Set Storage Limits per Destination at the Company Level in MSP360 Managed Backup
We’re excited to introduce a new release with the ability to set storage limits per destination (bucket or local) at the Company level.
We’re excited to introduce a new release with the ability to set storage limits per destination (bucket or local) at the Company level.
When it comes to IT, you don’t always get what you pay for. Sometimes, free solutions like a free patch management turn out to be just as effective as expensive alternatives.
Case in point: Patch management. While there are plenty of software vendors that will happily charge you to use their patch management software, it’s possible to find free patch management solutions that work at least as well as the paid alternatives.
This isn’t to say that every free patch management tool is just as good as a commercial offering, of course. When evaluating patch management tools – both paid and free – it’s important to understand what role they play in IT support, and which features and capabilities they must deliver to work efficiently and effectively.
Keep reading for guidance on these points as we unpack what to expect from patch management tools, then explain how IT teams can meet their patch management needs at no cost.
Patching is the process of finding and deploying software patches, meaning updates that fix problems in a software application. Some patches mitigate performance issues, like a bug that causes an application to crash. Other patches address security vulnerabilities that, if left unpatched, could be exploited by threat actors.
It’s possible to install patches manually – but that approach takes a substantial amount of time. For IT support teams that need to manage hundreds of applications across thousands of PCs or servers, manual patching is just not feasible.
This is why most modern IT teams leverage patch management software, which automates the patching process. Patch management tools detect new patches whenever they become available, then deploy them automatically. They can also help teams monitor the patching status of their systems so that they know which devices remain unpatched, and when each machine last received software updates.
Although all patch management tools offer the ability to automate software update installation, some provide additional capabilities. The most effective patch management solutions can do all of the following:
Effective patch management software continuously scans systems and software to identify available updates or bug fixes. It checks vendor sources, repositories, or databases for the latest patches, ensuring compatibility with existing systems. This proactive detection helps IT teams stay ahead of vulnerabilities, addressing security gaps or performance issues promptly. By automating the discovery process, the software reduces manual effort, minimizes oversight, and ensures timely identification of critical updates, keeping systems secure and up-to-date without requiring constant monitoring by IT staff.
Patch management tools automate the deployment of updates to compatible systems, ensuring seamless integration without disrupting operations. The software verifies system requirements, such as OS versions or hardware specifications, before installation to prevent conflicts. This capability streamlines the update process across diverse endpoints, reducing manual intervention and errors. By targeting only compatible systems, it minimizes downtime and ensures that updates, such as security patches or performance enhancements, are applied efficiently, maintaining system stability and security across the organization’s IT infrastructure.
Generate reports to document which patches were installed and which applications and systems they updated. Reports help IT teams demonstrate that their systems are up-to-date, which is valuable both for detecting oversights and for proving to auditors and regulators that systems are secure.
Enable teams to schedule patching to take place at a time of their choosing. This helps to reduce the risk that patches will disrupt users. For example, scheduling makes it possible to install patches overnight, rather than interrupting employees during the workday by forcing them to restart applications or systems following updates.
Allow technicians to create patch management policies that specify which updates to install or avoid installing. A team may want to hold off on installing a particular patch if, for example, it has not yet undergone testing. Technicians may also want to prioritize deploying some patches (like those that address critical issues) before others.
Patch management software sends alerts when a patch deployment fails, enabling IT staff to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues. Notifications include details like the affected system, patch type, or error codes, helping technicians diagnose problems efficiently. This feature ensures rapid response to deployment failures, minimizing security risks or system vulnerabilities. By providing real-time updates, it reduces the need for manual checks, allowing IT teams to focus on resolving issues promptly, ensuring systems remain secure and operational with minimal disruption to end users.
Enable centralized monitoring and management of patch operations from a single location, without requiring IT teams to log into individual devices to deploy patches or check on a patch’s status.
Put simply, the best patch management tools don’t just install patches. They also provide the visibility and management capabilities teams need to run an efficient, scalable, audit-friendly patching operation across their entire fleet of endpoints.
Importantly, the significance of patching is not limited to fixing performance issues that could negatively impact the experience of end-users. Patching also plays a vital role in achieving two other business priorities:
When a security vulnerability appears in an application, the application’s vendor or developers typically release a patch to fix the issue – but until the patch is applied, the application remains vulnerable to attack.
Many compliance regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS and GDPR, include rules mandating that organizations install patches regularly to help keep systems secure. Most of these regulations aim to protect data privacy, and data stored on systems with unpatched security vulnerabilities is not secure because threat actors could exploit the vulnerabilities, break into the systems and access the data.
Moreover, simply installing patches isn’t always enough to meet security and compliance requirements. The ability to monitor patching operations to ensure that all systems are up-to-date, and to generate patch reports, is vital for actually confirming that all relevant patches have been deployed and that all risks have been mitigated. Without this visibility, it is challenging to prove to regulators and auditors that the organization takes a responsible approach to patching.
Again, a variety of patch management tools are available today, including both free and paid options. But just because some solutions cost money doesn’t make them better.
On the contrary, as long as you select a patch management tool that delivers all of the capabilities described above – such as centralized monitoring, scheduling and reporting features – you’ll achieve the full benefits of an automated patching solution, without having to bloat your organization’s IT budget.
For example, the patch management capabilities in MSP360 Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) allow IT support teams to automate patching across all major operating systems (including Windows, Linux and macOS) while benefitting from advanced features, such as bulk update scheduling and reporting. What’s more, these features are entirely free as part of the MSP360 RMM Community Edition.
Modern IT teams need patch management software. But they don’t need to pay for it. They can leverage freely available options, like MSP360 RMM, a free patch management solution, to obtain all of the capabilities of paid patching tools, without the cost.
For many managed service providers (MSPs) and IT teams, finding a reliable and cost-effective remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution is a top priority. Free RMM software offers an easy way to get started without the burden of upfront costs. Whether you’re launching a new MSP business or managing a small internal IT environment, a free RMM can help you gain visibility and control over your infrastructure with minimal investment. Unlike limited-time trials or freemium models, some free RMM editions provide ongoing access to all essential features totally free.
Most free RMM tools focus on providing only core functionalities essential for basic infrastructure management — such as monitoring system health, configuring alerts, remote access, and patch automation. These capabilities are typically sufficient for small environments or entry-level use. While many free editions come with functional limitations, there are a few like MSP360 RMM Community Edition that offer full feature access with restrictions only on the number of endpoints giving users the freedom to explore the platform’s full potential without cost.
The true value of free RMM software lies in empowering emerging and smaller MSPs to fully support their clients without functional limitations. It provides a reliable, cost-free foundation to deliver professional-grade IT services — including monitoring, remote access, and patching — right from day one. This level of access removes barriers to entry and gives new MSPs the tools they need to grow, build trust with clients, and operate efficiently without upfront investment. For many, it’s a critical stepping stone toward sustainable business growth.
Free RMM tools are a great starting point, but eventually, your needs may outgrow the limitations. As your number of endpoints grows or your team needs more advanced automation, integrations, or reporting, it might be time to consider upgrading to a paid plan. Fortunately, many vendors offer seamless upgrade paths that build on the foundation you’ve already created with the free edition — helping you scale without disrupting your operations.
Ready to explore? Try MSP360 RMM Community Edition now and start managing endpoints with zero cost—no strings attached.
In this blog post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to connect MSP360 Backup free and iDrive e2 storage account. MSP360 Backup freeware isn't just a basic tool; it's a comprehensive solution offering robust features, including recently introduced image-based backup, object lock, and an impressive increase to 5 TB of free storage. Yes, you read that right – 5 terabytes of free storage to protect your most important files! Continue reading
Read this article to learn how to sign up for IDrive e2, start using MSP360 Backup, and connect your storage account within the solution.
To start your free trial with IDrive e2 storage, visit their signup page and complete the form. Once you’ve submitted the form, you will see the Dashboard, where you can manage buckets, files, and settings.
To add IDrive as a storage destination, you need to create the access key and secret key pair. To do that, proceed to the Access Keys tab in your IDrive e2 console and click the Create Access Key button. Set up a name and select region from the dropdown list. Then, assign permissions and buckets for this access key. Once that’s done, your access key and secret key pair will be generated automatically. Please note that this information appears only once - you need to download or save it immediately. Please also note that permissions for the access key that were already configured cannot be modified: to change roles or rights for the access key you need to delete the existing access key and create a new one.
To create a new bucket, you need to enable preferred geolocation first. This can be done on the Dashboard page. Once that’s done, navigate to the Buckets tab in your IDrive e2 account, and click Create Bucket. Configure the settings for this bucket and specify public or private access, enable encryption and specify whether you want to enable object lock (immutability) or not and if you want to enable Versioning with specific retention settings for this bucket.
Now you need to choose the appropriate MSP360 Backup edition based on your data protection needs:
To start using MSP360 Free or MSP360 Standalone Backup, download the agent on your target endpoint. Once the backup agent is downloaded and installed, you will be able to choose between a solution for personal use (MSP360 Backup Free) and a solution for managing up to 5 devices (MSP360 Backup Pro).
To add IDrive e2 as a storage destination in MSP360 Backup Free or MSP360 Backup Pro, launch the application, and click the Add New Account button in the menu.
Then, select IDrive e2 from the list, enter the account's display name, access key, secret key and select bucket from the drop-down list.
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On this screen you can also enable Object Lock (immutability). This feature, if enabled during bucket creation, protects your data from being modified or deleted, ensuring maximum data safety.
Once you have specified all the required information, click OK. You will see your new IDrive e2 storage account displayed in the list of accounts.
To start backing up your data to IDrive e2, click the Files icon in the upper navigation (if you’d like to proceed with file-based backup creation), or click the Image Based icon (if you’d like to create an image-based backup plan).
Follow the backup plan wizard to the second step, and select IDrive e2 storage there.
On the next steps of the backup wizard, you will be able to customize scheduling and tailor it to your needs.
Also, you can configure retention policy settings and specify how long you need to keep your file versions.
To add IDrive e2 as a storage destination in MSP360 Managed Backup, go to the Backup tab, and click the Storage Accounts button. Click Add Account and select IDrive e2 from the list.
On the next step, you need to specify the display name for the backup destination, and access and secret keys to access the specific endpoint associated with the specific region in the storage. Once that's done, proceed to the next step where you can enable Object Lock.
Please note that Object Lock must be enabled when the bucket is first created. You won’t be able to enable it later for buckets that were created without it.
To start backing up data to IDrive e2, find the required endpoint in the Computers tab, click the status bar in the Backup Plan Status column and in the slide-in that appears click the Add New Plan button. Choose between file-level and image-based backup, follow the backup plan wizard to the second step and select IDrive e2 as a storage destination.
In MSP360 Managed Backup, you can also customize schedule and retention policies for your backup plan. Forever forward incremental backup retention for IDrive e2 is available in both MSP360 Backup Pro and MSP360 Managed Backup - this approach allows you to save storage space and a significant amount of money since it ensures quicker backup times.
Read this article to learn how to backup PCs and all about desktop backup best practices. Furthermore, discover how MSP360 desktop backup software can help you safeguard data and streamline your backup processes. Continue reading
MSPs play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of IT systems for their clients. Here at MSP360, we understand the importance of routine maintenance and monitoring in maintaining optimal performance and security. That’s why we’ve outlined the key tasks MSPs should perform and the importance of each workflow to help MSPs deliver top-notch IT support.
This guide breaks down the fundamentals of remote monitoring and management, explains key RMM capabilities, and explores practical implementation strategies.
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Join us for the latest MSP360 webinar, where we'll discuss recent updates in MSP360 products.
Join us for an informative webinar where we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide to getting started with MSP360, complete with essential configurations and best practices.
Learn how to optimize your backup schedule and retention settings to meet your security, compliance, and budget goals.