Deploying Netop Asset Control: Best Practices and Tips

Netop Asset Control vs. Competitors: A Comparison for IT Teams### Executive summary

Netop Asset Control is an endpoint security and asset management solution designed to help IT teams discover, inventory, monitor, and secure devices across distributed environments. For organizations prioritizing granular device control, Netop offers strong remote session management, detailed hardware/software inventory, and integration with existing IT workflows. This article compares Netop Asset Control to several competitors, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and offers guidance on selecting the right tool for your environment.

What Netop Asset Control does best

• Comprehensive discovery and inventory: Netop scans networks, collects hardware and software details, installed patches, and peripheral information.
• Remote control and troubleshooting: Built-in remote session capabilities enable IT staff to access endpoints for diagnostics and remediation.
• Policy-driven control: Administrators can enforce policies (application whitelisting/blacklisting, device restrictions, patch policies).
• Support for diverse environments: Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and some mobile and thin-client deployments.
• Reporting and compliance: Pre-built and customizable reports help with audits and license management.

Strengths: strong endpoint control, useful for regulated environments; relatively straightforward deployment; good visibility into peripherals and software versions.

Key competitors to consider

• Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune + Configuration Manager)
• ManageEngine Endpoint Central (formerly Desktop Central)
• Ivanti Neurons / Ivanti Endpoint Manager
• JAMF (for macOS/iOS-focused environments)
• CrowdStrike (primarily endpoint detection & response)
• Flexera/ServiceNow (for software asset management focus)

Feature-by-feature comparison

Where Netop shines vs. competitors

• Regulated industries and environments needing precise device and peripheral controls benefit from Netop’s granular controls and reporting.
• Organizations with a mix of thin clients and traditional endpoints find Netop’s peripheral and thin-client support valuable.
• Teams that want integrated remote control plus asset management in one product may prefer Netop over combinations of separate tools.

Where competitors lead

• Microsoft Endpoint Manager: Best for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft 365/Azure AD — seamless integration, large-scale cloud management, and robust Windows patching.
• CrowdStrike: Superior for organizations prioritizing endpoint detection and response (threat hunting, real-time behavioral detection).
• JAMF: Best choice for macOS/iOS-centric environments — deep Apple-specific management features.
• ManageEngine / Ivanti: Offer broad feature sets with competitive pricing and strong patching/automation for heterogeneous estates.

Deployment, integration, and operational considerations

• Integration with directory services (AD/Azure AD) and ticketing systems (ServiceNow, Jira) reduces operational friction.
• Agent vs agentless: Netop requires agents for full functionality; compare against competitor agent footprints and stability.
• Network topology: For distributed or remote sites, ensure the product supports offline sync, relay servers, or cloud connectors.
• Reporting needs: Confirm the availability of compliance templates and custom report builders if audit evidence is required.

Cost considerations

• Total cost of ownership includes licensing, deployment time, training, and ongoing maintenance.
• Consolidating tools (asset management + remote control) can reduce overall costs compared with separate point products.
• For large Windows-centric enterprises, Microsoft’s bundled offerings can be more cost-effective. For security-first shops, consider EDR investments like CrowdStrike even if they add separate SAM capabilities.

Recommendation framework for IT teams

• If Apple devices dominate: evaluate JAMF first.
• If security/EDR is primary: prioritize CrowdStrike or similar and pair with a SAM tool.
• If deep Windows/Azure integration is needed: Microsoft Endpoint Manager is likely the best fit.
• If you need combined remote control + detailed peripheral/asset management across mixed endpoints: trial Netop Asset Control and compare operational fit and reporting capabilities.
• Run a 30–60 day pilot covering representative device types and workflows, measure deployment friction, remote session reliability, reporting accuracy, and admin UX.

Sample pilot checklist

• Inventory completeness (hardware, software, peripheral data) — target 95% accuracy
• Remote session success rate — target >95% without session drops
• Patch compliance improvement over baseline — target +30% within 60 days
• Integration tests with AD, ServiceNow, and SIEM — pass/fail criteria
• Admin learning curve feedback and average task completion times

Final note

Selecting the right solution depends on priorities: endpoint control and asset visibility (Netop), cloud-native Windows management (Microsoft), Apple-first workflows (JAMF), or EDR-led security (CrowdStrike). Netop Asset Control is a compelling option when you need combined remote control and detailed asset management across heterogeneous endpoints, particularly in regulated or thin-client environments.