IT software deployment is a necessity in any organization’s IT environment. Software deployment can either make or break the transitions between software, which significantly affect business operations. That is why it’s essential to have a solid software deployment process in place.
What is software deployment?
Software deployment involves all the activities required to get a software system or application ready for use on a device or a server. Software deployment is also commonly known as application deployment. Use of software deployment tools will help to ensure that all applications in your organization’s environment operate smoothly.
What is a software deployment process?
A software deployment process includes the steps and processes that deploy and maintain software applications. Some of the activities in a software deployment process include releasing the software, installation, testing, deployment, and monitoring the process.
Types of software deployment
There are many types of software deployment available, but the most common types are basic, rolling, blue-green, and canary:
Basic Deployment
Basic deployment is the simplest type of software deployment. This type updates all the target environments simultaneously without any process or strategy. Because it doesn’t deploy software in a slow and controlled manner, it is the riskiest.
Rolling Deployment
In rolling deployment, applications are slowly updated by replacing the old application software with the new one. Typically, rolling deployment is completed faster than blue-green deployment, but it also carries some risk because the original application is not preserved.
Blue-Green Deployment
Blue-green deployment starts by having the original environment plus a duplicate environment. This enables you to preserve the old environment while deploying the new application simultaneously.
Once the new application is deployed, make sure that everything runs properly. If any issues crop up, traffic can be redirected to the old environment so that it continues to run seamlessly. When you’ve determined that the new environment is free of issues, you can switch back to the new environment and then end the old environment.
Canary Deployment
Canary deployment is when an application is deployed in small batches. Initially deployed, it only goes to a small group of people. Deployment then continues incrementally in staged releases. By doing this type of deployment, you can test the new deployment on a few users before deploying it to the rest of the users.
Software deployment methods
Software deployment has two main methods in which it is carried out: network- or domain-based employment and agent-based deployment.
Network- or domain-based
Network- or domain-based deployment works by connecting computers, servers, and various devices and then releasing the software to the IT devices. For deployment to work, all computers that you aim to release the software must be connected. Group Policy and PDQ Deploy are two examples of network or domain-based deployment.
Agent-based
Agent-based deployment can successfully deploy software to any device with an internet connection. NinjaOne software deployment has the capability of deploying software automatically to individual devices.
What is Ninja’s software deployment system?
Ninja’s software deployment system gives IT admins the ability to systematically install software on endpoint devices. It uses a native “install application” script to carry out this task. This script is an out-of-the-box feature and is available for different operating systems such as Windows and Mac. Ninja lets the user upload an installer for a given application and then push out the application to select devices.
How does Ninja’s software deployment system work?
There are technically five different ways Ninja’s software deployment system can operate. The method a user chooses depends on factors such as the type of application that needs to be installed, the number of target endpoint devices, when the software should be deployed, and more.
Here are the five methods Ninja provides to deploy software and install applications:
Run the install application script across a device
1. This method is the simplest way to install software on a machine. The user selects a machine on the dashboard, chooses to run a script, and selects the designated script. Ninja then allows you to select the architecture of the machine, upload the installer, name the application, set parameters for the application installation, and select credentials you would want to run the script with.
Install the application using one button
2. For application installation at the click of a button, it requires the use of a policy. In the Ninja dashboard, the user clicks on a policy and selects scheduled scripts. From here, you can choose to add a scheduled script and select the install application script. Decide on the schedule the script will be run, and click add and save. Now that the script is set up, you can go to a certain device in the policy and select the script to run. This method provides an on-demand, ad hoc installer.
Automate the application installation
Ninja gives you three different ways you can use automation for the installation of an application. The method chosen depends on factors such as the desired schedule, whether a condition needs to be set, and the target endpoints.
3. Using a policy, change the install application script schedule to “run once,” either at a specific time or once immediately. For every device in the policy, the script will run on every online device, every offline device, and then any new device that joins this policy.
4. You can add a condition that looks for certain software that should exist on a device and create an alert if the application gets uninstalled or the application installation fails. Then, you can run a script in response to what you’re detecting as a condition, which would be to run the install application script as an immediate response. This method can help to enforce compliance within your IT environment.
5. A dynamic search group allows you to filter to devices that do/don’t have a certain application. Using the search menu, you can save the search group and it will automatically update to reflect the current status of devices. Create a new task to install the application by running the install application script, choose a schedule, then select the target, which is the previously created search group.
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5 Stages of a software deployment process
Plan
The first stage in a software deployment process is to make a plan. What software or application are you attempting to deploy? How many end-users do you have? What risks are involved? Be sure to consider these questions and more while creating your plan for software deployment.
Design
After making a plan for how to best approach the software deployment, design how your plan will be carried out effectively. Which kind of deployment will be the safest for your business’s data and operations? Do your end-users need to have the updated software simultaneously, or can software deployment be rolled out slowly? These goals can be accomplished through the different deployment types listed above.
Test
Various factors can go wrong with any new software deployment. One of the best ways to ensure that things don’t go awry in your IT environment is to create a test environment. Use simulations that imitate or are identical to your business’s actual. This testing allows you to detect any previously hidden issues beforehand and ensure that the software is completely functional.
Schedule
Break your plan for software deployment into manageable-sized tasks. Then, using team members or automated software, create a schedule for when each of these tasks should be completed. Abiding by a schedule and assigning tasks out makes the software deployment process much more feasible and results in far fewer problems.
Deploy
The final stage is to deploy the software to your endpoints finally. If you’ve mindfully carried out the previous steps, sending out the software or patches should go smoothly.
What are the benefits of software deployment?
The services offered by software deployment help streamline the tasks required to ensure the software is available and running smoothly for users. The benefits of software deployment include:
Saved Time
Software deployment helps to cut down on time. When it is set up correctly, the process of software installation and patching can be completed in just a few hours. What’s even more beneficial is that the software deployment can be completed automatically, with little to no human intervention.
Effective Monitoring and Management
Software deployment enables you to have the control you desire for managing software and applications for your end-users. Through this kind of software, you can also have access to information about whether the software is operating as it should and that there are no issues.
Increased Security
When you have more control over the computers in your organization, it leads to more security and increased unification of your business’s devices. Deploying software in a structured manner, rather than having individual users download and update software, means that you can ensure the security of one software application instead of worrying about every single computer in your organization.
Successful Installation and Patching
The primary benefit of software deployment is that it effectively installs or patches software on end users’ devices. Therefore, when your business has a proper software deployment process in place, you can expect to achieve smooth transitions from old to new software or from broken coding to patched software.
What are the benefits of Ninja’s software deployment system?
Ninja’s software deployment software brings a lot to the table, and it helps IT environments to efficiently deploy and install software or applications on endpoint devices. Benefits of Ninja’s software deployment system include:
Ease of use
Ninja’s software deployment system is controlled using a single pane of glass dashboard that makes it simple to operate. Extra features such as conditions and search groups are also easy to add and use in addition to the application installation scripts. The simplicity of the software makes it easy to deploy software to devices in your IT environment.
Flexibility
There are also many different ways to accomplish any given task, which means that whatever roadblock you run into, Ninja provides the method or tools needed to accomplish the task in line with your environmental needs. With five different ways to install software, you can select the method that is best for the software, endpoint, and overall environment. This added flexibility enables better management of endpoint devices.
Automation
One of the ways Ninja simplifies IT management is through IT automation. Using automation in Ninja’s software deployment system helps to ensure that software deployment is properly executed and that the necessary software remains on the device. You can set it up so the software is automatically deployed and installed during the initial device setup, and create a condition to check that the software remains on the device and automatically install if it’s not found.
Using Software Deployment in your business
Effectively using a software deployment process will help your business successfully carry out software management for all your devices. It supports the continuity of business operations and prevents extensive downtime. Software deployment used as part of a unified solution with other tools like patch management, endpoint management, and backups/restores can help simplify your business’s IT operations. NinjaOne software deployment allows you to manage, deploy, and patch your software at scale.
Download the Software Deployment User Guide to learn more.
