shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use ATEN?

Loading - aten.com

Depends. ATEN is a hardware vendor for KVM switches and AV-over-IP — a fit for enterprise IT, control rooms, and integrators managing server/AV fleets, and overkill for small teams or home offices wanting simple software. Recent Unizon CVEs mean you need firmware patching discipline before committing.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~30 public sources. The product page itself failed to load ('Loading'), and search results mix several unrelated companies named 'Aten' (Aten Security, Aten Software, A10 Networks ticker ATEN), which lowers confidence.

Ratings

  • Value for moneyNo pricing data in evidence.
  • Ease of useNo usability evidence found.
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityReview snippets unreadable; no support signal.
  • Security posture

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • Control rooms and NOCs
  • Remote server and data-center admins
  • AV integrators: video walls, retail branches
  • Government and defense IT (NIAP-certified Secure KVM)

Not for

  • Home or single-desk setups — consumer KVMs cost far less
  • Teams wanting pure software — this is rack hardware, not an app
  • Small teams without IT staff — purchases run through sales experts and resellers
  • Anyone researching Aten Security (AI runtime security) — different company entirely

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Unizon had 2026 CVEs including directory-traversal RCE and unauthenticated DoS — demand a firmware patching SLA before buying.

medium

eco DC and PE6208 PDU flaws show firmware patch discipline is on you after purchase.

medium

Multiple unrelated companies named 'Aten' — confirm you are reviewing the KVM hardware vendor.

low

TinyPilot markets itself as the lean alternative to ATEN CN9850 — compare first.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Wide portfolio: desktop KVM up to 4K/8K AV-over-IP matrix and control systems
  • Enterprise deployments documented: oil-platform control rooms, cargo transport, banking branches
  • NIAP Common Criteria-evaluated Secure KVM line for government/defense use
  • Publishes security advisories; ISO 27001 corporate governance claimed
  • Long track record with reviews from TechSpot, StorageReview, Virtualization Review

Cons

  • Unizon platform hit by 2026 RCE and DoS CVEs
  • eco DC PDU missing-authorization privilege escalation (ZDI-25-650)
  • PE6208 PDU vulnerabilities publicly documented on GitHub
  • Enterprise lines require sales-led purchase — 'talk to our experts', no self-serve
  • Consumer KVM reviews are stale — newest third-party coverage found is 2020

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/26/2026 - 21 sources - Mixed: NIAP-certified Secure KVM and ISO 27001 claims, but several 2025-26 CVEs across Unizon and PDU firmware.

official x7review x9security x5
  • CVE-2026-9778 — ATEN Unizon directory traversal RCE, Directory traversal flaw in ATEN Unizon leading to remote code execution, disclosed June 2026.
  • CVE-2026-9779 — RCE in ATEN Unizon, Remote code execution in ATEN Unizon via flawed implementation (tracked as ZDI-26-383).
  • CVE-2026-5057 — Unizon RpcProvider missing authentication, Missing authentication in Unizon RpcProvider allows denial-of-service attacks.
  • ZDI-25-650 — ATEN eco DC privilege escalation, Missing authorization flaw enables privilege escalation on ATEN eco DC.

Key stats

  • Feature depth: 4/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 21

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money. No pricing data in evidence.
  • Ease of use. No usability evidence found.
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Portfolio spans desktop KVM to 4K/8K AV-over-IP.
  • Support quality. Review snippets unreadable; no support signal.
  • Security posture: 2/5. Multiple 2025-26 CVEs including RCE; NIAP cert partly offsets.
  • 3 Public CVEs (2025-26) Unizon RCE/DoS; plus eco DC and PE6208 advisories
  • 51% Glassdoor recommend ATEN International employee reviews
  • NIAP + ISO 27001 Security certifications Secure KVM CAC models; corporate governance claim
  • 3+ Third-party reviews TechSpot, StorageReview, Virtualization Review (2009-2020)

Pricing

Not disclosed

Security

Mixed: NIAP-certified Secure KVM and ISO 27001 claims, but several 2025-26 CVEs across Unizon and PDU firmware.

  • CVE-2026-9778 — ATEN Unizon directory traversal RCEDirectory traversal flaw in ATEN Unizon leading to remote code execution, disclosed June 2026.10
  • CVE-2026-9779 — RCE in ATEN UnizonRemote code execution in ATEN Unizon via flawed implementation (tracked as ZDI-26-383).
  • CVE-2026-5057 — Unizon RpcProvider missing authenticationMissing authentication in Unizon RpcProvider allows denial-of-service attacks.11
  • ZDI-25-650 — ATEN eco DC privilege escalationMissing authorization flaw enables privilege escalation on ATEN eco DC.12

What users say

User feedback is sparse and fragmented, polluted by several unrelated companies named 'Aten', with lukewarm employee ratings (51% recommend on Glassdoor).

Alternatives

Compare ATEN with each alternative.

  • TinyPilot

    Lean KVM-over-IP for solo admins; marketed directly against ATEN CN9850.

    ATEN vs TinyPilot

  • Avocent (Vertiv)

    Legacy enterprise KVM rival, long compared head-to-head in IT forums.

  • IOGEAR

    Cheaper consumer KVM switches for desk setups and small offices.

    ATEN vs IOGEAR

Companies that use it

  • Fite Cargo18
  • Route 66 (Swindon, UK)19
Full analysis

Based on ~30 public sources. The product page itself failed to load ('Loading'), and search results mix several unrelated companies named 'Aten' (Aten Security, Aten Software, A10 Networks ticker ATEN), which lowers confidence.

Not software: ATEN sells KVM/AV-over-IP hardware for control rooms and data centers. Enterprise-grade; overkill at home.

Methodology

Based on ~30 public sources. The product page itself failed to load ('Loading'), and search results mix several unrelated companies named 'Aten' (Aten Security, Aten Software, A10 Networks ticker ATEN), which lowers confidence.

Sources

  1. Read Customer Service Reviews of aten.com — Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  2. Aten Laptop USB KVM Switch review — TechSpottechspot.com
    review
  3. In The Lab: ATEN 4K KVM Over IP Extenders — StorageReviewstoragereview.com
    review
  4. Review: ATEN CS1964 4-Port Triple Monitor KVM — Virtualization Reviewvirtualizationreview.com
    review
  5. ATEN KVM Switches Competitors and Alternatives — TrustRadiustrustradius.com
    review
  6. Pros & Cons of Working At ATEN International — Glassdoorglassdoor.com
    review
  7. Aten Software Products — G2 seller reviewsg2.com
    review
  8. ATEN CN9850 vs. TinyPilot Voyager 3tinypilotkvm.com
    review
  9. Aten KE Series IP KVM Extender / Over-IP Matrixkvm-switches-online.com
    review
  10. CVE-2026-9778 Detail — NVDnvd.nist.gov
    security
  11. CVE-2026-5057: ATEN Unizon RpcProvider DoS — Rapid7rapid7.com
    security
  12. ATEN eco DC Missing Authorization Privilege Escalation — ZDI-25-650zerodayinitiative.com
    security
  13. CVE-2026-9778: ATEN Unizon Directory Traversal RCE — SentinelOnesentinelone.com
    security
  14. ATEN PE6208 vulnerabilities — GitHubgithub.com
    security
  15. ATEN Security Advisory pageaten.com
    official
  16. ATEN Information Security Risk Management (ISO 27001)aten.com
    official
  17. VID11221 — ATEN Secure KVM Switch Series (CAC Models) — NIAPniap-ccevs.org
    official
  18. ATEN Case Study: Fite Cargo (transportation)assets.aten.com
    official
  19. AV over IP solution: Route 66 Swindon case study — ATEN UKaten.com
    official
  20. ATEN Contact Us / Talk to our expertsaten.com
    official
  21. ATEN Banking & Finance Markets & Solutionsaten.com
    official

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