SCCM and WSUS handle Windows OS updates well. They leave two gaps open: third-party app patching, and patches that report as “deployed” but never actually installed. Most on-premise teams close these gaps with one companion tool, not a full replacement. The right pick depends on your budget and which gap hurts more.<\/p>\n
This is a common question for IT managers who inherit an SCCM setup. They’re often told to improve it without a bigger budget.<\/p>\n
On-premise patch management<\/strong> \u2014 deploying, tracking, and verifying software updates using infrastructure hosted inside your own network, without depending on a cloud service.<\/p>\n This matters for segmented networks, regulatory restrictions on cloud dependency, or devices that aren’t always internet-connected.<\/p>\n SCCM and WSUS are built primarily for Windows OS and Microsoft product updates. Neither natively patches most third-party software. Chrome, Java, 7-Zip, and Adobe Reader all sit outside their default scope.<\/p>\n This gap shows up often in real IT discussions. One 89-upvote thread among sysadmins on patch strategy drew responses naming at least six different supplementary tools. None replaced SCCM. Every one ran alongside it.<\/p>\n Without a supplementary tool, third-party patching usually means manual scripting. Some teams just accept the gap instead. Both choices carry real risk, since unpatched third-party apps are a common entry point for breaches.<\/p>\n SCCM can report a patch as “deployed,” but deployed doesn’t always mean installed. Devices that were off or mid-reboot at push time often fail silently. Most don’t retry on their own.<\/p>\nWhy SCCM and WSUS Alone Aren’t Enough<\/h2>\n
The Third-Party App Problem<\/h3>\n
The Failed Patch Problem<\/h3>\n
Comparing the Common Options<\/h2>\n
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\n \nTool<\/th>\n Works With SCCM\/WSUS<\/th>\n Third-Party App Patching<\/th>\n Best For<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n PatchMyPC<\/td>\n Yes, as a catalog source<\/td>\n Strong app catalog<\/td>\n Teams keeping SCCM as the core<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Action1<\/td>\n Standalone or alongside<\/td>\n Strong<\/td>\n Small to mid-size teams wanting simplicity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Intune<\/td>\n Cloud, can run hybrid<\/td>\n Growing, add-on dependent<\/td>\n Teams already licensed via Microsoft 365<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Baramundi<\/td>\n Standalone UEM<\/td>\n Strong (~250 tested apps), plus scripting<\/td>\n Larger on-premise\/regulated environments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Anakage<\/td>\n Alongside SCCM\/WSUS<\/td>\n Endpoint-level repair of failed patches<\/td>\n Teams where patches report “done” but aren’t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n How to Approach This as a Strategy<\/h2>\n
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Where a Failed-Patch Remediation Layer Fits<\/h2>\n