As software development continues to evolve, the need for more efficient and reliable deployment processes has become increasingly crucial. Zero Touch Deployment is one such process that has gained popularity in recent years.
Due to the rise of remote working, it’s now more important than ever for IT professionals to have the right infrastructure in place to keep networks secure and staff productive. In this article, we will explore what Zero Touch Deployment is, how it works and its benefits and downsides.
What is Zero Touch Deployment?
Zero Touch Deployment is a software deployment process that enables the automatic deployment of applications without human intervention. It involves creating an automated workflow that automatically tests, builds and deploys software in production environments. It’s an automated process of releasing software into production, without requiring any manual intervention. Essentially, it doesn’t require the need for an actual IT technician to operate it manually.
In a remote working environment, for example, all the employee needs to do is turn the device on and enter their credentials to access it. It can also be known as touchless deployment, automated device enrolment or even zero-touch provisioning.
In the past before zero-touch existed, organisations had to get devices directly from the manufacturers or with the guidance of a value-added reseller. These devices were then sent to some kind of a central point within an organisation’s IT department. This then meant IT would manually configure the devices and then assign them to the employees who needed them Zero-touch technology saves all the manual labour required to collect devices, configure and then assign them. It’s all completed for you through automation, with an IT professional’s supervision.
How does zero touch deployment work?
Zero Touch Deployment works by integrating automated testing, building and deployment processes into a continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. The process starts with developers writing code and committing it to a version control system (VCS), such as Git. The code is then automatically tested, compiled and deployed to the appropriate environment (e.g., production, staging or development) without any human intervention.
The process follows a set of predefined rules and checks before deploying the application to production. These checks include running automated tests to make sure the software is free from bugs and errors, scanning for security vulnerabilities and ensuring the code adheres to the defined standards.
Once the software passes all the necessary checks, the deployment process begins. The automated process deploys the software to the production environment, ensuring that the new changes are immediately available to end users.
How Organisations Can use Zero Touch Deployment
The software can be fully executed through a company’s device management software. From this, IT technicians will only need to initially set up any specific configurations for the company or any preferences they might have.
After this, technicians can use the management software to manage all employee devices with the zero touch software whenever they need to. They’ll be able to monitor working performance, push any necessary updates or remove the software from an employee’s device if the device is lost or stolen or if the employee leaves the company.
Benefits of Zero Touch Deployment
Reduced Deployment Time
Zero Touch Deployment helps reduce the time it takes to deploy software to production by automating the entire process. This eliminates the need for human intervention, which saves time and resources on manual jobs associated with deployment.
Increased Productivity
By automating the deployment process, developers can focus on writing code rather than manual deployment tasks, which improves productivity. It also allows employees to get to work as quickly as possible, without having to wait to pick up devices from an IT department.
Improved Quality
Zero Touch Deployment ensures that every deployment is consistent and follows the same predefined rules, ensuring high-quality software. It also offers a lot more support and supervision that can be easily customised for a business.
Minimised Risk
Automated testing, building, and deployment reduce the risk of errors and bugs making their way into production, reducing the risk of downtime and negative impacts on end-users. This also helps to improve the overall quality of the software your business chooses to use.
Increased Security
Zero Touch Deployment allows for more security updates to keep the online presence of your business safe and secure. Management on a large scale also helps to increase efficiency regarding security protection.
Streamlined Systems
Every process has been streamlined so organisations can get the most out of their zero-touch applications. This means all network and security settings can be configured within an instant. New applications can also be deployed through the cloud with licences reassigned to the appropriate employees almost instantly. Remote locks or wiping data from devices can also be done within an instant, so organisations can focus on their services.
Downsides of Zero Touch Deployment
Zero Touch Deployment is a good decision for any business wishing to automate its deployment of applications. However, there can be some downsides which may include:
High Initial Setup Cost
Setting up an automated deployment process can be time-consuming and expensive. Organisations need to invest in tools and infrastructure to automate the deployment process for it to be efficient and run smoothly. Costs can be reduced by working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) who already have zero touch deployment processes in place.
Increased Complexity
The automated deployment process can be complex, requiring specialised knowledge and expertise to set up and maintain. It still requires a certain amount of regulation by an experienced IT technician who is knowledgeable about zero touch applications.
Increased Dependency on Automation
Organisations that rely on Zero Touch Deployment may become overly dependent on automation, making it challenging to deploy software manually in the absence of automation.
Final Thoughts
Zero Touch Deployment is an efficient and reliable software deployment process that can save time, reduce costs and improve software quality. While it has its benefits, organisations must be aware of the downsides and carefully consider the investment required to set up and maintain an automated deployment process.
Why choose Eventura as your Managed IT Service Provider?
Eventura has been providing managed IT services to countless customers for 20 years. Our talented team of people can help you identify all your businesses IT needs and engineer bespoke IT solutions that have real-world benefits to your business.
We are also NetSuite Solution Providers and Sage 200 Business Partners, offering game-changing ERP solutions crafted to automate and streamline business processes.
If you would like to speak to one of our experts, you can request a free call back here.
