Deployment Consulting for Your Business

Simplify deployment of Microsoft technologies

Microsoft has a number of deployment tools for IT professionals. They allow for Microsoft operating systems, applications, and 3rd party applications to be deployed in either Lite or Zero Touch mode. For the record, Zero Touch requires no physical intervention, and Lite Touch requires user intervention. The distinction is important when considering which tools to utilize for your deployment project.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT 2010) is the newest version of the Business Desktop Deployment Solution Accelerator (BDD 2007). It provides Lite Touch deployment of operating systems and applications for new or upgrade builds of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

It works by creating a framework to manage your deployment, and allows for the final build to be deployed via the network, DVD based builds, and builds from portable media (USB). Using the framework, your IT administrator can create a "task sequence" which allows for a customized hardware independent deployment of your windows operating system, along with a variety of your line of business applications, like Microsoft Office 2010, Adobe Flash\Shockwave and Reader, etc.

The benefit to you is that every machine built from the task sequence is the same, regardless of the physical computer it is built on. This is shown to reduce the number of help desk calls and reduce the total cost of ownership for your desktop and laptop fleet.

Active Directory and Group Policy

Active Directory Domain Services is the part of your computer system where all of your business user accounts and computer accounts are located. It is implemented when your IT administrator sets up a domain based environment. Group Policy lives inside Microsoft Active Directory Domain Services, and allows for software to be deployed and removed, based on user logons and\or security groups. If you have a Microsoft Windows Server solution in your business, chances are that you have Active Directory.

Windows Deployment Service

The Windows Deployment Service or WDS is a deployment mechanism for operating systems. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 are all able to be delivered via this method. In conjunction with MDT 2010, it can allow for a fully customized desktop image to be deployed in around 10-15 minutes and be ready for the user to log on. It is included with the purchase of your server license.

System Center Configuration Manager

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is Microsoft's premier deployment framework. It allows for push deployment of operating systems in true Zero Touch, using a scheduled job. It can do application deployment, removal, and reporting based on a criteria set within the product to allow targeted actions based on any number of criteria. It can accommodate remote sites and throttles bandwidth to ensure there is no disruption to business operations. It minimizes licensing over subscription using application metering and group based deployment of applications.

For a true managed environment for 50 seats or more, SCCM is well worth consideration.