Google Cloud VM Manager vs KernelCare Enterprise
Google Cloud VM Manager
cloud.google.com
KernelCare Enterprise
tuxcare.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud VM Manager | KernelCare Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 3 |
| Spec score · Patch Management Software | 8.8 (#4) | 7.8 (#24) |
| Spec score · IT Automation Software | 8.7 (#13) | 7.7 (#43) |
| Compliance | Google Cloud lists auditor-validated offerings including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, and HIPAA-related resources. | TuxCare states that its SOC 2 Type II report covers technical and internal operational controls regarding security and availability. |
| Patch management | Patch applies on-demand or scheduled OS patches and provides patch compliance reporting. | The optional on-prem ePortal management server lets organizations define rollout policies and control which machines receive patches and when. |
| Purpose | VM Manager manages operating systems for large Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. | KernelCare provides security patches for supported Linux kernels that can be installed without rebooting the system. |
| Support | Google Cloud support packages include options such as 24/7 coverage, phone support and access to a technical support manager; VM Manager questions can also be posted to Stack Overflow. | TuxCare says its live-patching products include technical support with 24/7/365 access to engineers through its support portal and online knowledge base. |
Plans
Google Cloud VM Manager
- Free tierFree
- Usage-based VM ManagerFree
- VM ManagerFree
KernelCare Enterprise
- EnterprisePriced on request
- StandardPriced on request
- StarterPriced on request
In their own words
Google Cloud VM Manager
Google Cloud VM Manager manages operating systems across Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. Its tools cover patch management, OS inventory and OS policies. Patch jobs apply updates on demand or on a schedule, report compliance, and can use selected approvals and pre- or post-patching scripts. OS inventory collects hostnames, OS and kernel versions, installed packages, available updates, Windows applications and OS vulnerabilities. OS policies centralize software configuration deployment, maintenance and reporting. Teams can use the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI or OS Config API; Terraform can extend scope across projects. The service supports projects inside VPC Service Controls perimeters, but patch jobs operate on VMs in one project at a time. A free tier covers 100 VMs per Cloud Billing account per month, and limited-functionality mode is available at no cost for unlimited VMs. After the free tier, the listed charge is $0.003 per hour per VM with an active OS Config agent.
KernelCare Enterprise
KernelCare Enterprise has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.