A Simple Endpoint Management Experience
Intelligent Desktop Management Software
One Golden Windows Image is the Key to Managing Thousands of Diverse Endpoints
Build
Layered build process for Windows and application deployment
Build Each Layer on your IT Workstation
OS images, application software (Application Packs) and hardware drivers (Platform Packs) are stored logically and physically separate allowing a single golden Windows image to be deployed to any hardware model. Create your OS image containing the Windows operating system, patches, and settings that you choose. Choose the Platform Packs for the models you support and we’ll handle drivers from there. Application Packs can be installed as part of deployment or pulled from a network server or cloud storage once the machine has been imaged.
Logical Layers for Ultimate Control
SmartDeploy provides true single image management of one centralized Windows golden image that can be deployed to any PC in your organization, regardless of manufacturer or model. SmartDeploy accomplishes this by separating driver management, application deployment, and user files into separate driver layers, application layers, and user data layers.
Choose the Platform Packs for the models you support and we’ll handle drivers from there. At deployment time, SmartDeploy automatically applies the software image as well as the driver-specific information unique to your target device.
Create your image containing the Windows operating system, patches, and settings that you choose. SmartDeploy images are hardware independent and can be deployed to any hardware make and model.
Choose the Application Packs for the users or departments from the Application Library. The SmartDeploy team has packaged up many popular applications that you can download into your Application Library. You’ll need to create the Application Packs for applications where SmartDeploy cannot redistribute the software. SmartDeploy automatically applies the correct application packs to your target device.
Store the User Data Layer in your preferred Cloud Storage Provider, such as Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive. Or save a point-in-time backup to your network for migration to a new device.
Deploy
Create deployment media of your choice
Any Device, Any Way
Your Windows deployment or software deployment packages can be delivered to any target device, regardless of hardware model, by following the same simple process. This process is extremely simple and often be completed by entry-level technicians. At deployment time, SmartDeploy automatically applies the OS image and Application Packs as well as the driver-specific information unique to your target device.
Manage
Monitor your devices and add, remove, or change any layer
Replace Any Layer, Any Time
The ability to decouple monolithic PC images into logically separate layers that can all be deployed, upgraded, and managed independently from each other provides the ability to do a Windows Migration by just replacing the OS layer; provision new hardware for a new hire by deploying the driver, OS, and application layers; replace the driver layer with a PC Refresh; or reimage just the OS layer in a PC Break-fix scenario. Centralized, single image management provides a modern and more efficient approach than distributed Windows deployment and application deployment tools.
We Manage Drivers
Platform Packs form the Driver Layer
What are Platform Packs?
Platform Packs (PPKs) are downloadable driver packages created by our team of driver experts. They contain all of the necessary drivers and software to successfully deploy SmartDeploy images to target computers.
Each Platform Pack is built for a specific endpoint make and model, physical or virtual, and includes only the drivers needed by that device. They are organized by manufacturer, model, and OS type and are fully customizable, including running custom scripts or tasks such as updating the BIOS as a post image task.
Why Platform Packs?
SmartDeploy makes driver management easy for hardware-diverse environments. Instead of updating your image each time you need to support a new hardware type, you simply download the corresponding PPK file to your IT workstation.
Other deployment tools require drivers to be stored within the image resulting in a large library of model-specific images. Alternatively, some utilize a driver stuffing method or a “driver blob” resulting in a bloated image and leaving Plug-and-Play to choose the drivers to install. This unreliable approach often causing issues such as BSOD. With SmartDeploy, we avoid all of this by installing only the drivers necessary for the specific model you are deploying.
How do Platform Packs work?
SmartDeploy manages drivers separately from your image. You build your image in a virtual machine that contains no device-specific drivers. For each manufacturer and model you support, you simply download the corresponding PPK file from SmartDeploy. When you create your deployment media you include them in your deployment package. At deployment time, SmartDeploy uses WMI queries to ensure only the drivers for that specific machine end up on the device.
Deploy Applications
Choose Application Packs from the Application Library
Download Pre-Built Application Packs
SmartDeploy’s application deployment feature utilizes an Application Library of popular applications that are packaged and ready to deploy as part of your application layer. For those applications where SmartDeploy is not able to distribute the software, we’ll help you create your own.
Simple and Fast Application Deployment
Unlike distributed software deployment tools, applications can be deployed, updated, and patched within the application layer, in the OS layer, or in both layers. To select the Application Pack you want to deploy in your application layer, navigate to the device or group of devices you want to deploy to in your Console, right-click and select the application(s) you want and click deploy.
Deploy Using Cloud Storage Providers
Limited bandwidth or no VPN access? No problem.
Eliminate Connectivity Barriers
With SmartDeploy, you can leverage your Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or OneDrive for Business accounts as an image repository for deployment of Windows images, Application Packs , and Platform Packs. While cloud deployment enables customers to take advantage of storage they already have in place with these cloud storage providers, the major benefit is that end users do not have to be connected to the corporate network for IT to manage their endpoint.
SmartDeploy is different than most Windows deployment and software deployment tools in this regard. PCs can be anywhere — on or off the network in a local office, branch office, or home office, and connected through a wired or wireless connection. VPN connectivity is not required. Just like traditional Window deployment and software deployment tools, you can also use a network server as a distribution point as well as use DVDs or USB drives if needed.
Use Wizards to Simplify IT Management
Use answer files to improve user experience
No Training Necessary
SmartDeploy’s step-by-step wizards, with built-in deployment best practices, allow technicians of any skill level to become proficient with nearly every aspect of the solution. Now, multiple people in IT can be quickly cross-trained to perform any computer imaging need such as Windows migrations, new hardware provisioning, and application deployment. Never again do vacations and training conferences need to be postponed or delayed because of coverage concerns.
From the end user perspective, answer file functionality, also wizard-driven, enables silent installation so that users do not have to be involved. Remote IT Automation further simplifies the user experience by executing scripts on remote PCs instead of requiring user involvement at the command prompt.
Getting Started is Easy
Setup and use SmartDeploy in five simple steps
Five Easy Steps
SmartDeploy makes imaging and deployment simple with its wizard-driven interface and built-in best practices, so you can complete deployment projects faster and more effectively.
Get started with a 45-minute live demo, then download our fully-functioning 15 day free trial and walk through the five simple steps.
Take the next step. Let’s get started!
Getting Started Resources
Resources to help you get started with SmartDeploy