ tab lets you manage your PSA functions, such as assigning and resolving customer tickets. Next, the ‘Centralized Data’ tab at the bottom combines all your data across various products to avoid repetitive functions and enable hyper-automation across various functions. 

The best part is that the dashboard isn’t limited to ConnectWise products – you can also add third-party vendors to extend your data into Asio, ensuring that all your apps share only a single data portfolio. This eliminates constant back and forth and makes data management seamless and unified.

ConnectWise: Security

ConnectWise has put in a lot of effort to build a robust security architecture. It has adopted the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and complies with ISO27000 standards that focus on network security, vulnerability and threat management, and incident management, among other things.

The platform employs a formal change control process, which reviews, approves, and tests changes to network devices, information systems, and other system components. ConnectWise also maintains audit logs, with a detailed access history of various systems.

The endpoints are also secured through regular and thorough penetration tests, vulnerability, and phishing assessments. Plus, in case there’s any loss of data during a major catastrophe, ConnectWise has active disaster recovery programs running across their cloud environments.

However, it's worth mentioning that ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect was hacked in February this year when malicious actors exploited two vulnerabilities in its system. Both issues were patched in time and ConnectWise has, since then, strengthened its security infrastructure. 

Overall, the platform has put in a lot of thought into designing and enforcing its safety measures to ensure users have a safe experience.

ConnectWise: Support

The level of customer support you get from ConnectWise depends on your plan. Here’s a quick look at the support channels available. 

It’s good to see that email and live chat support are available to every single user, irrespective of their plan. However, do note that if you’re on the most basic plan, you’ll only be able to connect to the service team on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. For users of the Standard plan, support is available 24/7, and Premium users can access assistance even on holidays.

Additionally, there’s a dedicated community forum where you can discuss your queries with platform experts. We also found a good deal of product documentation on the website that will help you out with common issues or questions.

ConnectWise: Final verdict

ConnectWise is a fairly robust RMM software offering functions like intelligent monitoring, automated patching, and AI scripting. However, its unified Asio dashboard is the showstopper and easily what impressed us the most. 

Even if you have purchased a number of ConnectWise products, the Asio dashboard combines the data of all the platforms into a single panel. This saves you a lot of data duplication and gives teams a holistic view of the statuses of various endpoints. 

Next, the entry-level Essentials plan, according to our testing, is more than enough for most modern IT teams and MSPs. It comes with integrated features like ScreenConnect, which lets you remotely access and troubleshoot endpoints. Plus, its Business Intelligence reporting tool, BrightGauge, pulls out information-driven reports in no time.

However, you will have to reach out to ConnectWise’s sales team to get a quote, even though the website has well-laid-out pre-configured plans.

ConnectWise: FAQs

How much does ConnectWise cost?

Although ConnectWise does not reveal its pricing, it has three clear-cut plans: Essential, Standard, and Premium. The entry-level plan comes with all essential RMM functions, such as remote Windows and Mac monitoring, OS and third-party patching, and automations.

The Pro plan comes with advanced intelligent monitoring capabilities​ and basic network monitoring​. Lastly, the Premium plan offers unlimited remote access and support and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SaaS backup.

Is ConnectWise legit?

Founded in 1982, ConnectWise is a trustworthy and legitimate company. With over 40 years of experience in the IT industry, ConnectWise has grown to be one of the most reputable names in the RMM space. Its 25+ awards in 2024 are a testament to its quality and reliability of products.

Plus, it takes security measures seriously and has detailed policies for vulnerability management and threat mitigation. These are based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and the platform also complies with ISO27000 standards.

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Kaseya VSA review
2:17 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

Founded in 2000, Kaseya is a well-known name in the IT and security management industry. With more than 24 years of experience, it now caters to more than 45,000 customers in 21 countries. In addition to its VSA RMM platform, Kaseya also offers a lot of other IT solutions, such as PSA, BCDR, cloud backup, email security, and pen testing. This makes it a one-stop destination for all your business's security needs.

Its VSA is an award-winning RMM platform offering features like device monitoring, IT automation and patching, remote access and control, omni-network SNMP monitoring, and mobile device management. You also get native ransomware detection and 600+ out-of-the-box scripts that help achieve quick automation.

However, a slightly steep price tag and a recent cybersecurity incident may have you wondering if it's the best network monitoring tool for your business. Read on to find out.

Kaseya VSA: Plans and pricing

As is the case with most RMM platforms, you’ll have to request a custom quote from the Kaseya sales team. However, after some digging, we found out that the prices may fall between $4-5 per endpoint per month, which, in our experience with RMM platforms, is a bit too high.

If you’re a large business with many endpoints, you’ll have good bargaining power. However, there are several other RMM platforms like TeamViewer that cost less than $0.50 an endpoint.

A silver lining when it comes to Kaseya VSA’s pricing is that you get a 14-day free trial. This gives you ample time to try out the platform before committing to a paid plan. It's worth noting that N-central RMM, another fantastic platform, also offers a free trial (30 days).

Kaseya VSA: Features

Kaseya VSA offers several monitoring and patch management functions, making it a complete RMM platform. You get the benefits of zero-configuration SNMP device monitoring for all your switches, printers, and routers in the IT network.

All you have to do is check a box, and Kaseya will start detecting and responding to alerts to various SNMP IT incidents. You can also automate actions to be taken whenever an alert is triggered. These include creating an alarm or a ticket or sending emails to recipients.

Kaseya VSA monitoring

(Image credit: Kaseya VSA)

There’s also a VSA Network Topology Map, which shows you all the devices. Here, you can quickly identify an open alert – just look for a red alarm badge.

Kaseya automations can also be used for auto-remediation of IT issues by running scripts. For example, simple tasks like restarting a printer or rebooting a system after installing an application can be automated. There’s also an automation library with 600+ scripts, reports, and monitor sets, which gives you a head start, ensuring you don’t have to build a script from scratch.

IT technicians can remotely access endpoints with Kaseya to resolve any issues with full console access. There’s also a stealth mode remote control tool called Live Connect which gives you access to an endpoint without the user’s knowledge.

You can access the device’s desktop, memory utilization, and file and directory transfer. Feel free to even browse their drive, add, modify, or delete files, and make changes to files locally. The best part is that you can launch multiple sessions simultaneously.

Plus, just like Datto RMM, Kaseya VSA also comes with native ransomware detection, which detects any crypto-ransomware on endpoints using behavioral analysis. It immediately sends a notification to the IT technicians and starts the process of quarantining the affected files. This can come in handy even if you have a dedicated antivirus solution. After all, an extra layer of protection is always good to have.

Kaseya VSA: Interface and performance

Kaseya follows a simple interface with a white background laced with blue headers. All the functions can be accessed from a panel on the left. You’ll find various sub-options under each function, allowing you to quickly access any feature you need. All in all, it's nothing out of the ordinary, which, by the way, is a good thing!

Kaseya VSA dashboard

(Image credit: Kaseya VSA)

Although the interface may appear to be too basic at first glance, it’s super effective and gets the job done. There are no lags or technical glitches with the platform, ensuring a seamless experience.

Just like with Datto RMM, you can create custom dashboards in Kaseya as well. This can be done using various widgets and charts. The default dashboard houses important pieces of information, such as system statuses, active alerts, etc. You can also edit each of these widgets – add or remove them as per your priorities.

Kaseya VSA: Security

Kaseya VSA complies with various security standards. For instance, the company conducts SOC 2 Type II audits, which validate the operating efficiency of its internal controls.

They're also in active compliance with the ISO 27001 standard, which lays down guidelines for the management of ISMS (information security management system). Users can also exercise their data privacy rights under GDPR and CCPA with Kaseya VSA. All communications between Kaseya agents and the Kaseya server are protected with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption.

Apart from this, the company also conducts regular penetration tests (both internal and external) to ensure there aren't any unnoticed vulnerabilities in their system. You can also set up various role and scope-specific access permissions and enable two-factor authentications. Overall, Kaseya’s security structure is among the most robust we've seen.

With all that in mind, the fact remains that Kaseya was a victim of a ransomware attack this year. However, there wasn't any damage reported and the attack was neutralized in time. While this incident can be considered a black mark on Kaseya’s integrity, it has only helped the company bolster its security infrastructure.

Kaseya VSA: Support

Kaseya offers technical support through three channels: support tickets, email, and call. Phone support is available from Monday to Friday between 6am and 6pm EST. An advantage of using a global product like Kaseya is that there’s an active global community of users and technicians, where you’ll find answers to all your common queries.

Plus, Kaseya itself offers a lot of documentation, help, how-to articles, and YouTube videos that help you climb the platform’s learning curve.

Kaseya VSA: Final verdict

Kaseya VSA is a feature-rich RMM solution ideal for large IT teams and MSPs. VSA’s network discovery and SNMP monitoring will not let any device go undetected in your IT environment. You can then monitor them and get alerts in real time.

It’s also possible to auto-remediate common alerts with pre-designed scripts. There’s also a stealth remote control tool that gives technicians full access to any endpoint, with the authority to modify files without the knowledge of the end user. The Kaseya dashboard is likable, too. It's simple and allows you to drill down on various endpoint parameters with custom filters and reports – and you can also add a custom dashboard with widgets of your choice.

However, while Kaseya is certainly not short on features, they're priced at a premium. Although it doesn’t reveal its pricing, final costs may fall anywhere between $4-5/endpoint/month, which may be a tad too expensive for most businesses.

Plus, Kaseya suffered a cyberattack this year when the Russian ransomware gang REvil exploited a vulnerability in its systems. Although the issue has been resolved, the same cannot be said about the customers’ confidence in the company, which has affected its business as well. With that said, however, the company boasts a beefed up set of privacy and security credentials, which includes regular penetration testing to avoid such incidents in the future.

Kaseya VSA: FAQs

Is Datto RMM part of Kaseya?

Kaseya acquired Datto RMM in April 2022 for $6.2 billion, but it still exists as a standalone RMM platform separate from Kaseya VSA. With Datto, you can natively administer your Microsoft 365 tasks through a single-user management platform.

It also comes with automated patch management for OS and third-party applications, as well as native ransomware detection. There’s also a built-in network topology mapping, which gives you a clear view of all the devices in your IT environment.

Is Kaseya safe?

Kaseya is an experienced IT company that complies with various standards, including GDPR and ISO 27001. Plus, it has established various internal security policies. Despite this, though, Kaseya was attacked by a ransomware gang this year, who managed to exploit a vulnerability in its systems.

However, the attack was quickly neutralized and no damage was reported. In fact, this incident has helped the company further strengthen its security structure. It now conducts regular penetration testing to avoid such incidents in the future.

What products does Kaseya offer?

Kaseya is a multi-product company offering a range of IT solutions. You can use its VSA RMM to manage and monitor all your endpoints. Additionally, the company also offers PSA tools, data backup solution, cloud management tools, and email security suite. There’s also Kaseya 365, where you get multiple product functions bundled into a single solution.

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Cookiebot review
2:03 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: | Comments: Off

Cookiebot is a comprehensive consent management platform designed to help businesses comply with data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Founded by Cybot in 2012 and now part of Usercentrics, Cookiebot aims to streamline the process of managing user consent through customizable banners and detailed tracking reports. It's particularly geared towards small to medium businesses that need user-friendly and efficient solutions.

While the platform excels in its integration capabilities and user interface, it has its drawbacks. Notably, there's no mobile app, and many advanced customization features are locked behind paid plans. Despite these limitations, Cookiebot remains a popular choice for businesses seeking a reliable consent management solution.

Cookiebot: Pricing

Cookiebot pricing

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Cookiebot offers a variety of pricing plans designed to meet different business needs and budgets. The pricing structure allows businesses to choose a plan that fits their requirements.

The Free plan is a great starting point for small websites with up to 50 subpages. It includes essential features like pre-made banner templates and Google Consent Mode support, making it ideal for businesses looking to meet basic privacy regulations without spending extra money.

For more advanced features, Cookiebot provides several Premium plans: Lite, Small, Medium, and Large. The Lite plan starts at $8 per domain per month and includes all premium features. The Small plan is priced at $16 per domain per month and supports up to 350 subpages. The Medium plan costs $34 per domain per month for up to 3,500 subpages, while the Large plan, at $56 per domain per month, is for websites with over 3,500 subpages.

Each Premium plan comes with advanced features like custom banner creation, multi-language support, and detailed analytics. Cookiebot's pricing reflects the value of these features, offering a scalable solution for managing consent across multiple domains and subpages.

Overall, Cookiebot's pricing is competitive and offers flexible options to meet various needs and budgets. The platform provides excellent value for money with its comprehensive feature set, making it a smart choice for businesses wanting to ensure privacy compliance.

Cookiebot: Features

Cookiebot helps businesses easily comply with data protection regulations while ensuring that users are informed and in control of their cookie preferences. Here are some of its top features:

Customizable consent banners

One of the best features of Cookiebot is its customizable consent banners. Users can adjust the design, layout, and compliance settings to meet regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and others. The platform supports both explicit and implicit consent types and provides options for different banner display formats, color schemes, and logo integration. This level of customization ensures that banners are legally compliant and match the brand.

Cookiebot consent banner

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Detailed compliance reports

Cookiebot provides detailed compliance reports that give insights into user consent activities. The platform tracks the number of detected trackers and points out compliance issues, all organized into easy-to-read reports. This feature is essential for businesses that need to show compliance to regulatory authorities quickly.

CMS integrations

Another advantage of Cookiebot is its integration capabilities, making it simple to add to existing websites. The platform works with major CMSs like WordPress, Hubspot, and Shopify, allowing for easy implementation and management of consent banners across various web environments.

Cookiebot integrations

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Automatic consent record storage

Cookiebot automatically collects and securely stores consent records using SSL connections and strong encryption. This centralized consent log can be easily exported, making it simpler to demonstrate compliance to authorities when necessary.

Google consent mode support

Cookiebot also supports Google Consent Mode, allowing users to manage consent records effectively while ensuring privacy compliance. This feature is especially useful for websites that rely on Google services, helping to maintain analytics and advertising functionality without compromising user privacy.

Cookiebot: Setup

Cookiebot setup

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Setting up Cookiebot is a simple process designed for users with different levels of technical skills. After signing up, users find a well-organized dashboard that clearly shows the available resources and tools. The platform's clean and user-friendly interface makes it easy to configure consent banners and privacy settings with little effort.

For first-time users, Cookiebot provides various resources to help with the learning process. Detailed help articles and video tutorials offer step-by-step guidance on setting up and customizing the platform to meet specific business needs. The onboarding process also includes a guided tour of the main features, quickly familiarizing users with the interface.

To implement Cookiebot, users just need to copy a script tag and insert it into their website's HEAD tag. Although this may seem challenging for those with limited technical skills, the platform offers clear guidance to ensure a smooth setup. For more complex integrations, Cookiebot's compatibility with Google Tag Manager provides an easier alternative.

Throughout the setup, Cookiebot focuses on being user-friendly and accessible. The design allows even novice users to manage consent banners and privacy compliance without feeling overwhelmed. Overall, Cookiebot's setup process is efficient and well-supported, making it a great choice for businesses of all sizes.

Cookiebot: Support

Cookiebot support

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Cookiebot provides strong customer support to help users manage their consent needs effectively. The platform offers various support options, including email and live chat, to accommodate different user preferences and time zones. Additionally, there’s a comprehensive help center filled with detailed articles and guides on different aspects of the platform.

Support quality is consistent across all plans, meaning users receive the same level of help regardless of their subscription tier. Response times are generally quick, with most inquiries addressed within 24 hours, which is impressive for a platform of this size.

Besides traditional support channels, Cookiebot also features a community forum where users can connect, share tips, and find solutions to common challenges. This forum is a great resource and helps foster a sense of community among Cookiebot users.

One area for improvement is the lack of phone support, which could enhance the overall user experience, especially for those who prefer direct conversations. Still, Cookiebot's customer support is reliable and effective, providing users with the resources they need to make the most of the platform.

Cookiebot: Final verdict

Cookiebot is a user-friendly consent management platform that provides strong compliance solutions. It offers customizable consent banners, detailed tracking reports, and easy integrations with content management systems, making it a great option for small to medium-sized businesses. The platform features an intuitive setup process and responsive customer support, adding to its appeal.

However, some users might find the lack of a dedicated mobile app and limitations of the free plan to be downsides. Still, Cookiebot delivers good value for money, with competitive pricing and options tailored to different business needs.

In summary, Cookiebot is a solid choice for businesses looking for an effective and scalable consent management solution. Its features and support help ensure privacy compliance in a more regulated digital world.

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