ConnectWise Automate (formerly LabTech) is one of the most scriptable RMMs in the market. A mature plug-in ecosystem, deep customization, and tight integration with ConnectWise Manage (PSA) make it a long-standing choice for mid-to-large MSPs.
Automate is built around IT operations. For cybersecurity, GRC compliance evidence, multi-cloud breach detection, or replacement-prioritization analytics, check ConnectWise's documentation for what Automate covers; many MSPs add separate tools for them.
Lavawall® is a multi-tenant RMM and remote support platform for MSPs and IT teams, with patching, security monitoring, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace breach detection, and compliance (GRC) built into the same agent and console. Technicians get browser-based remote control, a background admin workspace, and a remote shell on Windows and Mac, scripting on Linux, and ad-hoc support for computers without the agent, with end-to-end encrypted sessions available. Lavawall® can run on its own as your RMM, or be installed through ConnectWise Automate, Datto RMM, NinjaOne, Kaseya, Intune, or any tool that runs a script, while you move over.
Where Lavawall® wins for MSPs
Lavawall® delivers security depth, compliance evidence, and breach-detection coverage in the same RMM. For MSPs delivering CMMC 2.0, CPCSC, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or cyber-insurance readiness, Lavawall® is the evidence base, and it runs day-to-day operations too.
Check ConnectWise's documentation for Automate's macOS and Linux coverage. Lavawall® covers Windows, macOS, and Linux with one agent, one console, and one set of compliance reports.
For MSPs already running Automate plus a separate Vanta / Drata-class GRC tool, a separate ThreatLocker-class app-control tool, a separate M365 monitoring add-on, a separate Zendesk-class helpdesk, and a separate Bomgar-class remote support tool, Lavawall® consolidates the security, GRC, breach detection, administrator elevation, helpdesk, and remote support into one RMM, and it can run alongside Automate while you move over.
On remote support specifically, check ConnectWise's documentation for what ScreenConnect's Backstage covers. Lavawall's Admin Workspace is a private workspace where the technician works with administrator rights while the user keeps working undisturbed: 19 Windows tools plus PowerShell as system, PowerShell as the logged-in user, and Command Prompt as system, and a root zsh shell on Mac. It runs in any modern browser with nothing to install on the technician's side.
Where ConnectWise Automate wins
ConnectWise Automate is one of the most scriptable RMMs in the market. The plug-in ecosystem, the depth of customization, and the native ConnectWise Manage / Sell / SiteBoss integration are differentiators to weigh before any move.
For mid-to-large MSPs deeply invested in the ConnectWise stack (Manage for PSA, Automate for RMM, ScreenConnect for remote control, Sell for quoting), Automate may stay the operational core for a while. Lavawall® can run alongside it while you move over, or take over as the RMM when you are ready.
Where the customer's primary need is sophisticated scripting orchestration with custom plug-ins and bespoke ConnectWise Manage workflows, Automate is the right tool.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Lavawall® | ConnectWise Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Deep scripting and plug-in ecosystem | Standard scripting and APIs | Yes, mature scripting and plug-in ecosystem |
| Tight ConnectWise Manage (PSA) integration | Via API / standard webhooks | Native |
| Cross-platform agent (Windows, macOS, Linux) | Patching, scripts, and monitoring on all three; remote control on Windows and macOS | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Public application patch catalogue | 7,400+ applications, published openly | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Compliance framework mapping (CMMC 2.0 / NIST / SOC 2 / HIPAA) | 70+ frameworks; continuous evidence with System Security Plan (SSP) and remediation plan (POA&M) | Reports; check ConnectWise's documentation for framework mapping |
| M365 / Entra ID / Azure breach detection with endpoint correlation | Native multi-tenant identity threat detection and response (ITDR) | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Google Workspace breach detection | Native | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Administrator elevation and execution prevention (no kernel driver) | Native, no kernel driver | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Curated SaaS / shadow-AI discovery (1,277-app catalogue) | Native with user attribution | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Replacement prioritization (battery / TPM / SMART / RAM / age) | Multi-factor scoring | Lifecycle dates |
| Akira ransomware indicator hunter | Native | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
| Built and used by an audit firm | ThreeShield (CISSP / CISA) | Check ConnectWise's documentation |
Who should pick which?
Pick Lavawall® if…
MSPs running ConnectWise Automate that want one RMM with security, GRC, breach detection, and analytics built in, installed through Automate while they move over.
MSPs delivering CMMC 2.0, CPCSC, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, CIS, PIPEDA, or Australian Essential Eight readiness as a service.
MSPs with a growing macOS / Linux fleet.
Pick ConnectWise Automate if…
Mid-to-large MSPs deeply invested in the ConnectWise stack with the engineering bandwidth to maintain custom Automate plug-ins and orchestrations.
MSPs whose security and compliance needs are handled by separate dedicated tooling and whose RMM choice is independent of those concerns.
Frequently asked
- Does Lavawall® replace ConnectWise Automate?
- Yes. Lavawall® covers patching, scripting, remote support, and inventory itself, along with security, GRC, and analytics. ConnectWise-centric MSPs can install it through Automate and run both side by side during the move.
- Can Lavawall® be deployed through ConnectWise Automate?
- Yes. Single-line PowerShell / bash deployment scripts can be pushed via Automate to Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
- Does Lavawall® integrate with ConnectWise Manage (PSA)?
- Yes, via API. Lavawall® has dedicated ConnectWise integration, documented on the Lavawall® ConnectWise integration page.
- Will Lavawall® conflict with the Automate agent?
- No. Lavawall® coexists with major RMM agents without conflicts.
Security and FIPS 140-3 by design
An RMM can end up holding the keys to everything it manages. Lavawall® is built the other way. The secrets that matter (vault items, server credentials, and any key pushed to an endpoint) are encrypted where you are and stored by us only as ciphertext, so an administrator with full access to our database sees encrypted blobs and nothing to open them with. See security and privacy.
Lavawall®’s relay and Windows and Mac agents use a FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic module, the Go Cryptographic Module, NIST CMVP certificate #5247, and sign-in can be restricted to a FIPS 140-3 validated security key, the YubiKey 5 FIPS Series, certificate #5291. In-browser encryption uses the FIPS 140-3 approved algorithms. Full detail is on FIPS 140-3 support.
That same secret-handling powers WireGuard deployment across the fleet. Each endpoint generates its own private key locally and only the public key comes back, so the tunnel’s private key is never in a script, a log, or our database. Weighing ConnectWise Automate for a regulated environment? This is the line worth checking against your obligation.
Related Lavawall® pages
- Canadian alternative to ConnectWise Automate
- ConnectWise integration guide
- What is RMM augmentation?
- Best RMM-augmentation tools for MSPs
- Lavawall®: The Alternative to NinjaOne
- Lavawall®: The Alternative to Datto RMM
- Lavawall® pricing
Datto and Datto RMM are trademarks of Kaseya. NinjaOne is a trademark of NinjaOne, LLC. Lavawall is not affiliated with either.