Software specs › Endpoint management › Endpoint Central

ManageEngine Endpoint Central

Unified endpoint management and security from ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation. Patching, software deployment, remote control, asset inventory and mobile device management from one console.

Formerly Desktop Central
Deployment On-premises or cloud
Server OS Windows
Database PostgreSQL or SQL Server
Licensing Per endpoint, yearly or perpetual
Free trial 30 days

35,000computers per server

4–32 GBserver RAM, by fleet size

1,100+third-party apps patched

$0for 25 computers + 25 mobiles

In plain words

Every company computer, laptop and phone needs updates, software and protection. Endpoint Central lets one IT team do all of that from a single web page instead of visiting each device. It installs updates, pushes out apps, keeps a list of every device, lets the IT team see a user's screen to help them, and blocks threats like viruses and data leaks.

A small agent runs on each device and checks in with the server. You can run that server yourself on Windows, or let ManageEngine host it in the cloud.

Full specifications

Checked against ManageEngine documentation on 27 Sep 2026

Product	Vendor	ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation
	Category	Unified endpoint management (UEM) and endpoint security
	Former name	Desktop Central
	Other versions	Endpoint Central Cloud (SaaS) and Endpoint Central MSP for service providers
	Official links	Product website, live demo, 30-day free trial (no credit card)¹¹
Deployment	Models	On-premises server, or cloud hosted by ManageEngine⁴
	Server OS	Windows. ManageEngine recommends Windows Server from 5,000 endpoints.¹
	Single-server limit	35,000 computers¹
	Larger estates	Summary server with probe servers; each probe handles 25,000 to 30,000 endpoints⁶
	Remote offices	One distribution server recommended per 1,000 computers to cache patches and packages locally¹
Managed platforms	Computers	Windows, Windows Server, macOS, Linux³
	Linux patching	Red Hat, SUSE, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Oracle Linux, Rocky Linux, Amazon Linux, Pardus³
	Mobile and other devices	Android 4.0+, iOS and iPadOS 4.0+, ChromeOS 57+, tvOS 7.0+, macOS 10.11+, Windows 10 laptops including Surface¹
	Device types	Desktops, laptops, servers, phones, tablets, TVs, IoT and rugged devices¹¹
	Laptop MDM	Mobile-style management of Windows laptops and Macs needs the UEM or Security edition⁵
Server stack	Database	PostgreSQL (bundled) or Microsoft SQL Server 2016, 2017, 2019 or 2022, including SQL Server on AWS¹
	SQL Server edition	Standard or Enterprise. Separate SQL machine recommended above 10,000 computers.¹
	Web servers	Nginx for static files, Tomcat for the application¹
	TLS	TLS 1.2 by default from build 11.2.2330.1; TLS 1.0 and 1.1 can be re-enabled¹
	Server hardware	From an Intel Core i3 with 4 GB RAM (up to 250 computers) to a 16-core Xeon with 32 GB RAM (up to 35,000). Size your server.¹
Console	Browsers	Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Zoho Ulaa¹
	Screen	1280 × 1024 or higher¹
	Web console port	8020 (HTTP) by default; 8383 for HTTPS⁷
	Server network card	1 Gbps minimum¹
Agent	Agent to server	HTTPS on port 8383²
	On-demand tasks	TCP port 8027, used by the notification server for actions such as remote control and scan now²
	Check-in	At startup and every 90 minutes; also at user logon when configured²
	Minimum hardware	1.0 GHz Intel Pentium, 512 MB RAM, 3 GB free disk¹
	Disk used	About 1 GB on Windows and Linux, about 100 MB on macOS, plus any packages being deployed²
Patching	Operating systems	Windows, macOS and Linux, plus drivers and BIOS³
	Third-party apps	1,100+ applications³
	Patch data	Zoho's central patch repository, where new patches are tested before release to customers¹⁰
	Also updates	Antivirus definitions³
Management	Software deployment	Install or remove software on many computers at once, with an app store style self-service portal for staff¹¹
	OS deployment	Build Windows images and roll them out with drivers and apps included¹¹
	Asset management	Hardware and software inventory, licence and warranty tracking, software usage and alerts on hardware changes¹¹
	Remote support	Remote control of a user's screen, chat, and recorded sessions for audit¹¹
	Configuration	Push settings and security baselines to every endpoint, including USB and power policies¹¹
	Mobile devices	Enrol phones and tablets, manage apps, email and content, lock or wipe lost devices, and separate work from personal data on BYOD¹¹
Security	Vulnerabilities and compliance	Finds and prioritises weaknesses and checks endpoints against 130+ CIS benchmarks, UK Cyber Essentials and NIST¹¹
	Malware protection	Next-gen antivirus that uses AI and behaviour analysis, not only signatures, plus ransomware protection with root-cause insight¹¹
	Detection and response (EDR)	Investigates threats on endpoints and guides the response; added in March 2026¹³
	Data loss prevention	Stops sensitive business data being copied or sent out without permission¹¹
	Device and app control	Allow or block USB devices and applications by rule¹¹
	Privilege management	Removes standing admin rights and grants them only when needed¹¹
	Browser security	Monitors the browsers people use and enforces security settings on them¹¹
	Encryption	BitLocker on Windows and FileVault on Mac, with key management¹¹
	Secure private access	Zero-trust access to internal apps after checking the user and device, without a traditional VPN; added in March 2026¹³
Extras	AI assistant	Zia, ManageEngine's AI, can triage vulnerabilities, roll out patches and contain threats, handing over to a person when unsure¹¹
	Employee experience	Monitors device health and fixes problems before users report them¹¹
	Integrations	ServiceDesk Plus, ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, Zendesk, Tenable, Rapid7, CrowdStrike and Splunk¹¹
Recognition	Gartner	Peer Insights Customers' Choice 2024, with 94% of reviewers willing to recommend¹¹
	IDC	Named a Leader in the 2024 IDC MarketScape for unified endpoint management¹¹
	Forrester	Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave: Endpoint Management Platforms, Q2 2026. A Forrester study commissioned by ManageEngine reports a 442% return on investment¹¹
Licensing	Unit	Per endpoint; workstations and servers are licensed separately⁸
	Technicians	One included; more cost extra⁸
	Terms	On-premises: annual or perpetual. Cloud: monthly or annual.⁸
	Perpetual support	Annual maintenance is 20% of the invoice total⁴

Pictures

Screens from the web console, supplied by ManageEngine. Select one to see it full size.

Endpoint Central endpoints summary screen — **Endpoints summary** Home dashboard with managed computers, configuration status, system health and deployments.

Endpoint Central threats and patches screen — **Threats and patches** Vulnerability dashboard: total and fixable vulnerabilities, severity and age of open issues.

Endpoint Central installed patches screen — **Installed patches** Patch list with bulletin IDs, approval status and how many systems each patch is on.

Endpoint Central malware protection screen — **Malware protection** Next-gen antivirus incidents with detection engine, severity and status.

Endpoint Central application control screen — **Application control** Allow and block lists for applications, with unmanaged apps grouped by publisher.

Endpoint Central device control screen — **Device control** USB and peripheral policies, with blocked and trusted devices per computer.

What server do you need?

ManageEngine's published minimums, reserved for Endpoint Central alone¹

Computers you'll manage

1,000Tier: 501 to 1,000 computers

Processor: Intel Core i3 (2 cores, 4 threads) 2.9 GHzor 4 vCPUs at 2.9 GHz on a virtual machine
Memory: 4 GB
Server disk: 20 GB
SQL Server disk: 20 GB4 GB RAM if SQL Server is on its own machine

One server covers this fleet. Add a distribution server for any remote office.

Editions and starting prices

Per year for 50 endpoints and one technician, on-premises annual licence

Feature	Free	Professional	Enterprise	UEM	Security
Starting price	$0	$795	$945	$1,095	$1,695
Endpoints	25 computers and 25 mobile devices⁹	From 50, priced per endpoint as you grow
Mobile device management	Included	Phones and tablets only	Phones and tablets only	Adds Windows laptops and Macs	Adds Windows laptops and Macs
Security modules	Not included	Paid add-ons	Paid add-ons	Some as paid add-ons	All included
Highlights	Core management, capped at 25 computers and 25 mobiles⁹	Patching, software deployment, asset management, remote support, BYOD and kiosk mode¹¹	Adds a self-service portal, USB device control, recorded remote sessions and licence management¹¹	Adds remote wipe, OS deployment and FileVault encryption¹¹	Adds vulnerability fixes, data loss prevention, privilege management and browser security¹¹

Starting prices are from ManageEngine's own product page, checked on 27 Sep 2026.¹¹ Cloud and perpetual licences are priced differently, and you can buy counts between the listed steps. Discounts exist for education, government and non-profits. Get a quote from ManageEngine before you budget.

Who it suits

Good fit

Mixed Windows, Mac and Linux estates that want patching, software deployment and remote control in one console
Small teams starting out: the free edition covers 25 computers and 25 mobile devices
Organisations with many branch offices, thanks to distribution servers and internet-facing agents

Check before you buy

The on-premises server only runs on Windows
Laptop MDM, OS deployment and the full security toolset only come with the two top editions
Extra technicians and security add-ons raise the cost quickly as you grow

Compare with

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ManageEngine Patch Manager PlusPatching only

User reviews

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Sources

Endpoint Central system requirements, ManageEngine, updated 31 Jul 2026. Hardware tiers, operating systems, databases, browsers, TLS.
Agent footprint, ManageEngine. Ports, check-in cycle and disk use.
Patch management: supported applications, ManageEngine. Operating systems, Linux distributions, third-party apps.
Endpoint Central pricing, ManageEngine. Licence terms and support charges.
Edition comparison, ManageEngine. What each edition includes.
Summary server architecture, ManageEngine. Multi-server setups above 35,000 endpoints.
Configuration status troubleshooting, ManageEngine. Default HTTP and HTTPS ports.
TechRadar review (2023) and SuperOps pricing guide (2026). Licensing units and technician add-ons.
Comparitech review (2025). Free edition limits.
Patch management, ManageEngine. Central patch repository.
Endpoint Central product page, ManageEngine, checked 27 Sep 2026. Features, supported devices, integrations, analyst recognition and edition starting prices.
Endpoint Central features, ManageEngine. Full feature list.
ManageEngine expands Endpoint Central with EDR and secure access, Help Net Security, March 2026.

Specs change between releases. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it against the vendor's documentation.