What is software deployment and why should every IT department do it?

Every IT department needs to manage software deployment effectively across its network to ensure its end-users are staying up to date, and thus staying safe, with the software on their devices. 

According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach is $4.4 million. Missing software updates (patches) as they’re released is a leading cause of data breaches.

Even if you don’t realize it’s technically called “software deployment”, you and your team are probably already doing it. But what if you could manage software updates faster, safer, and more effectively than ever before?

In this guide, we’ll be covering the ins and outs of software deployment as well as why it’s necessary for every IT department and MSP to optimize their software deployment system and procedures. You’ll learn how to set up your organization for success with a strong software deployment program designed to keep your applications up to date, minimizing the risk of attack.

What is software deployment?

Software deployment refers to all of the steps, processes, and other activities required to make a software system or update accessible to its users. The process of software deployment includes steps like release, installation, testing, deployment, and monitoring. The terms “software deployment” and “application deployment” are often used interchangeably.

Most IT organizations and software developers deploy software patches and new applications through a combination of manual and automated IT processes. There are many different types and methods of software deployment that offer differing levels of efficiency and risk. But overall, they all have the same goal – to make software available on devices or services for its intended users.

Stages of software deployment

There are five key stages that go into the software deployment process for IT teams managing mid-to-large organizations. Ensuring that your IT department follows these steps is an excellent way to roll out software deployment smoothly across all of the devices in your network. Setting up a streamlined process can limit the possibility of risks and mistakes along the way.

1. Plan

The first stage in any effective software deployment process is to come up with a comprehensive plan. You’ll need to know what software or application you’re trying to deploy, how many end-users you have, and what risks are involved. A good plan will address these questions and many more.

If you want to develop an effective plan, you need to thoroughly audit your current situation. Let’s say, for example, that you’re looking to roll out a new update on your tax preparation software across your network. You’ll need to determine how many devices on your network use this software and the possible risks of the deployment. In this case, rolling out the update in the middle of their busy tax preparation season could lead to catastrophe.

2. Design

Once you have a comprehensive plan, you’ll need to figure out exactly how you’re going to deploy it. Ask yourself what kind of deployment could help you minimize risk. For example, do end-users need to access the updated software simultaneously, or would it be okay to roll out the updates slowly? It’s important to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for each method here.

At this point, you’ll need to consider user communication. If the software update could possibly disrupt your end-users’ workdays, then you’ll need to design your deployment to interfere with them as little as possible. Ideally, you’d apply software patches when people are finished working. In case you need to do the patch during the workday, make sure to advise the affected staff in advance…you don’t want to spring a software update on them!

3. Test

To ensure nothing goes wrong during the actual deployment, it’s a good idea to create a test environment. Use simulations and perform tests to ensure you can detect any hidden issues before the official deployment and fix anything that’s wrong. You need to make sure that the software works as expected before you roll it out to the full network.

A thorough testing phase helps you catch possible compatibility issues and conflicts with other software before they impact your end-users. Then you can reassess and determine the best way to move forward.

4. Schedule

Your scheduling phase is where project management comes into play. Break down your software deployment plan into manageable tasks, so that you don’t have to wonder what comes next. Then, whether you do it manually or automatically, you’ll want to create a schedule for completing each task. 

By assigning and scheduling tasks in advance, you’re setting yourself up for a smooth and efficient software deployment process.

5. Deploy

And finally, you’re ready for the actual deployment! Update the software patch to your endpoints as you’ve outlined through the previous four steps. Using an RMM (remote monitoring and management) software that centralizes your patch management into one manageable dashboard can make this stage a piece of cake!

Why is software deployment important?

Deployment is a key aspect of keeping your network and its devices secure. It’s the main mechanism that allows developers to pass applications and updates on to users. Patches are how software companies ensure that they’re constantly providing the best tools for you to improve your work. That’s why deploying new patches is so crucial; they can help lead to increased IT efficiency.

If IT teams can automate (or at least streamline) the process of software deployment, they can also more quickly implement these important patches. That does two things for an organization. First, it helps make sure that the entire organization has the tools that it needs to get the job done. It also ensures that these patches that are critical to security are completed in as little as a few minutes, rather than days, weeks, or even longer. 

Benefits of software deployment

Thoughtful software deployment helps streamline the tasks required to ensure your software is available and running smoothly for all of your users. It comes with a number of different benefits, which we will explore in this section.

Save time

By deploying software effectively, you’ll be able to cut down on wasted time and become more efficient as an IT department. For an efficient IT technician, the software deployment and patching process can take just a few hours. Using automation like Atera’s Autonomous AI tools, that time can be cut down to a matter of minutes. 

This will leave you with the ability to allocate your manpower and resources more effectively.

Boost security

More control over your organization’s endpoints and their software programs means a higher level of security. Deploying software in a structured manner, rather than relying on end-users to download and update software themselves is crucial. This is especially true for larger organizations with many employees, where you have less control. 

This means that you’ll be able to ensure the security of software across all of your devices, rather than trying to tackle each device individually, which feels more and more impossible, the larger the network gets.

Improved software functionality

Another benefit of software deployment is the improved functionality of software on your network’s endpoints. Software companies release updates/patches in order to fix bugs, add features, improve software speed, and more. 

When we consistently keep software up-to-date, we are enabling our entire network of employees to work more efficiently, which can lead to direct cost-savings. This is another way that an IT team could demonstrate their value to management by showing the role they play in employee effectiveness. In fact, as many as 40% of employees feel that the employer is expected to update their work devices, according to Kaspersky. 

Deploying software to customer PCs

Deploying software to customer PCs can be an exhaustive and lengthy process. It involves installing, configuring, and updating applications across PCs where you may not have physical access. Atera, as an all-in-one IT management platform, simplifies this with automated software deployment, remote installation, and patch management. 

IT teams can use Atera to push updates, install applications remotely, and monitor endpoints from a centralized dashboard, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors. But in today’s tech landscape, you’d think that the software deployment space has been completely shaken up. Well, it has! 

How has software deployment been evolving?

We’ve seen extreme innovation over the last few years when it comes to software development and deployment. One of the biggest innovations that has taken the IT world by storm is artificial intelligence (AI), and specifically Agentic AI. Agentic AI is an AI model that can reason and learn, in order to actually improve at its task(s) over time.

One great example of Agentic AI use for developers is Agentic AI-powered patch management, which allows for faster and more efficient patch installations across an IT network. Atera’s AI Copilot is leading the way in this space, which is why Atera was recently recognized by G2 as a leader in the AIOps space. 

Copilot is like your extra set of hands, able to determine devices that may need a patch, possible conflicting software to look out for, and other mission-critical info without wasting time looking through device lists.

With Atera’s Autonomous AI tools, businesses can ensure seamless, consistent, and secure software deployment for their customers.

Deploy your software like the pros

A streamlined software deployment system isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s one of the cornerstones of your IT team. Whether it’s about saving time or preventing data breaches, if you find a good software deployment system, you’ll be glad you did. 

If you’re ready to take your software deployment to the next level, you need the tool that grows with you. Whether you manage 10 devices or 10,000, Atera can help you manage every endpoint. From our intuitive dashboard, Copilot can autonomously check that every device is secure, with up-to-date software, and operating at peak performance.

As a full-service RMM, Atera is the secret sauce to simplifying managing and monitoring large networks, no matter how complicated. 

Automated patch management, Copilot, and network monitoring are only a few reasons why IT pros around the globe are trusting Atera to remotely monitor and manage their networks. See the other reasons why for yourself with a free 30-day trial today.