10 Best IT Automation Software & Solutions

IT automation software creates and implements processes to replace time-consuming, manual activities, with many business leaders expressing interest in workflow automation tools to make their teams more productive and maintain their competitive advantage in their respective industries.

Yet, there remains a question of choice. How do you select the best IT automation software for your organization? What considerations are needed in the decision-making process? What are the other factors that should influence your selection?

This guide will cover everything you need to know before deciding on an IT automation software solution for your business. We’ve examined leading sites, such as G2 and Capterra, evaluated the top options, and scored them using a unique ranking system that considers scores from review platforms.

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Table of Contents

1. NinjaOne 

2. ConnectWise Automate

3. Atera

4. SolarWinds

5. N-able N-central

6. Datto

7. Redwood RunMyJobs

8. SysAid

9. ActiveBatch

10. Chef

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What is IT automation software?

IT automation software are programs and applications designed to perform multiple repeatable tasks so your IT team can focus on more strategic projects. Employing the best IT automation software for your business can be the driving force for you company’s success, allowing you to scale up in both size and production.

94% of workers say they perform repetitive tasks in their role, and IT automation has helped 2 out of 3 knowledge workers become more productive. Researchers have found a significant risk of employee stress and burnout in the absence of automation, which could ultimately contribute to poor productivity and more team members leaving their jobs.

Why IT automation software is important

Time savings

One of the primary benefits of IT automation software is the amount of time saved overall. Businesses can implement IT automation software to take care of manual, repetitive tasks. Doing so frees up time for their IT team to spend on more important or pressing matters.

Reduced cost

Manual and repetitive tasks are found everywhere throughout an IT environment, and without automation, these tasks can take up a large portion of your IT team’s working hours. Purchasing IT automation software is an investment upfront, but over time it will drastically reduce costs

Fewer errors

The best IT automation software on the market takes a lot of human error out of the equation. Although human involvement is required for initial setup and configuration, once it’s set up, it doesn’t require human intervention unless an issue arises. Fewer errors lead to a well-functioning and productive IT environment.

Better end-user experience

The more that IT management can be automated, the more time an IT department has to devote to customer support. Better IT support ultimately improves the end-user experience and allows the entire business to continue working without interruption.

Improved employee morale

Zapier reports, “Automation has improved the jobs of 92% of knowledge workers.” Automating certain workplace actions combats employee stress and burnout. The extra time gained through IT automation software also helps improve IT employee morale since their skills will be put to better use.

 

10 best IT automation software solutions

All G2 and Capterra data as of October 2024.

1. NinjaOne (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 1,108)

Known worldwide as the endpoint management company that over 20,000 clients trust, NinjaOne’s IT automation software helps deliver radical efficiency from day one. Its software features build-once and use-anywhere capabilities so your IT team can run various types of automation on-demand, on-schedule, or in response to performance threshold and state changes.

NinjaOne is one of the best IT automation software solutions available because it consolidates several critical IT management tools into a single pane of glass. This gives users a complete view of all their automations.

Some tasks that can be automated with NinjaOne include:

• OS and third-party patch management
• Backup management
• Custom scripts
• Drive encryption
• Remote access

This is NinjaOne’s differentiating factor. All its products are designed by IT for IT, so you can rest easy knowing that you are using a platform that addresses all your pain points. Its policy management engine allows you to roll out changes flexibly across all your endpoints.

What users say

Rudy Shaw, IT Director at St. Francis Winery, uses NinjaOne to make his team more efficient while saving thousands of dollars. He says that since using its platform, he can now use his IT budget for more strategic business enhancements and additional business resources.

“What made NinjaOne stand out from other endpoint managers was how simple and easy it is to use. I can knock out ten tasks in NinjaOne in the same amount of time it takes me to do one task in Kaseya or ManageEngine– alternative solutions we scoped,” said Shaw. “After implementing NinjaOne, we cut down our MSP billable hours, which saves us over $72,000 per year while improving our service rate by 90%.”

Read more NinjaOne customer stories.

NinjaOne reviews on G2

NinjaOne reviews on Capterra

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2. ConnectWise Automate (4.1 | 128 reviews)

ConnectWise Automate is an IT service management software that enables IT teams to track, control, and manage their IT assets from a single console. It is a single remote monitoring and management (RMM) that features out-of-the-box scripts for maintenance, software distribution, and system automation, among others.

ConnectWise Automate offers proactive alerting, automated patch management, remote control, and asset discovery.

See how ConnectWise compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth review of ConnectWise competitors.

Use cases:

• Automation: ConnectWise offers IT automation tools that streamline IT operations, freeing up IT teams to work on more strategic tasks.
• Patch management: Distribute, update and patch software to secure devices from vulnerabilities and ensure optimal performance for applications.
• Endpoint management: ConnectWise provides user with visibility of their endpoint devices and allows them to easily resolve any issues remotely.

Shortcomings:

• Learning curve: According to G2 reviews, ConnectWise’s initial set up requires some heavy investments with time and costs as the platform can be challenging to learn.
• User interface: Navigating the platform can be difficult due to how complex the user interface is. It can take a while for users to get accustomed.
• Cross-platform compatibility: ConnectWise Automate offers fewer patching options, actions, and data for other operating systems.

ConnectWise Automate reviews on G2

ConnectWise Automate reviews on Capterra

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3. Atera (4.6 | 662 reviews)

Atera is a cloud-based RMM that is designed to help managed service providers become more efficient. Its all-in-one platform offers a wide range of tools that enable IT technicians to monitor, manage, and secure all their managed endpoint devices and deliver better IT support. Within the software, IT teams can create custom IT automation rules and scripts, and implement them. Through the use of these IT automation rules, Atera enables you to automate specific mundane actions in an IT environment.

Its solution includes remote monitoring, patch management, IT ticketing, asset management, remote access, reporting and billing. Atera follows a pay-per-technician pricing model.

See how Atera compares with NinjaOne or read an in-depth analysis of Atera alternatives.

 Use cases:

• Remote endpoint management: Users can monitor endpoints and remediate any issues or vulnerabilities, regardless of their location.
• Patch management: Atera makes it easy to automate the patching process including scheduling updates with the option to deploy them to a single device or at scale.
• IT automation: Atera allows users to streamline workflows with IT automation tools such as scripting. Users can custom-build their own scripts or peruse Atera’s shared script library with out-of-the-box scripts.

Shortcomings: 

• Customer support: According to users, it can take a while for customer support to respond to tickets.
• Patching errors: Reviews on G2 show that Atera’s automation software can struggle with patching as users have said that scheduling patches could use improvements.
• Limited data on networks: Atera’s network monitoring capabilities cannot display comprehensive network information, making network monitoring more difficult.

Atera reviews on G2

Atera reviews on Capterra

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4. SolarWinds Service Desk (4.5 | 725 reviews)

SolarWinds Service Desk offers IT automation software for simplified IT support operations. Its platform is designed to reduce costs and improve reliability by automating ticket routing, assigning tickets and automatically tagging tickets based on specific categories. This allows tickets to reach the right technicians, making it easier to troubleshoot and remediate issues fast.

These automations work to help improve your organization’s IT environment and decrease overall costs.

See how SolarWinds compares with NinjaOne.

 

SolarWinds Service Desk reviews on G2

SolarWinds Service Desk reviews on Capterra

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5. N-able N-central (4.3 | 362 reviews)

N-able N-central is a comprehensive monitoring tool that MSPs and IT professionals use to monitor and manage their endpoint devices remotely and more efficiently. The SaaS solution is used to manage, secure, backup, and automate various tasks in your IT environment. Using the product, you can automate simple tasks or entire processes and customize your automation with its drag-and-drop editor, which requires little coding knowledge.

See how N-able compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth analysis of N-able alternatives.

Use cases:

• IT automation: N-Central offer automation solutions that streamline IT operations, freeing up IT teams to focus on more critical tasks.
• Patch management: N-central’s IT automation tools allow users to automate their patching process, ensuring that endpoint devices remain up-to-date and safe from vulnerabilities.
• Remote support: Technicians can troubleshoot and remediate any issues with their endpoint devices regardless of where they are located.

Shortcomings:

• Complex automation process: Reviews find that configuring automations is time-consuming and complicated.
• Customer support: Users have said that they often receive pre-written responses and guides instead of personalized support.
• User interface: This IT automation platform has a complicated user interface, making it more challenging to learn and navigate.

N-able N-central reviews on G2

N-able N-central reviews on Capterra

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6. Datto (4.5 | 555 reviews)

Datto is a secure cloud-based RMM that allows you to remotely secure, monitor, and manage endpoints in a centralized console. It is specifically built to reduce costs and improve network efficiency through IT automation.

Some of its features include Microsoft 365 management, software management, patch management, automation and scripting, and remote access and support.

See how Datto compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth analysis of Datto alternatives.

Use cases:

• Automation at scale: Datto allows users to automate IT operations, either to specific devices or at scale, improving IT efficiency.
• Remote monitoring: Users get full visibility of their IT environment from a centralized hub.
• IT asset management: Datto’s dashboard shows detailed information on the hardware and software being used in their environment.

Shortcomings:

• Limited reporting: Users find that Datto does not provide adequate details whenever there’s an error, making it more difficult to troubleshoot issues.
• Customer service: According to reviewers, it can take awhile to get a helpful response from N-Central’s support team.
• Complex interface: Datto’s interface can be challenging to navigate as it can take multiple clicks just to reach a specific destination.

Datto reviews on G2

Datto reviews on Capterra

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7. Redwood RunMyJobs (4.7 | 125 reviews)

RunMyJobs by Redwood is an IT automation software recommended for enterprises with complex environments. Its full-stack advanced platform offers unlimited systems connectivity on-premises or in the cloud. RunMyJobs gives you real-time visibility of your IT network and proactive alerts about potential issues and SLA disruptions.

Some of its features include API wizards, automated processes, functionalities for coordinating and managing data pipelines like Hadoop and Redshift, and prebuilt connectors for SAP solutions.

Use cases:

• Automation: Users can automate IT operations processes with Redwood RunMyJobs, reducing the need for manual workloads and freeing up IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Centralized monitoring: This IT automation platform provides full visibility of all the automation processes in one console.
• Integrations: Redwood RunMyJobs offers a large library of third-party applications that it can integrate with, making it easy to slot in with existing IT management systems.

Shortcomings:

• Complex interface: Redwood RunMyJobs can be challenging to navigate and use to its full potential.
• Steep learning curve: Creating automated workflows can be challenging to learn so IT teams would need to expend significant resources to get IT professionals familiar with the automation platform.
• Customer support: According to reviews, the solution’s customer support could be more responsive to questions and tickets as the platform’s documentation is not as detailed as it could be.

Redwood RunMyJobs reviews on G2

Redwood RunMyJobs reviews on Capterra

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8. SysAid (4.5 | 698 reviews)

SysAid markets itself as a next-generation ITSM platform that delivers comprehensive IT services using automation. Its platform can be used by IT enterprises of any size across all industries looking to streamline and scale their operations.

Its features include configuration management, policy and contract enforcement, asset management, service restoration, and ITSM reports.

Read a more in-depth analysis of SysAid alternatives.

Use cases:

• Support automation: SysAid helps technicians automate repetitive IT support processes to avoid human error and boost efficiency by freeing up technicians to focus on more complex tasks.
• IT asset management: Users can keep track of the hardware, software, and networking equipment so that technicians can remediate any issues,
• Ticketing system: SysAid provides helpdesk and IT automation tools to make it easier for technicians to manage, track, and monitor support tickets.

Shortcomings:

• Complex interface: Users find that SysAid can be challenging to navigate. It features different designs per page which makes the interface feel disjointed to use.
• Steep learning curve: SysAid’s intricate interface makes it require more time, resources, and technician expertise to make full use of the platform.
• Remote control: SysAid offers limited options for remote access and troubleshooting.

SysAid reviews on G2

SysAid reviews on Capterra

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9. ActiveBatch (4.6 | 198 reviews)

ActiveBatch by Redwood’s enterprise job scheduling and workload automation platform orchestrates end-to-end IT business processes with low-code functionality and a drag-and-drop design. Its primary goal is to simplify advanced job scheduling, empowering teams to focus on more high-value work.

It also offers several integrations with leading business applications in data processing, identity management, ERP, ITSM, and file transfer.

Use cases:

• IT automation: ActiveBatch offers out-of-the-box and custom scripting that allow IT administrators to automate repeatable tasks, simplifying IT operations and improving productivity.
• Integrations: Third-party APIs seamlessly integrate with ActiveBatch’s IT automation platform, making it easy to customize and add functions.
• Reporting: Users can generate reports and configure custom alerts to notify users should anything out of the ordinary occur.

Shortcomings:

• Complex interface: ActiveBatch can be challenging to navigate due to how intricate this IT automation platform’s user interface is.
• Scripting: According to reviews on G2, managing scripts is a complicated process especially with larger IT infrastructures.
• Reporting: Users say that ActiveBatch’s reporting capabilities are lacking, especially when it comes to reporting templates.

ActiveBatch reviews on G2

ActiveBatch reviews on Capterra

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10. Chef (4.2 | 105 reviews)

Progress Chef allows IT teams to automate routine tasks to reduce manual errors and improve organizational speed and efficiency. Using a declarative language called “recipes,” Chef helps you define the desired state of your infrastructure and applications. These recipes then guide Chef to know which tasks to automate.

Chef offers many features, including recipe-driven automation, configuration management, and cross-platform support.

Use cases:

• Automation: Users can use Chef to automate repeatable processes in order to avoid human error and reduce the need for manual intervention.
• Remote monitoring: Chef allows users to view real-time data on the platform’s database along with filters to make it easier to find specific information.
• Compliance management: With Chef, IT teams can consistently ensure that the devices in their IT infrastructure follow specific standards, allowing IT teams to adhere to industry-specific or organizational regulations.

Shortcomings:

• Difficult interface: Reviewers say that Chef’s platform can be challenging to learn and navigate. This IT automation platform requires time and resources to get users familiar with its intricate interface.
• Challenging automations: Chef utilizes the Ruby Domain-Specific Language, requiring expertise or time spent learning the proper syntax to set up automations.
• Documentation: Users find that Chef’s documentation is disorganized, making it harder to find answers to questions.

Chef reviews on G2

Chef reviews on Capterra

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Major use cases for IT automation

Automation can, and should, be used throughout your IT environment. Some major IT automation use cases are in the following areas of IT management:

Automated monitoring alerts

24/7 IT monitoring acquires a lot of information, and that information is only put to good use if automatic alerts can be generated when something changes and a condition is triggered. These automatic alerts are most effective when they’re only alerting you on actionable information. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for alarm fatigue.

For example, if you were monitoring a network for unexpected bandwidth usage, the ideal use of automated alerts would be to notify you when the network utilization for servers or workstations is outside the set threshold, preferably triggered if or when the network is at risk. The alert can prompt the creation of a ticket, which can then be investigated.

Automated patch management

Patch management is critical for modern IT operations. Software patches protect against cyberattacks, prevent system errors, and work to make your software operate effectively.

Automation in patch management can be used for patch discovery, scheduling patches, testing patches, and the patch deployment process. It’s a tried-and-true feature that enables organizations to ensure their devices and machines are up-to-date with security and optimally functioning.

Automated backups

Backups are a huge safety net for businesses when things go wrong with any machines or data. Organizations want to guarantee their data is safe and backed up correctly so they can recover quickly from any disaster and support continual business operations.

Using IT automation software, as part of your backup strategy, enables you to manage backups and ensure that all backups are executed properly. You can utilize the automation features to set up when you want backups to occur and choose what data to back up at those times. It’s a straightforward method that takes human error out as a risk for incomplete or incorrect backups.

Automated device setup

Setting up new devices can be a time-consuming process that requires a lot of steps. You also need to ensure that all settings, configurations, and software are set up correctly on the device to avoid having to come back and fix mistakes.

Examples of automation with new device setup include cleaning the device, configuring the device, installing software and applications, deploying security resources, and automatic ticket creation when issues come up during the setup process.

Automated endpoint hardening

Ponemon with Keeper Security reported that, in 2020, malware affected just over 80% of businesses. Keeping endpoints protected is critical for the security of your IT environment and the organization at large. Investing in endpoint hardening and automation brings organizations numerous benefits, some of which are enhanced security, better compliance, and reduced costs.

For example, one way to better protect your machines is to ensure that antivirus software is installed on all devices. Using automation, you can set it up so that if your monitor detects that the antivirus software is uninstalled, it will automatically deploy the software and reinstall it.

Automated help desk operations

A key to having happy end users is maintaining an efficient and responsive help desk. All the tickets from end-user requests that come into the system can quickly add up, and unless there is a solid system in place, it can quickly become overwhelming.

Ticketing and help desk automation can be used to improve workflow, automate tasks, and create an overall better ticketing system. This helps increase the number of tickets addressed, improve resolution times, and ensure help desk technicians maximize their skills.

5 best practices for implementing IT automation software

The best IT automation software on the market can offer your business numerous benefits, from streamlining business operations to scaling up your business. However, these benefits can only be realized if IT automation is effectively implemented into your IT environment. Here are five best practices for implementing IT automation software:

1. Start with a clear strategy and goals

Before you begin the implementation of IT automation software, clearly express and document what goals you hope to achieve with the addition of the software. With the goals in mind, then create a strategy with specific steps for how your organization will achieve that automation goal.

2. Get buy-in from your team

IT automation software will be most effective if everyone is on board. Help your colleagues to understand the value that IT automation software will bring to your business, such as increased productivity, lower costs, and better service or product delivery. Also, and perhaps more importantly, show them how it will make their lives easier while on the job.

3. Schedule automation-focused team meetings

Once you have the team buy-in, you need to determine which specific tasks and components you’ll automate. Figuring out the specific areas where automation can be implemented can be a monumental task, which is why you should arrange to have team meetings dedicated to discussing this.

Ask team members to come prepared with identified areas where automation would be best utilized. Another approach to these meetings is to use them as training meetings to show employees how to use the newly automated tasks and processes in their daily workflow.

4. Provide non-production devices to test new automation

Automation is a wonderful feature when it is set up and implemented correctly. However, sometimes things can go awry in the setup process, which is why it’s essential to test new automations. Using non-production devices for this testing allows you to avoid messing with the devices and IT environment that are actively in use.

5. Measure and track results

To ensure the automation you’ve implemented are effective and are improving your IT processes, consistently measure and track the output and associated results. Reports from this data can also be shown to managers and executives to show that the investment in IT automation software was well worth it.

Get started with NinjaOne’s IT automation software

IT automation software provides a whole host of benefits for IT service providers. It is essential for businesses if they want to continue improving and scaling up. The ultimate goal of an IT department should be to automate as many tasks as they can to improve IT efficiency, standardization, and outcomes, and provide a better IT service delivery experience to end users.

NinjaOne’s IT automation software enables MSPs and IT departments to automate endpoint management. Automations can be run on-demand, on schedule, or in response to issues or changes, and policies enable automations to be applied across a set of devices. Watch a demo or sign up for a free trial today to experience all the benefits IT automation can bring to your organization.

 

Comparison of IT automation software for IT professionals (G2)

 

Comparison of IT automation software for IT professionals (Capterra)

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Final scores and summaries of IT automation software for IT professionals

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Our rankings formula

To derive the final score for each vendor, we employed a weighted formula that considers various metrics. Here’s how it breaks down:

Final Score = w1 * G2 Overall Star Rating + w2 * Capterra Overall Star Rating + w3 * G2 Good Partner in Doing Business + w4 * Capterra Likelihood to Recommend + w5 * G2 Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + w6 * Capterra Total Number of Reviews (Scaled) + Other Factors

Where:

w1 = 0.15 (Weight for G2 Overall Star Rating)

w2 = 0.15 (Weight for Capterra Overall Star Rating)

w3 = 0.2 (Weight for G2 Good Partner in Doing Business)

w4 = 0.2 (Weight for Capterra Customer Service)

w5 = 0.1 (Weight for G2 Total Number of Reviews, Scaled)

w6 = 0.1 (Weight for Capterra Total Number of Reviews, Scaled)

Other Factors include additional metrics like ease of use, each multiplied by their corresponding weights:

w7 = 0.05 (Weight for G2 Ease of Use)

w8 = 0.05 (Weight for Capterra Ease of Use)

Finding the best IT automation software

Before you start looking for the best IT IT automation software for your business, you need to know what you want to automate, why you want to automate it, how you will measure the results, and how much it would cost. The best way to answer these questions is to sit down with your team and uncover any pain points you have.

Another point to consider is having a centralized view of all your IT operations so that your IT teams can more easily keep track of all the IT automation tools they’ve deployed. With that in mind, consider going for top automation tools that are built into other critical capabilities such as automated patch deployment or automated helpdesk tasks.

When using this guide, keep in mind that there is no one “best” solution for all companies. The best automation software for you would be whichever tool allow you to achieve your organizational goals in the least amount of time, reduce the need for manual intervention, and speed up IT operations processes.