Introduction:

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software has become a cornerstone for businesses aiming to streamline their IT and Operational Technology (“OT”) device management practices, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure their unattended device networks function seamlessly. As more RMM tools come on the market and existing platforms add new features, the pricing landscape has become more diverse and complex. Understanding the factors that contribute to RMM software pricing is crucial for making informed decisions and ensuring you are making an ROI justified investment for your business. In this blog, we will dive into the top five factors that drive RMM software pricing.

Factor 1: Device and RMM Use Case Complexity:

The complexity of the device ecosystem being monitored and managed directly influences RMM software pricing. Specifically, the diversity of devices, location of devices (i.e., unattended vs. attended), the number of devices and the uniqueness of data payloads coming off devices all contribute to the overall cost of your RMM software. Some businesses may have a simplistic device infrastructure with just one operating system (“OS”), while others, particularly in industries with unique self-service or end consumer applications, may have multiple OS controller devices attached to a set of peripheral IoT devices and then connected to a backend cellular connectivity platform (e.g., a self-service kiosk or smart camera system). For example, IoT and similarly complex solutions require a more robust and powerful RMM platform which can also result in a higher price.

In addition to device and use case complexity, the number of devices or endpoints being monitored impacts the cost for your RMM solution. For deployments that are deployed nationally or globally and include thousands or more endpoints, you can expect to incur higher total spend on the RMM. However, you should see improving economies of scale on a per device or per solution basis. Meaning, as you add more devices to the RMM system, the incremental cost per device decreases, so your overall cost will still grow, but at a slower rate.

Evaluating the specific needs and the complexity of the device environment as well as the number of endpoints is the first main phase of aligning the chosen RMM software’s price with your organization's requirements.

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Factor 2: Feature Set and Functionality:

Another key factor influencing RMM software pricing is the breadth of features and functionality the solution offers. RMM tools can offer a comprehensive range of capabilities such as remote device monitoring, remote access, remote actioning capabilities, device configuration management, reporting, data analytics, among others. The more robust and versatile the feature set, the higher the cost of the software.

Additionally, enterprise RMM software is also equipped with advanced functionalities such as i) multi-dashboard device monitoring, ii) intelligent alerting, iii) fleetwide and scheduled remote actions, and iv) flexible, self-healing automation capabilities to maximize the return on investment from your purchase. For businesses that make their purchased RMM platform available to their end customers, the ability to offer hierarchy and role management capabilities as well as complete white-labeling and branding is an important feature set to enable your end customers and potentially drive revenue from your RMM platform. Businesses need to carefully evaluate an RMM against their specific requirements to strike the right balance between feature needs and RMM cost.

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Factor 3: Configuration and Integration Capabilities:

Every business operates with its own set of unique devices, processes, and data goals which will require more flexibility in your selected RMM solution. For example, the ability to configure unique monitoring KPIs or remote actions and customizable self-healing automations can drive meaningful value to your remote support team. Outside of simplistic, single operating system devices, most unattended solutions have their own unique datasets, calculations for solution uptime, and thus require configuration to optimize outcomes. With these flexible configuration capabilities, the RMM provider can tailor the software to each customer’s specific needs, ensuring that it aligns perfectly with their support processes and product requirements. However, RMM software that facilitates a high degree of configuration can also cost more through either implementation costs or higher hosting costs due to collecting more custom data.

Integration capabilities are equally critical. RMM tools that integrate seamlessly with all device types, third-party applications, service desk solutions, and other IT management systems contribute to enhanced operational efficiency. Similar to breadth of functionality, this enhanced configurability and integration capabilities of the RMM platform will impact pricing but also drive meaningful long-term value. Businesses should evaluate their device ecosystem and integration requirements carefully to ensure they are aware of the need and impact that advanced RMM flexibility can have on the price of their RMM solution.

Factor 4: Level of Customer Success and Support Provided:

The level of customer success and support offered by RMM vendors is a key factor in platform cost. Vendors that are established and have deep subject matter expertise in device management often charge higher prices based on their proven track record of delivering reliable value and providing excellent customer support. Investing in a vendor with a robust support structure and team can be a strategic decision, ensuring timely assistance in case of issues, access to deep subject matter expertise for complex issues, and ongoing device management guidance.

Additionally, real-time customer support, enhanced implementation assistance, and training programs may be bundled with the RMM software, contributing to a higher price tag (oftentimes in an upfront services project). While these additional upfront costs can result in higher fees to launch your RMM solution, an enterprise-level customer with a complex device ecosystem should expect a dedicated onboarding team to implement and optimize the RMM solution to their device systems. In addition to the cost of the software, businesses should carefully assess their upfront and ongoing support needs and factor in the importance of available subject matter expertise when assessing RMM software pricing.

For less complex deployments and teams that require little external support, these additional resources from an RMM vendor may not be necessary and may be able to be pulled out from the cost of the platform.

Factor 5: Amount of Data Hosted and Deployment Model:

As businesses increasingly embrace cloud computing, the amount of data collected and hosted in the cloud has become a significant pricing factor for RMM software. Cloud-based RMM solutions often operate on a subscription-based model, with pricing tiers impacted by the volume of data stored and processed. While increased data loads and hosting does impact pricing, the scalability of cloud-based solutions is advantageous for growing businesses, allowing them to adapt their resources to changing needs and leverage efficient product maintenance processes.

For device management use cases that require an on-premise or hybrid (i.e., on-prem combined with cloud-based) hosting model, the data storage cost is transitioned to the customer’s infrastructure which can reduce recurring software hosting costs. However, there can be additional upfront costs for deploying an on-prem solution and the customer must have the required infrastructure plus the ability to maintain that infrastructure to support an on-prem model. Businesses should carefully evaluate their data storage and hosting requirements when choosing a pricing plan to ensure it aligns with their storage needs today and future scalability goals.

Conclusion

Navigating the landscape of RMM software pricing requires thoughtful consideration of a variety of factors. The complexity of your device type(s), their use case, and the number of endpoints sets the foundation for pricing structures. A critical examination of the functionality required (i.e., basic RMM vs. enterprise RMM) will help your business strike the right balance between needs and cost. Next you should understand what configuration and integration capabilities are needed to tailor the RMM solution to your unique requirements, albeit with a potential premium. The level of customer success and support provided by vendors is also a pivotal element, ensuring a strategic investment also includes a true partner with device management expertise. And lastly, the amount of data hosted and the deployment model, whether cloud-based or on-premises, adds a layer of consideration to pricing decisions.

As your team embarks on the digital transformation journey, a deep understanding of these factors can empower decision-makers, ensuring that the chosen RMM software not only meets immediate needs but also aligns with future financial budgets and goals.

At Canopy, we focus on providing a transparent process to understanding your device management needs and how they fit into our pricing models. For additional information on the various Canopy pricing plans and related data, please visit our pricing page at https://www.gocanopy.com/pricing or contact the Canopy sales team.