How do Schools Currently Deploy Devices?
A 1:1 programme makes the efficient deployment and management of devices crucial. Let’s consider two different approaches schools or colleges may use.
Traditional deployment
Typically this has been done using an imaging process. Here a single device is configured with the desired settings and applications, from which a custom image is created. Once complete, the IT department unpacks the new devices, wipe the pre-installed operating system, and installs the custom image via the network or USB drive. This process is very time consuming as it transfers large amounts of data to the device being set up, and it needs to be on site.
Modern Deployment
With modern deployment, the IT team doesn’t need to configure and apply a custom image; or even touch the device. Instead, Windows Autopilot, a feature of Intune, can be used. This cloud management solution changes the pre-installed Windows 11 to a custom configuration set in Autopilot when a new device connects to the Internet. This is particularly beneficial to Multi-Academy Trusts, which have schools spread over a wide geographical distance and a centralised IT department. Irrespective of where the devices are geographically located, school or home, they can be fully configured securely within or beyond the school network.
Traditional and Modern Compared
