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eWEEK is compiling a new IT products and services section that encompasses most of the categories that we cover on our site. In it, we will spotlight the leaders in each sector, which include enterprise software, hardware, security, on-premises-based systems and cloud services. We also will add promising new companies as they come into the market.
Today: Absolute Software Corp. (endpoint device control software)
Company description: Absolute provides visibility and control for every endpoint to protect devices, data, applications and users—on and off the network. Bridging the gap between security and IT operations, Absolute gives enterprises visibility to protect every endpoint, remediate vulnerabilities and ensure compliance in the face of insider and external threats. Absolute’s patented Persistence technology is built into the firmware of PC and mobile devices, and the software is used by more than 12,000 customers worldwide.
Founded in 1993, Absolute is headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. In 2000, Absolute became a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and has offices around the world. In January 2018, the company appointed former Sophos CEO and Absolute Advisor Steve Munford as interim CEO.
Markets: Endpoint Security, Endpoint Visibility and Control, Data Risk Management and IT Asset Management.
International Operations: Absolute has regional offices in Reading, UK, Austin, Texas and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Product and Services
The Absolute Platform gives IT operations and security teams flexibility to adopt endpoint security solutions that address their specific needs, including endpoint visibility and control. It includes the following capabilities: Absolute Reach, an innovative endpoint remediation solution, Application Persistence, which self-heals any application, Data Awareness, a tool for identifying at-risk data and IT Asset Intelligence, an always-connected solution that helps eliminate security blind spots.
Key Features:
- Absolute Reach: gives IT operations and security professionals the power to query or remediate any endpoint, even those outside the bounds of traditional IT tools while providing the ability to regain control without the limitations of existing tools that rely on a network connection or a fallible endpoint agent.
- Application Persistence: Patented firmware-embedded Persistence technology instantly self-heals any application, ensuring peace of mind about any threats and provides an extra layer of resilience with a zero-touch, automatic re-installation if an application is removed or disabled.
- Data Awareness: Allows companies to easily identify, protect, detect and recover all data. It allows companies to tailor sensitive-data discovery to what matters most: personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property (IP), health records, credit card information—or whatever else is relevant to your organization—by creating custom rules.
- IT Asset Intelligence: Helps users eliminate blind spots by maintaining uncompromised visibility of all endpoints from the moment they leave the factory to the day they are decommissioned, on and off the network. As a result, companies can optimize device lifecycle management, gain operational efficiencies and maximize return on technology investment.
Insight and Analysis:
Gartner Peer Analysis has a total of seven reviews of Absolute Software as of Aug. 1, 2018. Here is a snapshot:
Overall Comment: “Implementation was very easy and there is regular communication with the account leads. The tool works effectively and provides information far and beyond original expectations.”
What do you like most about the product or service? “I like the snapshot views of the endpoints within my environment. But I LOVE the level of detail the product is able to provide regarding mobile endpoints.”
What do you dislike most about the product or service? “The Admin console is very useful, but it takes a little effort to fully understand how to utilize it in order to leverage full capability.”
What one piece of advice would you give other prospective customers? “I would advise prospective customers to review the full capabilities of the product to gain a true understanding of the value of the tools and services. You really are able to get great bang for the bucks.”
Evaluation & Contracting: “During the initial engagement, the licensing model was not very clearly articulated. Since that time, the model has been adjusted and is fairly straight forward now.”
Why did you purchase this product or service? “To improve compliance and risk management.”
What other vendors were considered? Kaspersky Labs; MobileIron; Quest Software; VMware.
What were the key factors that drove your decision? “Overall cost; product functionality and performance.”
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IT Central Station has reviews of Absolute Manage and Absolute Computrace as of Aug. 1, 2018.
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Analyst Mike Vizard has an overview of Absolute Software in an August 2017 column in IT Business Edge.
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Representative list of current customers: Under Armour, Asplundh, CareSource, Omnicom Group, KCOM, Greenville Health System, Allina Health, Grant Thornton.
Delivery: Absolute’s Platform is a SaaS-based solution connected to a lightweight software agent. This agent is protected by Absolute’s patented and embedded self-healing technology, to ensure that even if the device is wiped, formatted or off-network, the Absolute agent self-heals so that visibility and control of the endpoint is maintained. Absolute’s technology is embedded and sold by 28 leading device manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and more.
Pricing: Absolute pricing varies based on volume and edition. For more information, please contact sales@absolute.com
Other key players in this market: Tanium, Crowdstrike, Carbon Black, Ziften
Contact information for potential customers: (email, website, phone number or all)
Phone: 1 877 600 2295
Email: sales@absolute.com
Resources: