KACE
AppDeploy

Systems and Software Deployment


KACE and Systems Deployment

Reducing the Time and Cost of Information Technology Deployment

The need to effectively deploy and manage digital assets across an organization in a timely, automated and cost effective way has continued to grow. Mixed operating system environments have become the norm. The number of applications that must be supported have multiplied. And given the sheer quantity of associated drivers, prerequisites, patches and configuration settings that must be seamlessly applied across a variety of desktops, laptops and servers to maintain these systems, and successful IT deployment has landed squarely as one of—if not the—top challenge for systems management professionals today.

Manual approaches, once sufficient in a time of more simple and homogenous environments, are simply too cumbersome, time-consuming and prone to human error to remain effective. Point solutions, while providing some relief, lack the ability to provide a comprehensive and centralized point of control. Add to the mix poor economic conditions, which restrict the ability to travel to remote offices and cast an ever-increasing emphasis on reduced overhead, and cost effective systems deployment truly becomes a critical issue for today’s IT support organization.

The Solution

KBOX™ Systems Management Appliances from KACE are designed to save you time and your company money by providing a means to accomplish all of your systems and software deployment tasks in a way that is comprehensive, easy-to-use and affordable. With KBOX, time-consuming manual OS and software deployment tasks are now automated, centralized control is available even for remote systems, and the margin for human error and ensuing labor-intensive correction activities are virtually eliminated. KBOX helps ensure your organization deploys IT assets effectively, even in light of their increasing number and complexity.

Systems Deployment
  • KBOX Network OS Install enables the remote provisioning of any desktop, laptop or server via network OS installation, regardless of computer hardware configuration. Network OS Install, also known as scripted installation, provides reliable, managed deployment in heterogeneous hardware environments and an efficient means for building and maintaining gold master configurations. Applications and files can be integrated with scripted installation allowing for complete systems provisioning. KBOX also maintains an integrated library to ease archiving and management of complete remote setups, including cross platform gold master configurations.
  • KBOX Software Distribution saves you time with the remote distribution and installation of any application, service pack, update, hotfix to Windows, Mac and Linux desktops and servers. Flexible distribution takes the place of time-consuming manual tasks, even across large distributed networks and remote locations. Updates can be managed through the use of dynamic groups and "filters" which allow almost unlimited control over which machines are addressed and when. Real-time Active Directory and LDAP group deployment integration is also provided.
  • KBOX Patch Management provides rapid, accurate and secure patch management, allowing you to proactively manage threats by automating the collection, analysis and delivery of patches throughout your organization. KBOX utilizes patented Patchlink Patch Fingerprint Technology™, which includes the world’s largest patch repository, to ensure the highest level of accuracy in the detection of security vulnerabilities. In addition, KBOX provides access to pre-tested operating system (Windows, Mac) and application patches. Administrators can easily control the scanning and distribution schedule of patches through the KBOX UI, in order to minimize business disruptions.
  • KBOX Configuration and Policy Management provides comprehensive and easy-to-use configuration management and policy enforcement using K-Scripts and shell scripts for Windows, Mac and Linux systems. Policies and shell scripts can either be run on schedules or immediately. KBOX is equipped with a point and click K-Script creation wizard (Windows only), and supports out-of-the-box prepackaged scripts and policies for Windows.
  • KBOX Self-Service User Portal enables users to self-serve through a software library for download of approved titles on an as-needed basis, as well as access to an IT knowledge base. The User Portal saves time with user scheduled downloads and installations and provides cost savings via enhanced direct end user services.
  • KBOX Remote Site Replication and Remote Administration provides users with an effective means to manage remote offices without the need for dedicated hardware or IT personnel at those locations. The capabilities dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of managing a multi-site organization, eliminating shipping of hardware and travel expense for support staff. KBOX Remote Replication supports UNC addresses, DFS sources and HTTP locations.
  • KBOX Imaging uses an innovative file-based format that eliminates redundant transfers, saving time in the capture, storage, and deployment of images. KBOX allows you to seamlessly manage and deploy images on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms from a single web-based console.
  • KBOX User State Migration centrally captures, stores, and deploys user-specific settings and files to make operating system migrations and computer upgrades run as smooth as possible. Administrators can easily designate a user state to be deployed alongside an image or Network OS Install. As a result, KBOX reduces the risk of losing valuable information during deployments. Furthermore, KBOX user state migration reduces the cost associated with a deployment by minimizing end-user downtime—you will never have to ask users to back up and restore their files and settings before an operating system or computer migration again.