1.What was life like before using SolarWinds? (Include what you were using and why you decided it was time for a change)
For patch management only had WSUS and all third party software had to be manually updated or scripted into group policy.
2.Which SolarWinds product(s) saved your bacon?
Patch Manger has been worth its weight in gold. Without third party patch management it was a nightmare maintaining 150 workstations. PM allows me to keep all systems up to date with Java, flash, Adobe reader, and even custom applications with custom package creation. The reporting features are awesome for compliance request.
3.Did you consider other options, and why did you choose SolarWinds?
Microsoft SCCM but it was just too cumbersome for our small IT group and environment. SolarWinds pricing and the Thwack community resource was a major selling point.
4.How has life been since you've rolled out SolarWinds in your environment?
Life since SolarWinds has been much easier. PM is now an integral part of my daily routine and could never go back to just WSUS. The PM interface is really easy to use compared to the dated WSUS interface, which I haven’t even looked at in months.