SmartDeploy: The modern alternative to Symantec Ghost
SmartDeploy is a user-friendly Symantec Ghost alternative that offers easy-to-use, agent-based imaging and device management for all your Windows devices. With SmartDeploy's intuitive interface and guided workflows, you can get up and running in an afternoon.
Make Windows imaging a whole lot easier
Easy
Set up and support your devices with wizard-guided workflows and a user-friendly dashboard.
Fast
Use hardware-independent images that free you from creating a new image for every device model.
Efficient
Choose from 1,500+ prebuilt driver packs that support all major OEM business-class models.
Flexible
Deploy images and software using offline media, network servers, or the cloud — no VPN required.
SmartDeploy vs. Symantec Ghost
Symantec Ghost Solution Suite (GSS)
The Symantec Ghost Solution Suite is a system imaging and deployment tool. But Symantec Ghost forces users to rely on Sysprep and driver injections for each image, making mixed hardware fleets difficult to manage. Further, Symantec Ghost functions best on local networks or VPNs, making remote device management cumbersome.
Shortcomings:
Limited cloud support
Hardware dependent
Outdated interface
Clunky user experience
Unreliable features
No native application deployment
SmartDeploy
SmartDeploy is a scalable, cloud-friendly deployment solution designed for busy IT teams. Manage a single golden image and pair it with device-specific driver and app packages — deploying to different machines easily at the same time. With 1,500+ prebuilt driver packs that support major OEM business-class models, SmartDeploy takes the hard work out of imaging and device management.
SmartDeploy vs. Symantec Ghost: Feature breakdown
SmartDeploy | Symantec Ghost Solution Suite | |
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Comprehensive cloud support |
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Easy-to-navigate interface |
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Reliable features |
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Transparent pricing |
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Starting price | $1,100/year for unlimited client installations | Varies; you must request a quote or get in touch with a reseller for pricing info |
Remote computer imaging |
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Prebuilt driver pack library |
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Offline image deployments |
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Out-of-box integration with cloud storage providers |
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Network deployments |
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Virtual reference machines |
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Multicast imaging |
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Wizard-guided workflows |
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Prebuilt, customizable app packages |
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Works with Linux systems |
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Zero-touch deployments |
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Remote desktop management |
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Scheduled deployments |
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Windows updates automation |
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USMT integration |
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Windows 11 in-place upgrades |
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*Without using VPN or any additional infrastructure
How it works
Set up, update, and manage endpoints with greater flexibility and ease. Flexible layers enable you to manage the OS, applications, drivers, and user data independently from each other rather than baking everything into a locked image.
Meet some of our customers
Learn how businesses from startups to global leaders use SmartDeploy to streamline their endpoint management.
“Love that I just need a basic VM and it can run on our 30+ different models; love that it’s PC device agnostic. Also, the response to technical support questions happens lightning fast and usually within an hour of submission.”
WAYNE A.
IT Support Analyst
“With roughly 250 workstations between two different schools, SmartDeploy makes it so easy and user-friendly to image. I love that each model has a prebuilt Platform Pack with all the drivers included. It even goes so far as to flash the BIOS. What imaging software does that?!”
JOE W.
Technology Assistant
Why customers prefer SmartDeploy
Meets requirements
Ease of use
Ease of setup
Ease of admin
Quality of support
Ease of doing business
Product direction
Meets requirements
93%
Ease of use
93%
Ease of setup
91%
Ease of admin
95%
Quality of support
95%
Ease of doing business
95%
Product direction
95%
Meets requirements
71%
Ease of use
77%
Ease of setup
73%
Ease of admin
75%
Quality of support
73%
Ease of doing business
79%
Product direction
46%
One platform, endless use cases
SmartDeploy is your one-stop shop for PC provisioning and lifecycle management.
Computer imaging
Build and maintain a single Windows golden image, regardless of PC make or model
PC refreshes
Keep all your users' files and settings consistent while rolling out new hardware
Application management
Deploy, update, and patch applications zero-touch to any endpoint
Windows updates
Push periodic updates or centrally manage entire migrations for local and remote PCs
Device setup
Seamlessly roll out images, drivers, and applications to entirely new devices
PC break-fixes
Reimage the operating system layer without affecting applications or user data
Resources
Ready to get started?
See how easy device management can be. Try SmartDeploy free for 15 days — no credit card required.
SmartDeploy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Broadcom Inc. The use of Symantec Ghost Solution Suite on this page is for comparison purposes only. Information last updated: 10/23/2025
FAQ
What’s the difference between Symantec Ghost and SmartDeploy?
SmartDeploy is a modern, remote-friendly imaging and deployment solution that emphasizes flexible deployment methods, hardware-independent images, and built-in driver management. Symantec Ghost is geared toward more traditional sector-based imaging workflows and does not support OOTB cloud deployments. SmartDeploy’s guided setup, centralized management, and built-in cloud-based features are designed to help teams support distributed environments with less overhead.
Is SmartDeploy a good alternative to Symantec Ghost?
Yes. For teams looking for the flexibility to support modern workplace scenarios, SmartDeploy offers multiple imaging options, built-in remote deployment features (no VPN needed), and an extensive library of 1,500+ prebuilt driver packs — providing a more versatile approach for diverse hardware environments and hybrid/remote users.
Why are IT teams switching from Symantec Ghost to SmartDeploy?
Teams often consider SmartDeploy when they want simpler setup, support for remote or distributed scenarios, and less driver management. Its hardware-independent imaging, access to prebuilt driver packs, and wizard-guided workflows can help simplify time-consuming processes and reduce repetitive tasks.
What does SmartDeploy do better than Symantec Ghost?
SmartDeploy makes imaging simpler, more scalable, and easier to manage. Flexible deployment methods, virtual reference machines, guided workflows, and downloadable prebuilt driver packs help IT teams easily keep endpoints consistent and up to date across locations and device models.
Which is easier to use: SmartDeploy or Symantec Ghost?
Ease of use depends on environment, technical skill level, and preference. SmartDeploy prioritizes a straightforward interface and step-by-step wizards that sysadmins of any skill level can follow, while Symantec Ghost features more complex, time-consuming workflows.
Which tool is better for computer imaging: SmartDeploy or Symantec Ghost?
Both can support Windows imaging. SmartDeploy’s hardware-independent images, prebuilt driver packs, and multiple deployment methods (offline media, local networks, or the cloud) allow IT teams to support all kinds of environments with ease.
How does SmartDeploy improve driver handling compared to Symantec Ghost?
SmartDeploy comes with an extensive, regularly updated library of prebuilt driver packs, which can be deployed on their own or paired with hardware-independent Windows images and delivered to multiple hardware models in the same deployment. This eliminates the need to manage drivers manually and allows IT teams to support hardware-diverse environments easily.
Which tool is more scalable for enterprise environments: Symantec Ghost or SmartDeploy?
SmartDeploy scales easily across distributed environments with file-based imaging technology, hardware-independent images, and virtual reference machines. These features reduce image sprawl, simplify maintenance, and enable remote deployment from a single, centralized platform.