Software Deployment Process Guide for 2022 – NinjaOne

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. Using software deployment software 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 essential, 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.

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 before 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.

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. Sign up for your free trial of NinjaOne’s unified IT management today.