Best Alternative to ManageEngine for Data Loss Prevention

Looking for an alternative to ManageEngine for  preventing data loss and controlling USB devices? This page will compare ManageEngine’s DLP solutions to CurrentWare so you can make the best choice for your organization.

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CurrentWare’s Security Capabilities

With CurrentWare’s data loss prevention and USB control capabilities, blocking unauthorized data transfers is as easy as a few clicks.

CurrentWare extends your organization’s on-site security policies to laptops and computers running outside the corporate network, ensuring ongoing data security no matter where your users work.

Device Blocking window Screenshot of CurrentWare's USB device control software AccessPatrol

Block & Audit Storage Devices

Control who can use portable storage devices and set security policies to limit what devices are allowed. Monitor data transfers to removable media and network storage devices to ensure that your data security policies are being followed.

Data loss prevention cloud storage DLP security tips

Prevent Data Loss to Cloud Platforms

Protect sensitive data against the risks of cloud file sharing sites. Block cloud storage sites/apps, restrict uploads/downloads, and monitor file transfers for high-risk or anomalous activity.

AccessPatrol sensitive file transfers alert

Audit User Activity for Insider Threat Risks

Monitor employee computer usage for signs of insider threats. Track file transfers, web browsing, app use, and login/logout times for high-risk, anomalous, or inappropriate activity. Receive automated alerts straight to your inbox when specific events occur.

Screenshot of AccessPatrol's USB file transfer blocking feature

Block Data Transfers to Portable Storage & Uploads/Downloads

Go beyond simply blocking unauthorized devices; ensure optimal data protection with your trusted devices, too. Block file transfers to portable storage devices based on file extension and file name.

Use the File Filter to prevent the uploading and downloading of specific files such as EXEs. 

 

Screenshot of BrowseControl's Port Filter for blocking TCP/UDP ports

Block High-Risk Network Ports

Block unused TCP/UDP ports to reduce the attack surface of your network. Improve data protection by mitigating the threat of data leakage over FTP, SFTP, IRC, and other high-risk network ports.

Screenshot of category filtering window from BrowseControl web filter. Porn and social media categories blocked.

Block Risky Sites

BrowseControl’s web content category filtering database provides you with a convenient way to block millions of websites across over 100 URL categories. Easily block users from accessing social media, porn, games, known virus-infected websites, and more!

CASE STUDY

Metromont Ditches ManageEngine & Finally Solves USB Security Concerns with CurrentWare

ManageEngine promised the world, then left us hanging when we needed support…CurrentWare delivered everything we needed from the start, with exceptional customer service.

Now that CurrentWare is in place, our employees have stopped using random USB devices. Instead, they submit requests to use approved USB devices as needed.

ManageEngine Reviews

Atrocious Customer Support

While ManageEngine is certainly one of the cheapest USB blockers, the cost savings may not be worth the hassle when you need technical support

Complexity, Bugs & Conflicts

Several reviews and community comments have noted that the cost savings of ManageEngine come at the cost of a poor user experience

Security Concerns

While Zoho has a diverse product portfolio, members of the cybersecurity community have concerns over their ability to develop and maintain safe security software

I have been in the IT field 20+ years and this is BY FAR the worst technical support I have ever encountered.

I have been in constant “chat sessions” with support. They always end with “can you please upload the log files and we will get back with you.”

So I upload the files. 3-5 days later they finally reply with some “canned” fixes or links that do not resolve the issue, then once again ask you to upload the log files. Rinse and repeat.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

The amount of times I’ve had a tech veer off and start making unapproved changes to a production server are ridiculous.

One guy straight up navigated away from the ME window and started uninstalling unrelated apps before I straight up spammed Ctrl+Alt+Del.

Despite obviously fighting for mouse control for a full 10 seconds so I could even type a message to him, he continued trying to do it.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

Getting them to actually respond is a feat in itself, and then getting them to respond with anything other than regurgitated articles I’ve already read before calling them is a miracle.

Most cases they would repeatedly ask me the same questions or ask to send them the same logs and get no response from them for weeks until they close the ticket.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2023

ManageEngine products seem to be about 80% complete. The UI is unnecessarily unintuitive. They are clearly written by developers who don’t actually know what the end users need.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

I’ve evaluated used a couple of different products of theirs and have dealt with the technical stuff of implementation. If I could choose, I’d avoid using them at all possible. Shoddy products that don’t inspire confidence.

Source: Comment on /r/ITManagers, 2022

There’s a reason it’s so attractively priced. The bang for the buck is great, but there’s a lot of polish issues I’ve seen with Zoho products that had soured me on them.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2024

I have encountered many drawbacks with ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus.

The platform provides poor security measures and ineffective risk assessments. It would be better to see improvements in these areas.

Source: G2 Review, 2024

Security issues. Years ago, we were using their helpdesk product with Azure SSO.

Out of the blue they required full read/write permissions to our entire AAD, Exchange online, as well as any file stored in OneDrive.

This gave them full control over everything with the ability to read any email including our CEO, CFO, and all of accounting.

When asked about it, we were told they needed those permissions for attachments in tickets…

This was either setup for outright theft/sale of information, or gross programming incompetence. Either way, incredible red flag that put them on our eternal (as in never even an option for consideration again) blacklist.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2024

Products overall seem to have a poor focus on security; however, you can negotiate price pretty heavily which is pretty much why my org uses them.

Source: Comment on /r/msp, 2016

Price vs Value

As a DoD contractor with DFARS/CMMC and ITAR requirements the lack of CONUS based support is a huge problem for us. Couple that with the constant badgering by sales goons and it is getting old.

The products are nice from the standpoint of you get a lot of features. However, there is a lot of stuff that just doesn’t work as well as it could.

ManageEngine served its purpose but as we get closer to having CMMC audits done we just don’t feel comfortable.

Source: Comment on /r/CMMC, 2024

I suspect ManageEngine is often only in the discussion at all because they are so cheap.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

 

ManageEngine is great plus cheap. Know you are paying for the product. You will get garbage support

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2024

I wouldn’t call them best of breed tools at all but again, for the price, I’m willing to put up with a few quirks and UI issues.

Source: Comment on /r/ITManagers, 2022

ManageEngine is straight f***ing trash, the only reason people use then is because they’re dirt cheap.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

 

Their support is useless. They are cheaper than other solutions most of the time.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

We are using a lot of their products. Good bang for the buck as others have said.

It’s one of those tools that’s a jack-of-all-trades, but certainly a master at none of them.

I have gripes with remote PC access, and USB blocking configurations to name just a few…It’s also just damn clunky to navigate and get around.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin/, 2024

Breadth of Capabilities & Price

It’s a powerful product but very difficult to learn. I still often have to lookup how to do something because it is not intuitive. But since I have gotten used to it, I like the power that ME provides.

Source: Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

[I like] the ability to manage what USB devices we allow to be accessed when inserted into one of our machines.

This has stopped users using memory sticks which haven’t been checked over by ourselves in IT, to ensure the stick hasn’t been given to them from a third party and then plugged into our machines which could affect our network.

Source: Capterra Review, 2022

This provides comprehensive device control and allows me to control the use of USB devices, printers, scanners, and other peripheral devices.

It also provides me granular control over the use of these devices, including read-only access, blocking access, and allowing access with restrictions. Easy-to-use interface

Source: Capterra Review, 2023

This software delivers on the essential tasks required for security monitoring files by running real-time and audit reports of who, what, where, and when.

Source: Capterra review, 2019

We’re Here to Help

The CurrentWare team prides itself on its high-quality customer support. We will support you every step of the way—whether you’re just starting your free trial or actively using CurrentWare in your network.

At CurrentWare, customer success is our priority at every stage of your journey. We take pride in providing high-quality and reliable pre and post-sale support to make your experience exceptional.

We offer the same level of high-quality support to all of our customers—no extra fees or packages necessary!

Mike Noseworthy
Customer Support Lead

Product Training

CurrentWare provides the documentation, training, and other resources you need to take full advantage of the capabilities of our products.

Technical Support

Our expert support team is here to help you. Reach out to us over email, live chat, or phone from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET, Monday to Friday.

Check Out Our Great Reviews

The reports are very easy to understand and the fact that they can be emailed to you on a schedule is amazing, and have made finding productivity killers VERY easy. Customer support has been fantastic every time I've had to reach out to them; I highly recommend them!

Kristen S, Associate IT Director
The Coding Network, 700+ Employees

We have experienced data leaks by dishonest employees in the past and [CurrentWare's] AccessPatrol has helped us avoid them and work with greater security and peace of mind for us and our customers.

Julio V, Head of Information Technology
Financial Services Industry, 10,001+ employees

As a 'novice' I was able to set up with help from support in about an hour. Previous software took forever and didn't work as advertised. This software worked right out of the box.

Dr. Gerard B, Office Manager
Medical Practice, 2-10 Employees

In my nearly 40 years in the IT business I’ve worked with a lot of support teams. I really appreciate CurrentWare going the extra mile to help me get the most out of the product. They’ve definitely outweighed any of the other competitors that I’ve looked at.

J.S, Managed Services Provider
Vehicle Dealership, 150-200 Employees

Free removable media policy template from CurrentWare

FREE DOWNLOAD
Removable Media Policy Template 

Download this data security policy template to prevent data leakage to USB flash drives and other removable storage devices.

  • Set data security standards for portable storage
  • Define the acceptable use of removable media
  • Inform your users about their security responsibilities

Compare CurrentWare vs. ManageEngine by Zoho Features

Compare the key features of CurrentWare and ManageEngine’s DLP products to choose the right fit for you*

Use CurrentWare’s ManageEngine alternatives if… Use ManageEngine by Zoho if…
  • You value having an easy-to-use solution with excellent, attentive, and knowledgeable customer support
  • You’re searching for a secure and stable product that is regularly updated with new features, bug fixes, and security patches
  • You’d like to go beyond USB blocking with optional modules for internet restriction, user activity monitoring, and remote PC power management
  • You prefer having the option of a managed SaaS solution for USB restriction
  • You’re searching for a USB control solution for restricting and monitoring MacOS devices
  • You are a budget-strapped organization that would prefer a cheap solution—at the cost of support quality

*Based on features available in ManageEngine Device Control Plus, ManageEngine Endpoint DLP Plus, and ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus

compare-forcepoint-vs-currentware
Temporary Device Access
USB Storage
External HDDs
Tape ⚠️
Windows Only
CD/DVD
iPhones/iPads/iPods
Smartphones/Tablets
Digital Cameras
Media Players (MP3 Players)
Memory Cards (SD/MM)
Printers
Floppy Disk ⚠️
Windows Only
Webcams
WiFi Network Adapters
FireWire
Sound Cards
Bluetooth Devices
Serial/Parallel Ports ⚠️
Windows Only
Network Share
HID (Keyboards, Mice, etc) ⚠️
Windows Only
USB-to-Ethernet
Infrared Dongle ⚠️
Windows Only

Peripheral Control

CurrentWare’s DLP tool AccessPatrol and ManageEngine Device Control Plus are both capable of restricting a variety of peripheral devices such as USB flash drives.

Both solutions allow you to add trusted portable storage devices to an Allow List while blocking all others. These security features make both options a suitable solution for meeting cybersecurity compliance requirements for USB devices.

That said, there are some limitations of ManageEngine to be aware of. Based on information available in their knowledge base it appears they cannot prevent the use of FireWire or Network Share drives, leaving a gap in your device control capabilities that can lead to illicit data transfers. 

If you’d like to use ManageEngine to block portable storage devices on MacOS you’ll also want to consider that the Mac version of Device Control Plus lacks feature parity with their Windows version, such as being unable to block tape drives, serial/parallel ports, and HID such as keyboards and mice. 

Learn More:  Devices You Can Control With AccessPatrol

Last updated July 2024

 

compare-forcepoint-vs-currentware
Block Unauthorized Removable Media 1
Allow Trusted Removable Media 1
Block File Downloads & Uploads 2
Block USB File Transfers 1
App Blacklisting 3
App Whitelisting 3
Track Downloads/Uploads 3
File Transfer Activity Reports & Alerts 3
File Shadowing 1
File Change & Access Auditing 3
Email Content Inspection 3
Printer Use Monitoring 3
Web Filtering 3
Data Inspection & Classification

2

Data Loss Prevention

In terms of data loss prevention and cybersecurity both CurrentWare and ManageEngine provide a robust feature set including web filtering, USB restriction, and file transfer tracking.

While ManageEngine provides additional DLP features such as data inspection and classification, numerous ManageEngine reviews from IT pros have mentioned concerns about the lack of emphasis on cybersecurity during ManageEngine’s development cycle.

Security seems to never a concern to them [ManageEngine] until someone calls them out on it. Their support does not seem to know their own products.

Comment on /r/sysadmin, 2022

 

In addition, some of ManageEngine’s advanced DLP features come at an additional cost. For example, their Data Risk Assessment add-on ($395 USD/yr) is needed for content-aware protection.

ManageEngine also charges $3,495 USD for standard onboarding and implementation for DataSecurity Plus, whereas the CurrentWare support team ensures success with our software for no additional charge.

Last updated July 2024

1 = Available in ManageEngine Device Control Plus
2 = Available in ManageEngine Endpoint DLP Plus
3 = Available in ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus

compare-forcepoint-vs-currentware
User & Group-Based Policies
Central Admin Console
Manage Remote Users
Stealth Deployment Option
On-Premises Deployment
Self-Managed Cloud
SaaS
NFR Licenses
Active Directory Integration
Windows
Linux
MacOS

⚠️
DataSecurity Plus is Windows-only

Device Control Plus Lacks Feature Parity on MacOS

Client Integrity Protection
Citrix Ready Partner
Free Version
Free Trial
Subscription License Types Subscription & Perpetual

Setup & Deployment

Thanks to its simple interface and setup process, getting started with CurrentWare is easy—whether or not you’re an experienced system administrator. CurrentWare offers a variety deployment options that suit the installation needs of organizations of all sizes.

Both CurrentWare and ManageEngine’s DLP solutions can be deployed on-premises or on a self-managed cloud server through cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.

ManageEngine also offers a Software-as-a-Service model where they manage server deployment and maintenance.

In terms of setup and deployment, ManageEngine can monitor and manage USB activity on both Windows and Mac devices, whereas CurrentWare is presently exclusively available for Windows machines. 

ManageEngine also offers a free version of Device Control Plus for up to 25 devices, making it a viable option for small businesses.

 Last updated July 2024

 

compare-forcepoint-vs-currentware
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET, Monday to Friday Support Availability Included: Standard regional business hours
Premium: Mon. – Fri., 24 hours a day
Live Chat
Phone Support ⚠️
Premium Add-On
Training Videos
Email Support

Visit our knowledge base
Knowledge Base
MSP/Reseller Program
Annual Contract Type Annual
English Languages English

Customer Support

Even the best alternatives to ManageEngine need a reliable technical support team to ensure that their customers get the services they need to make the most of their data loss prevention solutions.

Fortunately, one look at CurrentWare’s reviews will show that our customers have been consistently delighted with our customer success, sales, and technical support teams.

CurrentWare’s support team is available by phone, live chat, and email from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST, Monday to Friday to ensure your business is covered. We also maintain an onboarding guide and a knowledge base full of helpful articles and training videos to ensure critical information is available 24/7.

According to numerous ManageEngine reviews, their support quality is severely lacking. Notable complaints include unknowledgeable support staff, poor communication, and making significant unauthorized changes to production environments.

If you choose to go with ManageEngine you may want to consider purchasing through a reseller that provides their own product support.

Last updated July 2024

 

Learn More About CurrentWare

Benefits of CurrentWare

See what you can do with the capabilities of the CurrentWare Suite

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Case Studies & Reviews

Don't just take our word for it—Hear what our customers have to say!

CurrentWare's Key Features

Internet Off

User Activity Monitoring

Track web browsing, software use, search queries, and more

Remote Screen Capture

Screenshot Monitoring

Take automatic screenshots or remotely view desktops

Application Blocker

Track Software Usage

Get insights into software usage trends in your organization

Stealth

Transparent & Stealth Modes

Run silently in the background or provide notice of monitoring

Block USB

Block USB & Other Devices

Set full access, read only or no access on storage devices

Allowed List

Device Whitelist

Allow only authorized storage devices to be used

Block Files

Block File Transfers

Prevent files from being transferred to portable storage

Reports

DLP Activity Reports

Track file transfers, storage device use, file operations, and more

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Block Websites

Block websites based on
URLs & content categories

Download Filter
Block Downloads/Uploads

Prevent uploading and downloading based on file type

Application Blocker
Application Blacklisting

Block specific Windows
applications from launching

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PC Power Management

Remotely track and control PC power states

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Centralized Console

Manage all your users from the
centralized console with Active
Directory import or syncing

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Platform Security

Protect your CurrentWare console
with 2FA, passwords, privilege
management, and more

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Offsite Management

Extend onsite security policies to computers running outside the corporate network

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SQL Server Supported

Database scaled for enterprise and
large business operations using
Microsoft SQL Server

CurrentWare

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