Top-Rated Alternative to Symantec Ghost, SCCM, and VDI.
The Best of All Worlds
SmartDeploy combines the best of SCCM, Symantec Ghost, and VDI
Everything you want, nothing you don’t
Legacy solutions, like Symantec Ghost, can be unreliable and inconsistent between Windows OS versions and modern hardware. Comprehensive solutions, like SCCM, can be unintuitive and difficult to learn and sustain. Centralized solutions, like VDI, can be expensive and lead to unhappy users.
SmartDeploy reliably fulfills the core computer imaging tasks from solutions such as Symantec Ghost, while expanding to meet modern IT demands addressed by powerful and complex progressive solutions, like Microsoft SCCM. Plus, SmartDeploy uses the principles of centralized single image management from solutions such as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly Citrix XenDesktop).
SmartDeploy’s zero-touch endpoint management architecture bridges the gap between the simplicity of legacy solutions, the capabilities of more comprehensive solutions, and the innovation of centralized solutions.
23% Easier than Microsoft SCCM
World leading business software review platform, G2, found that SmartDeploy leads the competition based on customer feedback in these categories.
Ease of Setup
Ease of Use
Ease of Admin
Ease of Doing Business With
Quality of Support
Meets Requirements
Likely to Recommend
Product Direction (% positive)
Based on user satisfaction ratings collected by G2, September 2021
See how we compare to your endpoint management software.
47% Faster Than Symantec Ghost
Independent benchmarking company, PassMark Software, concluded that SmartDeploy outperforms the competition. An end-to-end deployment with SmartDeploy, including image capture, takes as little as 36 minutes.
Faster than
Symantec Ghost
Faster than
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
Faster than
Acronis Snap Deploy
Legacy, Sector-Based Disk Cloning
Traditional tools like Symantec Ghost require scripted installs or model-specific images.
Behind the times
Solutions like Symantec Ghost, Acronis Snap Deploy, and KACE K2000 still use disk cloning technology that was developed decades ago. SmartDeploy uses standard Windows file formats and a modern hardware-independent methodology.
Scripted installations
Some companies choose to avoid model-specific images by writing and running custom scripts after the baseline image is deployed. This requires a higher technical skillset and significantly more time. With SmartDeploy, one image can be deployed to any device without writing any complicated scripts.
An image for every model
With ghosting software, you must create and maintain a separate image for each computer model you support. Maintaining a separate disk image of each hardware model quickly increases your image library to an unmanageable size. With SmartDeploy, you’ll manage just one image regardless of the variation of models you support.
Modern, File-Based Imaging Software
SmartDeploy provides flexible image layering, hardware independence and built-in best practices.
One golden image
Leveraging virtualization for image creation, SmartDeploy’s modular, layered architecture allows a single image to be deployed to any device. You no longer need to create model-specific images to support various hardware devices over time.
Application deployment
Different parts of your organization may require a unique combination of applications based on the department or an employee’s role. SmartDeploy enables IT to deploy, update, and patch applications independent of the Windows OS image.
We handle drivers
SmartDeploy handles driver challenges by providing model-specific driver packages, called Platform Packs. In this patented approach, only the precise drivers and device-specific software required for a particular device are injected at deployment time. This approach allows the fastest, most reliable image deployment and highest endpoint performance.
Support any model
Seamlessly deploy your golden image to every hardware model you support without any extra effort. Make images for the software or departments you support and SmartDeploy will make sure it runs properly on anything.
Compare Imaging Solutions
SmartDeploy provides flexible image layering, hardware independence and built-in best practices.
| Trial functionality | |
|---|---|
| yes | SmartDeploy: Fully functioning |
| no | Symantec Ghost: Limited |
| no | Acronis Snap Deploy: Limited |
| no | KACE K2000: Sandbox |
| yes | Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: Free tool – no trial |
| Ramp up time | |
|---|---|
| yes | SmartDeploy: Short |
| no | Symantec Ghost: Medium |
| no | Acronis Snap Deploy: Medium |
| no | KACE K2000: Long |
| no | Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: Long |
| Skill level required | |
|---|---|
| yes | SmartDeploy: Low |
| no | Symantec Ghost: Medium |
| no | Acronis Snap Deploy: Medium |
| no | KACE K2000: High |
| no | Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: High |
| Ongoing training | |
|---|---|
| yes | SmartDeploy: Minimal |
| yes | Symantec Ghost: Minimal |
| yes | Acronis Snap Deploy: Minimal |
| no | KACE K2000: Moderate |
| no | Microsoft Deployment Toolkit: Moderate |
Smartdeploy vs Microsoft Sccm
As powerful as SCCM…as easy as ABC
SmartDeploy
SCCM
SmartDeploy can be downloaded and installed in minutes. The trial is fully functioning and most techs can get through a POC on their own in a matter of hours.
Setting up an SCCM test environment is a multi-day process requiring multiple servers and a dedicated physical or virtual network. POC’s often span months.
Download and install the new version when it’s released. The only thing that needs to be re-created is your deployment media.
When installing an SCCM update, you’ll want to follow the checklist and troubleshooting steps provided by Microsoft for the corresponding update.
Most SmartDeploy users are up and running within a few hours without requiring early or ongoing training thanks to the step-by-step process.
Most companies require SCCM admins to have an SCCM certification. This requires taking training courses on how to plan, deploy, and administer SCCM. Ongoing training is also typically recommended.
SmartDeploy’s simple how-to videos combined with guided wizards allow technicians of any skill level to achieve success. The latest best practices are always baked into the process to minimize missteps. Many organizations successfully use SmartDeploy with one or two IT staff members.
With the SCCM certification requirement, most SCCM admins must have a high technical skill level. SCCM is extremely complex and powerful which means it requires administrators who know how to set it up and maintain it for proper use. Many organizations require several IT admins to make the most of SCCM.
New functionality is added to SmartDeploy multiple times per year. In most cases, the use is intuitive for those already familiar with SmartDeploy. When needed, quick how-to videos accompany new features. For this reason, ongoing training is not needed.
With a system as complex as SCCM, it is constantly changing and features are often being added or deprecated. Ongoing training is a necessity, as well as cross-training for proper coverage for vacations and travel. Substantial ongoing payments for security and critical updates should also be expected.
SmartDeploy offers the flexibility to manage computers in multiple ways. Manage endpoints with USB media, push over your existing network, or leverage your Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive account to manage users over Wi-Fi.
While SCCM used to enable image and application distribution from Azure cloud storage, that feature has been deprecated, and will not continue in the future.
SmartDeploy is connected at your speed. It supports computers that are on or off the corporate network, and supports deployment and all other computer management features over both wired and wireless connections. SmartDeploy can handle whatever your network can handle.
PC’s must be connected to the corporate network via a wired connection in order to talk to your SCCM console. Managing remote or traveling users will require a VPN connection.
Relatively inexpensive and can be easily evaluated and purchased directly or from any software reseller. All the work done during the trial converts to your production environment so there is no work to re-do after purchase.
High cost and typically requires extensive and complicated licensing arrangements with Microsoft.
Join a demo to learn everything you need to know to get started.
VDI Alternative
Understand the tradeoffs associated with a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
| SmartDeploy | |
|---|---|
| yes | Single Image Management |
| yes | IT security and control |
| yes | HIGH productivity and endpoint performance |
| yes | Users CAN work while disconnected |
| yes | Implementation and ongoing cost: $ |
| yes | Planning and setup time: 1-2 days |
| Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) | |
|---|---|
| yes | Single Image Management |
| yes | IT security and control |
| no | LOW productivity and endpoint performance |
| no | Users CANNOT work while disconnected |
| no | Implementation and ongoing cost: $$$ |
| no | Planning and setup time: 2+ months |
Ramp Up is a Cinch
Download, learn, and start using SmartDeploy in less than a day
SmartDeploy guides users through step-by-step wizards, with built-in deployment best practices, allowing technicians of any skill level to achieve success. Wizards simplify nearly every process within SmartDeploy including building reference virtual machines, capturing images from reference virtual machines, creating answer files, deploying images and more. Since the SmartDeploy trial is fully functioning, users pick up right where they left off with their evaluation once they have purchased. Most users are up and running within a few hours without requiring early or ongoing training.
World Class Support
We take support and your satisfaction very seriously
It’s easy to get started.
Resources For Comparing Solutions
Learn how SmartDeploy stacks up against the competition