10 Best IT Automation Software & Solutions

IT automation software creates and implements processes to replace time-consuming, manual activities. Given the ever-evolving business landscape, IT automation has become a crucial part of any digital transformation initiative, 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.

What is IT automation software?

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.

IT automation software is programs and applications designed to perform multiple repeatable tasks so your IT team can focus on more strategic projects. Automation is the driving force for any successful IT company, allowing them to scale up in both size and production.

 

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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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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

Not only that, IT automation software 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 fights against 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 May 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.

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.

Some tasks that can be automated with NinjaOne include:

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

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 | 126 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.

 

ConnectWise Automate reviews on G2

ConnectWise Automate reviews on Capterra

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3. Atera (4.6 | 520 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.

 

Atera reviews on G2

Atera reviews on Capterra

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4. SolarWinds (4.5 | 218 reviews)

SolarWinds offers IT automation software for simplified IT operations. Its platform is designed to reduce costs and improve reliability by automating IT operations. Some of its features include automated switch management, compliance auditing through network automation, real-time configuration change alerts, and automated, scheduled backups, among others. These automations work to help improve your organization’s IT environment and decrease overall costs.

See how SolarWinds compares with NinjaOne.

 

SolarWinds reviews on G2

SolarWinds reviews on Capterra

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5. N-able N-central (4.3 | 271 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.

N-able N-central reviews on G2

N-able N-central reviews on Capterra

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6. Datto (4.5 | 264 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.

Datto reviews on G2

Datto reviews on Capterra

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7. Redwood RunMyJobs (4.7 | 123 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.

 

Redwood RunMyJobs reviews on G2

Redwood RunMyJobs reviews on Capterra

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8. SysAid (4.5 | 671 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.

 

SysAid reviews on G2

SysAid reviews on Capterra

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9. ActiveBatch (4.6 | 191 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.

 

ActiveBatch reviews on G2

ActiveBatch reviews on Capterra

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10. Chef (4.2 | 88 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.

 

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

IT automation has 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 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 Likelihood to Recommend)

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 any IT automation software, 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.

When using this guide, keep in mind that there is no one “best” solution for all companies. The ideal platform is any tool that allows you to achieve your organizational goals in the least amount of time.