Chapter 4: Why is software deployment so hard?

One of the biggest issues with device management is dealing with software deployment. Devices are often left insecure and left open to software vulnerabilities because delivering updates to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of devices is just too challenging. 

You do everything else to protect your company’s devices and data, so leaving a gaping hole in the software seems less than ideal, right? Right. That’s why you need a repeatable, predictable, and scalable software deployment strategy. 

Why software deployment is challenging for dedicated devices

Software deployment for app updates, security patches, and operating system updates aren’t something that most people ever think about. On our personal devices, they just happen seamlessly and in the background. So what makes deploying software such a challenge to corporate hardware and dedicated devices? 

They’re managed differently. Security is tighter, policies are set, and devices are locked down. These devices hold important company data, so allowing every software vendor out there to update whenever they want is a big no-no. Not to mention that sort of openness would allow employees, customers, and anyone else to freely install any sort of application they want. Just imagine the potential implications. 

But just because software deployment is hard doesn’t mean it’s something you can just overlook. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

Why you need repeatable, predictable software deployment

We live in an age where we rely on technology more than ever, which means “the bad guys” are working double-time to take advantage of security vulnerabilities in software at every turn. New exploits are found every day, and if you don’t patch your devices regularly, they’re left vulnerable. Think about the potential implications for a second. 

That’s why app updates, software OTAs, and security patch deployments should be simple and repeatable. Scalable. Predictable. Fun, even. (Okay, maybe not fun.) Because, let’s be honest here — the easier something is, the more likely you’ll actually do it. No one wants to spend three days babysitting dozens of tablets to make sure they’re up to date, and they shouldn’t have to. 

There’s a better way

Fortunately, there’s a better way. For years, software engineers in the cloud have been using a philosophy called “DevOps” to deliver frequent, repeatable updates to apps, operating systems, and more. That’s why we took this philosophy and said “why stop at software development for the cloud?” and applied the concept all the way to hardware.