Ivanti DSM Migration

Ivanti DSM Migration: Why Companies Should Act Now

Ivanti DSM (Desktop & Server Management) is reaching end-of-life (EOL)—which means official support will be discontinued. For many who still rely on DSM, this poses significant risks. A lack of security updates, no further development, and increasing incompatibility with modern operating systems jeopardize not only your IT security but also the efficiency and innovation capabilities of your entire IT landscape. But there is a solution: Switching to a modern Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution offers you long-term security and flexibility.

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Ivanti DSM was particularly popular among IT administrators because it enables virtually any form of automation in software deployment. Over the years, it has set the standard—whether in software deployment, operating system deployment, or patch management. However, continuing to use it is no longer an option.

Thore Lenz, Co-CEO SOFTTAILOR

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The Risks of Staying with Ivanti DSM

With the end of support for Ivanti DSM, many of you are facing major challenges. Technical issues can no longer be resolved by the manufacturer—the lack of support forces your internal team to find solutions on their own, tying up valuable resources and time. At the same time, the absence of security updates creates new vulnerabilities that make your systems more susceptible to cyberattacks and data loss.

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On top of that: Without feature and compatibility updates, your IT systems remain outdated. New operating systems and applications can no longer be integrated, which limits your ability to innovate and grow. Those who continue to rely on DSM risk not only their IT security but also their productivity and competitiveness.

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Why a Modern UEM Solution Is the Right Choice

A Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution provides everything you need for a secure and efficient IT environment. While Ivanti DSM is no longer viable, a modern UEM solution delivers stability and scalability for your business.

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With ongoing support and regular security updates, your IT infrastructure will always stay up to date. You can centrally manage all endpoints, applications, and data—whether desktop computers, mobile devices, or personal BYOD devices. Uniform security policies ensure that your IT environment is reliably protected.

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Modern UEM solutions also lay the foundation for AI-powered security by providing up-to-date, consistent device, user, and risk data—a requirement that outdated client management systems like Ivanti DSM can no longer meet. At the same time, modern UEM solutions adapt flexibly to your growth and help you work more efficiently and reduce costs.

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The three most important UEM solutions are presented below. You can find a detailed overview of these and other alternatives to Ivanti DSM on our blog.

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Migration from Ivanti DSM to Microsoft Intune

Migrating from Ivanti DSM to Intune requires careful planning to ensure a smooth transition of existing software packages and configurations. One of the biggest challenges is to avoid disrupting ongoing operations while migrating all necessary data and settings. By utilizing proven strategies and tools, the process can be streamlined, saving both time and resources. Intune offers the opportunity to replace outdated approaches with modern, cloud-based management capabilities, thereby building a more flexible and secure infrastructure in the long term.

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Migration from Ivanti DSM to Microsoft SCCM

Migrating to Microsoft SCCM also requires a well-thought-out approach to ensure a seamless transition of existing software packages, configurations, and processes. As part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager, SCCM provides a centralized platform that supports both traditional on-premises environments and hybrid scenarios.

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Particularly noteworthy are features such as software distribution, patch management, and operating system deployment, which enable comprehensive management of the IT infrastructure. Thanks to its deep integration with the Microsoft product ecosystem, SCCM offers companies not only a powerful but also a future-proof alternative that allows for flexible adaptation to growing requirements.

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Migration from Ivanti DSM to baramundi Management Suite

As a former Ivanti partner and Ivanti DSM specialist, we asked ourselves which solution we should recommend to our customers in addition to Microsoft Intune and SCCM. Following the end-of-life announcement for Ivanti DSM, it became increasingly clear to our customers that Ivanti was no longer a reliable and accessible partner, even for large enterprises. That is why, starting in 2024, we evaluated many UEM solutions and decided to become a Competence Center Partner of baramundi.

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This decision is validated by the excellent collaboration between SOFTTAILOR and baramundi in migrating one of our customers—with approximately 25,000 clients—from Ivanti DSM to the baramundi Management Suite. The baramundi Management Suite covers many of the advantages of Ivanti DSM and is more modern in many respects, including the option for co-management with Microsoft Intune and baramundi.

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Components of Migration

Four key components must be taken into account during the migration. First, existing software packages must be converted to a compatible format to ensure consistent and efficient software deployment. Equally important is the transfer of security policies, access controls and configuration profiles to the new platform to meet compliance requirements and further develop security standards.‍

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The integration of all managed endpoints—including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices—into the new UEM environment also plays a crucial role. Depending on the platform, this may require re-provisioning or customization to ensure a smooth adoption of the new policies. Finally, user accounts, permissions and software assignments must be migrated so that all users continue to have access to the software they need and administrators and the help desk can work without restrictions.