The Procolored F13 Panda L1800 is a dedicated DTF printer aimed at enthusiasts and entrepreneurs looking to customize clothing on a medium scale. It’s an accessible and affordable, consumer-friendly printer that also has the wide-format proportions and high ink capacity that will interest established print shops producing up to 50 pieces per day. But first of all, what is a DTF printer?

DTF (direct to film) is a process that prints specially formulated liquid ink onto plastic film ready for transfer onto the surface of fabric using a heat press. It differs from sublimation printing where the dry ink on the transfer paper is sublimated by the heat into a gas that can penetrate the fibers of certain textiles and other materials (for more on this, I reviewed the best sublimation printers out there right now). DTF’s surface printing is therefore less permanent, but also less fussy about your fabric and it has no problem printing on black cloth because it adds white ink to the usual CMYK foursome.

The Procolored F13 Panda L1800 is using an Epson inkjet print head to apply ink droplets to 13-inch (33cm) rolls of transfer film. That means you can print high resolution graphics at tabloid or A3 size width and up to a meter long. This semi-pro printer costs around US$3,000/£2,400 and that includes Windows software, a set of 250ml inks, a roll of plastic film and a bag of adhesive powder (essential for curing your transfers). But if you also want the tabloid-sized Procolored Panda oven that I used to conduct this test, the all-inclusive price is around US$3,400/£2,800. I also added a Panda heat press costing around US$469/£360 to complete my Procolored production line.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Design and build

The Procolored Panda L1800 printer feels like a professional tool thanks to its robust all metal construction, while the playful Panda logo makes it look more like a consumer product. Either way, the design and build quality are both excellent. The various metal hinges and flaps are built to last, as are the equally rugged roll holder and paper cutter that bolt on with satisfying precision. The design is quite compact compared to other wide-format fabric printers, while still being large enough to hold 13-inch (33cm) rolls of transfer film for printing tabloid/A3-width sheets up to a meter long. There’s plenty of room for ink in the bottle holder at the right side too. Each of the five bottles holds 250ml of DTF ink. The whole thing weighs just under 40lb (18kg).

Inside the steel bodywork, the long lengths of clear plastic tubing look more science project than polished product, but it all works well enough. There’s no touchscreen interface, unfortunately, just an LED display showing the operating temperature and a few large button controls.

The accompanying Procolored Panda Oven is a simple steel unit for heating your printed film to 120-degrees to cure the DTF ink ready for transfer. It’ll take tabloid-sized sheets so the footprint is similar to that of the printer and the surface is conveniently flat which is handy for laying out and inspecting your work. Again, the metal construction feels strong enough to withstand life in a busy print shop.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Features & specifications

The Procolored F13 Panda package includes all the features needed to print from a PC onto fabric via film transfer. The L1800 printer itself can print onto 13in (33cm) rolls of plastic film which are then sliced to the appropriate length (up to one meter) with the included guillotine attachment. You can also feed in regular sheets of letter or tabloid paper when running nozzle checks, but there is no paper input tray.

It’s using inkjet technology to apply specially formulated DTF ink onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. The quoted print speed is a little longer than the average photo printer at eight-foot per hour. I found it took anything between 5 to 10 minutes for a letter-sized design and 10 to 20 minutes for tabloid. Procolored suggests a production rate of 20 to 50 pieces per day which could suit a medium-scale shirt business.

One major advantage of DTF printing over sublimation printing is that it adds white ink to the four CMYK colors which makes printing onto black fabric possible. White DTF ink is prone to clogging, but this printer avoids print head clogging by circulating the white ink, even when not in active use. The only downside is that DTF uses more energy than sublimation as a result.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Setup

Setting up the Procolored L1800 printer from scratch takes around half an hour - if everything goes to plan. The roller assembly needs to be screwed onto the machine, so you’ll need a screwdriver, but it’s so intuitive, you might not need to refer to the online instructions. The cutter clips on in a similarly logical way. Loading the ink requires more care to pour the five 500ml bottles into the correct five 250ml reservoirs without spilling any. I spilled a few drops, but the water-based ink is easy to clear up. Each color has to be sucked through long runs of rubber tubing to the print head using the supplied syringe. Once the film and ink are loaded, the printer can be switched on and allowed to reach its operating temperature. DTF printing requires a temperature range of 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F) for stable ink viscosity.

So far, so easy. However, I had real trouble installing the necessary Procolored RIP software and printer drivers. The first hurdle was finding a Windows PC with sufficient USB inputs. With no inbuilt wi-fi, you need to connect a data cable to the printer and have a second USB port free for the dongle that must remain plugged in while running the software. The Procolored software and drivers are delivered on a USB stick so a third USB port is useful. Even then, it took many hours and some assistance by patient Procolored engineers in China before I was printing. Perhaps my problems were down to user error, so I don’t want to put anyone off at this stage, but I do think the software side of things needs improvement and you will need some Windows OS experience to install it. Procolored are still working on Mac software for this product.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Operation

Once you’re up and running, printing tee-shirts is fairly straight forward and fun, though I have to admit making a lot of mistakes and misprints along the way. First, you open the Procolored RIP software, adjust your canvass dimensions to suit your shirt size and import your design. When you’ve finished manipulating it with the Photoshop-stye software, hit RIP. If this were a consumer product, that button would be labelled print, but technically, your image is undergoing Raster Image Processing in order to create a bitmap that the printer can read and print.

After a few minutes of printing, you’re rewarded with a warm and moist version of your design on film, which can be sliced off with the integrated cutter. Until the ink is cured, it’s prone to smearing, so you’ll need to be careful as you cover it with the adhesive powder (included). After tipping the excess powder back in the bag, place the film in the oven at 120 degrees. The Procolored oven will automatically rise to this temperature and sound an alarm after 180 seconds when your transfer is cured and ready to remove. It is still a little sticky at this point, so it’s best to get right onto the pressing stage. With your plain garment ironed and waiting on your heat press, place the transfer on it and activate the press. Procolored’s heat press also defaults to the right temperature and automatically re-opens after 45 seconds. Remove your tee-shirt and wait a few minutes for it to cool before peeling away the film to leave the graphic fixed permanently to the fabric.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Performance

If you want to print detailed graphics onto fabric with a high-quality finish, you should definitely try the Procolored F13 Panda package. I printed a variety of images onto a variety of textiles to test its performance and was consistently impressed by the results. The five DTF inks are strong colors which combine to make vivid prints with very accurate colors on film and they maintain that boldness when cured and pressed onto garments. What’s more, the colors seem to hold fast after multiple wash cycles. For the test, I used shirts made of 100% organic cotton, a polyester mix and bags made from 100% polyester and found that the initial was the same clean transfer in each case. However, it’s the pieces that fit best in the heat press that transferred the easiest. Items that are larger than the A4-size heat press had to be pressed in stages and a couple of times, the design stretched and failed to transfer.

I chose high resolution test images, and the printer’s 1,400 x 1,400 dpi resolution was able to turn them into crisp graphics, which stay crisp on the cloth. DTF has a resolution advantage over sublimation and thanks to the addition of white ink, DTF printers like this can print on dark fabric with no compromise in quality. Sublimation only works on light fabrics, ideally white. The downside is that DTF requires more equipment for the additional curing stage, but if you can afford and accommodate the curing oven, water-based DTF ink is generally cheaper than sublimation ink.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Consumables

The Procolored F13 Panda package ships with a 500g bag of adhesive powder, a roll of PET film, a print head cleaning kit and a set of initial DTF ink (six 250ml bottles). That’s one bottle each of CMYK and two of white, which is more heavily used. Procolored says six 500ml bottles (CMYKWW) of ink can print approximately 800 sheets of A3 (13" x 16") size patterns, or 1,600 sheets of A4 patterns. That much Procoored ink costs around US$300/£200, which seems reasonable, although there’s nothing to stop you buying third party ink which I’ve seen selling for less than $100. In other words, DTF pigment-based ink is affordable and the consumables cost of printing one tee-shirt comes in at well under a dollar a piece.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Maintenance

DTF printers need more maintenance than your average inkjet, but luckily the Procolored F13 Panda L1800 will automatically clean its own printhead every 10 hours when left on, consuming about 1ml ink per day. If you’re leaving the printer for more than seven days, however, it’s recommended you empty the ink.

Procolored F13 Panda L1800: Final verdict

There’s a lot to like about the Procolored F13 Panda L1800. The design is logical and appealing and the steel construction feels like it’s built to last. It can print large designs on a 13-inch roll of paper and cut them off with its integrated cutter. I struggled with the Procolored RIP software initially, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s possible to produce enough printed garments per day to satisfy a small business. And the print quality is excellent. By mixing five DTF inks together (CMYKW) it creates vivid and detailed graphics that transfer faithfully onto almost any kind of fabric.

There’s room for improvement too. I found the Windows software unintuitive and it only works while the dongle is inserted. Procolored assured me that Mac software is on the way. The print head is somewhat prone to clogging despite some clever automated ink management and I’d like to see wi-fi and a reset button built into the next edition. There were numerous occasions when the printer wouldn’t connect to my PC, or the ink ran, or the paper slipped, so it’s not perfect. That said, this is a very good DTF printer at a fair price.

For more devices, we reviewed the best small business printers and the best home printers.

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Eureka is a company that I just recently became familiar with. I'm checking out this chair, a desk, and another chair. I also had the opportunity to check out a bookshelf and other gear. So far, even at first glance and my first introduction to this company, they are a premium company in price and quality.

The Eureka Serene-OW (off-white) is a high-end executive office chair in the Eureka lineup. It has a unique design that stands out and attracts attention, unlike any of the best office chairs I have tested— and I've tested many. This chair has an impressive look that you might expect to see in a dramatic action movie, possibly in the office of a main character. The Serene is designed for professionals who seek both luxury and support during long hours of use. Additionally, it features genuine Napa leather and advanced ergonomic adjustments for optimal comfort.

Eureka Serene: Price and Availability

The Eureka Serene-OW is currently priced at $869.99 on sale, and the standard price is $1,199.99. This chair is primarily available on Eureka Ergonomic's website, with varying delivery times and available stock depending on your region.

Eureka Serene: Unboxing and First Impressions

Somehow, even the unboxing process for this chair oozed premium. The packaging was done very well; there were protective inserts and padding. And covers that helped make sure things didn't get scratched. Within the box, some sections include the chair components, instruction manual, and tools for assembly.

I was mesmerized by the cool green colorway when I took the covering off the main chair section. I'm not even a massive fan of green, but this green is the kind of green that feels more like nature and not an artificial green, though it's artificial as it's on a Napa leather chair. Regardless, the point is that this chair is striking when you first see it. It's fascinating and elegant.

Eureka Serene: Design and Build Quality

Not only is this chair bougie looking in design, but I could tell from the first time I touched the chair that legit, premium materials were being used. That said, the frame is sturdy and even rated for 350 lbs, which is wild, but it shows the quality of these materials.

The chair features a modern and professional aesthetic with chrome plated accents and that beautiful green accent color. The seat is made from a high-density molded foam cushion that will provide lasting comfort. Lastly, the base is solid, metal, and has smooth-rolling casters.

Eureka Serene: In use

My team and I have rotated this chair to spend time with it since it is unique. So far, we all agree that it is exceptionally comfortable, even for those who sit at their desks working an entire day without getting up except out of necessity. The lumbar support minimizes back strain that we occasionally feel in other chairs, even other ergonomic chairs. And, unlike other ergonomic chairs, this chair feels solid and like you are surrounded, but not in a way that leads to claustrophobia, but rather in a way that makes you feel secure and like the chair isn't going to fall apart or break in any way. The Serene features easy height and tilt adjustments, but that's about it when it comes to customization.

I should have realized I was going to miss having adjustable armrests. The Eureka Serene has no adjustments available for the armrests -- they stay put. Granted, they are lovely armrests, comfortable, and even in the right spot about 85% of the time. Still, for those odd 15% times, I miss not being able to make a quick adjustment of the chair arms to reach the maximum comfort for whatever task I am working on or position I am in at that time.

Eureka Serene: Final verdict

The Eureka Serene is a standout choice for executives and professionals who value luxury and ergonomics for their office space. Eureka's Serene combines high-end materials with thoughtful design for optimal comfort and looks. If you are in the market for a high-value chair or if you simply want to

For more office furniture essentials, we tested the best standing desks and the best office desks.

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra has been a much-anticipated printer and follows on from the hugely popular GK2, just on a larger scale. Rather than an update to their other model, the GK3 is larger, boosts the screen resolution and adds features that help to improve workflows, something that will be of special interest to anyone wanting to use this machine professionally. 

Rather than just hitting us with one headline feature, the GK3 boasts three major updates, the first and most obvious being the scale, with this machine overshadowing many other resin printers out there and offering a print build area that is close to that of a standard filament printer. However, it also offers outstanding 16K resolution, and it's only once you start printing that you can see just what this means in reality with prints that show finer detail than anything we've so far seen at this price. While the resolution is impressive, when that resolution is coupled with a build area of up to 300 x 160 x 300 mm, you can start to see the potential for modellers as well as product design.

Then there's the auto-resin refill system, which is simple in design but helps to ensure that you don't run out of resin during some of those huge prints. What's more, the chamber is now heated to help to ensure that the resin is at the best temperature for printing, again ensuring the best possible quality,

Considering the price of the GK3 Ultra, this is one of the best 3D printers I've tested, appealing to hobbyists as well as professionals who need a machine that offers precision and reliability. 

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Design

At 30 kg and measuring 455 x 400 x 575mm, there's nothing small or lightweight about the GK3 Ultra, and while that may seem big, you also have to factor in the flip-up lid, further increasing the height of the machine. However, if you're investing in the GK3, then the size really should be familiar, and neither should the weight. This is a machine that, once positioned, should have a permanent home, especially when you consider that much the same space is needed for the wash and cure machines.

When it comes to the construction of the GK3, the main frame is sleek and industrial, with a large hinged lid that provides easy access to the print area and helps prevent unwanted exposure to UV light. Our test review unit has gone through something of a transformation during the duration of the test, with slight tweaks having been made to the lid, which has transformed with several iterations arriving that have refined the design and function. All of the changes have been based on user feedback, and they make a huge difference.

The flip-over lid is a great idea and gives you access to the build area, which is substantial, as is the tank at the base that can hold up to 1.2 kg of resin. Uniformation has really looked at the mechanics of the build area, which is a point of the design that can so often be a weak point for resin 3D printers. 

While they haven't done anything groundbreaking, there are several points here that do improve the usability, such as the quick release for the resin tank and build platform. This means that both can be quickly removed, cleaned, and replaced as needed. 

The resin tank features the usual transparent film at the base, and this is held in place by a selection of screws. As is common, the procedure for changing films involves unscrewing two layers of screws in order to remove and replace the film, and as ever, this isn't a quick process, taking between 15 and 30 minutes from start to finish.

While the tank is huge, with one of the largest capacities for resin that we have seen, it also features an auto-fill option. The design of this is simple with a refillable resin cartridge, which can be dropped into the back of the machine, and then, as the resin label drops, the machine releases more resin. Through the test, this worked incredibly well, with some prints taking a good kg of resin to complete, and the fact that you can have that quantity of resin in the system is a huge benefit.

On the front of the machine is the 5-inch capacitive touch display, which once again offers a nicely designed and intuitive interface that enables you to select prints as well as run through general maintenance tasks.

One other point about the design is that the build chamber is heated, which just helps to ensure that the resin is kept at the optimum temperature for printing—this is especially important if the machine is kept in a workshop where the ambient temperature can't always be maintained.

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Features

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra is packed with features that set it apart from other resin 3D printers as, really, at present, there's nothing else in this price range or size that can compete. At the core of the machine is the high-resolution 16K LCD screen; we've seen this high resolution recently, including, but most top out at 14K, so instantly, the GK3 takes the possible quality of prints up a notch. This screen offers a resolution of 15120x6230 pixels and an XY layer height of between 0.03mm-0.05mm. 

When we looked at the GK2, we were impressed by the size, but when printing at a larger scale, having to fill the resin tank manually feels a little primitive. With the new GK3, this resin tank is auto-filled fill, and you place the resin cartridge, which holds 1 kg of resin each, into the back of the machine. Then, a sensor on the tank activates the release of the resin once needed. It's a very slick and neat system. When it comes to the actual size of the print area, it measures 300 x 160 x 300 mm, which should give you plenty of space for larger projects or bulk printing for small commercial print runs. 

With any printer FFF or resin, one of the biggest issues as the scale of the printers increases is the rigidity of the machine, a factor that can have a massive impact on the quality of the prints. It's good to see that Uniformation has addressed this with one of the most solidly built resin 3D printers out there with a weight of 30 kg, confirming that this is not lightweight. It also measures 455x400x575, so it is considerably larger than most. One other feature of the quality of the mechanical design is that the Z-axis features both dual linear rails and ball screws to offer smooth and accurate precision as the build plate rises through the height of the machine. 

Another key feature of this build area is the fact that the chamber is heated. We've already seen the difference that a heated chamber makes with other resin 3D printers, so this is an obvious step forward to ensure that the resin is at the optimum temperature required before the print process starts. The chamber also features a built-in air filtration system, which is an important addition for any resin 3D printer to stop the often strong smells of the resin leaking into the room.

On the front of the machine is once again the large, clear 5-inch capacitive touchscreen that offers access to all the print settings and controls; it also enables you to pick up any prints sent wirelessly to the machine ready for printing. This connectivity is much the same as the GK2 and enables Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB options. However, the Wi-Fi setup is far easier than it was initially for the GK2, so any problems for anyone new to device networking shouldn't have an issue here.

When it comes to slicing, Uniformation provides its slicer, or you can use Chitubox or Lychee; we tested the machine on both Mac and PC systems, with the Uniformation Slicer being used on the PC while Lychee was used on the Mac. Both provide a huge number of options and settings, and they are able to wire transfer files to the machine.

There are a few other nice features around the design, such as the new quick-release design for both the build platform and resin tank, which makes it quick and easy to remove both without needing to undo bolts. In contrast, this style of quick release is common for build platforms, but it's less common for the resin tank and is a nice addition. Another nice touch is the resin drip hanger that enables the suspension of the build platform at an angle so all excess resin drips off. There are integrated LED lights and channels for resin drainage built into the build platform that helps avoid resin spilling into other parts of the system; all of the tweaks as the size increases to the design make a big difference over the GK2 (see our full review here).

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Print quality

Getting started with the Uniformation GK3 Ultra is relatively quick once you've manoeuvred the machine into position. It's worth noting that at 30 kg, this machine is large, and while you can lift and position it relatively easily, having an extra pair of hands is definitely beneficial. It's checking that the work surface, or especially the desk that you're placing the printer on, is able to support that amount of weight. Once in position, the rest of the setup is straightforward, with the resin tank slotting and locking into place with the quick-release mechanism, a huge improvement over the usual bolt-down approach. Then, the build platform can be secured; again, this is quick release, and finally, the resin cartridge can be inserted into the back of the machine.

Next, with the power on, you can run through the usual setup process, and as our printer had yet to have the easiest trip to use, it went through a full calibration. When the box arrived damaged and the printer had quite obviously taken more than a knock or two, it was surprising that it had initially started at all. Still, the mechanics all seemed fine, and the machine was soon levelled, calibrated, and ready for action. 

Once the model was sent over from the Lychee slicer to the machine, the print process was started, with the tank filling automatically to the required level for the first print. The print process then started, and it's apparent that while the machine is large, it runs quietly. Also, the filter and heated chamber both appeared to do their jobs as the print started to rise from the resin. 

Print speeds for the first set of models were excellent and, again, surprising considering the size. Check over the first few character prints from the machine, and the quality really grasps you—while resin printers are good, the GK3 Ultra feels like a step up, and as the prints are washed and cured, the details that come through are outstanding. 

As we started with the printer, a few small prints were produced, slowly increasing the size and scale until we almost reached the print height of the machine. Again, when printing with this volume of resin, there is always the fear of running out; however, here, with over a kilo of resin used on a single print, that wasn't an issue, with the resin tank filled and with a full resin bottle loaded. This is one of only a few resin printers that you can happily leave to print at this scale over a 15-24 hour print. 

That was really one of the other surprising factors for the machine. While the scale of the prints is large, the print speeds are excellent, with full-sized and scaled prints developing in a relatively fast 24 hours. While this might not sound quick, the fact that it was able to print a model at this scale reliably and several times really marks this out as something different in the world of resin printing, especially at this price. 

When it came to the quality of the finish of the models, the resolution was superb, and the printer was able to handle fine details well. Checking over the prints that have been produced using some of the higher print settings and there are hardly any signs of layering and checking the dimension accuracy of the prints further highlights just how good this printer is. 

As a test, a production line of GoPro handlebar mounts was printed, and the quality across the board was excellent with no missed prints after five runs using the ABS-like resin. After each print, a tank cleaning exposure was run and peeled away to ensure that no debris had fallen into the tank; this cleaning process was carried out to help streamline the workflow, as changing a damaged sheet takes around 30 minutes. 

One of the first prints through the print process did drop support, and this fell into the resin tank. While that print was fine, we missed the fact that anything had dropped into the tank, which resulted in the film being pierced at the start of the next print. When the machine was stopped, the damage was apparent, and a new screen and tank film were installed. The screen protector was quick to install, with the old one peeling away so the new one could be stuck in place. The changing of the resin tank film, on the other hand, does take time, with a huge selection of screws needing to be removed before the new film can be put in place and tightened. So, using the cleaning function is a quick way to avoid any damage to the film or screen.

Overall, for a resin printer of this size, features such as the temperature-controlled chamber, quick-release build plate, and tank, along with the filter and touch screen, make using the GK3 Ultra incredibly easy. While there are other high-resolution and featured resin printers out there, the GK3 Ultra is easily the best at present in this size and price. If you want an accurate, fully featured resin printer for your business, then this is definitely the best value for money and quality at present. 

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Final verdict

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra offers outstanding print quality and features that are designed to meet the needs of professionals and equally serious hobbyists. With its 16K resolution, auto-refill system, and large build area, it's a significant improvement over the already impressive GKTwo. 

The review of the GK3 Ultra has taken some time due to a few last minute tweaks and changes from the company, with each change improving the build quality, especially for the visor along with some of the other features. This is a substantial machine, and considering the price, it's a solid investment for anyone looking for a high quality machine for modelling, jewellery, or any other use where high precision and absolute quality are needed.

While the machine is able to print at huge sizes for a resin 3D printer—the ultimate test came when we printed the excellent Heracles and the Nemean Lion (https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-heracles-and-the-nemean-lion-presupported-395096) model courtesy of Nerikson (https://www.patreon.com/nerikson)—there is a version of this at full scale that can be printed in one, and while that would be beyond the capabilities of most resin 3D printers, the GK3 Ultra has the capacity to handle that with ease. However, printing it in parts highlights the accuracy, as high precision is needed so that each part slots together easily. While the detail of many resin printers is superb, accuracy isn't always carried across. So, not only were we able to print more parts of the model in a single print run, but those parts all slotted together easily.

Overall, this is an outstanding resin 3D printer, and considering the features, scale and price there really is nothing else on the market that can compete. 

Should You Buy the Uniformation GK3 Ultra?

We tested the best laser engravers- and these are the models we recommend.

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' 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.

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

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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 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. 

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

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

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

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

Datto: Plans and pricing

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

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

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

Datto: Features

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Datto: Interface and performance

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

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

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

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

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

Datto: Security

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

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

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

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

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

Datto: Support

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

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

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

Datto: Final verdict

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

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

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

Datto: FAQs

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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. 

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.

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

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