The Future of Device Deployment

Find out how Microsoft Windows Autopilot transforms device deployment and management as well as supporting security in the modern workplace.

These days hybrid and remote work have become the norm, with this change acting as a driver to re-think ways to deploy and manage devices (particularly so when we’re talking at scale).

Indeed, today, IT teams are under increasing pressure to support geographically dispersed staff, yet traditional methods of provisioning devices are slow, cumbersome, inefficient, and don’t provide the high level of security that’s now available and expected.

Imagine that you no longer need to worry about having space in the office to hold stock, or you never have to free up staff last minute to build devices for an unannounced new starter. Modern device management is key in situations like this and helps deliver an efficient, highly productive service that minimises the IT team’s commitments in the new starter process.

Enter Autopilot: a cloud-based service (part of Intune) that has reformed the way Windows devices are deployed, reset, recovered, and repurposed. It turns device deployment from a hands-on, time-consuming chore into a seamless, user-friendly experience.

The problem with traditional device deployment

For years now, IT teams have relied upon imaging (the process of manually configuring a device with the required applications, settings, and security policies before handing it over to the user). However, doing so often means that:

• Devices must be unboxed, connected to the network, and manually set up. 
• Any re-deployment requires a full rebuild. 
• IT staff are tethered to the office or must ship pre-configured devices around the country (or even the globe). 
• A gold image must be developed and maintained by the IT team, with the relevant drivers for all physical models  

In both large and small organisations, these challenges can easily become inefficient and costly and are ultimately a poor use of a valuable resource.

Windows Autopilot overcomes this challenge by allowing IT teams to configure and pre-register devices in the cloud, so that when a user turns on their device for the first time, it automatically connects to the organisation’s cloud services (such as Microsoft Intune and Entra ID) and sets itself up, i.e., it deploying the right applications, policies, configurations, security tooling, and so on.

Crucially, this is done without any physical contact from IT and means devices can be shipped directly from the manufacturer to the employee, who simply logs in with their corporate credentials to begin the setup process.

Modern solutions for modern challenges

Shifts in working patterns to remote and hybrid work have made zero-touch deployment more than just a convenience – for lots of organisations being able to configure devices remotely is essential.

With teams scattered across different cities and countries, and companies benefiting from being able to hire remote talent, IT teams need tools that allow them to maintain control and consistency, even without physically handling each device.

More than this (and much like other departments) there’s growing pressure on IT to deliver more with fewer resources. Autopilot helps alleviate this pressure by automating much of the heavy lifting, reducing the time and resources burden on specialist teams, and allowing IT staff to focus on strategic tasks rather than repetitive setup processes.

By streamlining the time involved in managing stock and using cloud-based services, organisations benefit from improved productivity and simplified asset management.

The Autopilot experience: work-ready out of the box

Moving on, let’s imagine a typical use case for Autopilot. In this example, an organisation hires a new employee who lives two-hundred miles from head office. Instead of setting up a laptop in-house and arranging courier delivery, IT places an order with the device manufacturer and provides a few configuration details. The manufacturer then ships the device straight to the employee, cutting out the middleman.

[textframe]When the device is powered on for the first time, it:

Connects to the internet. 

Contacts the Windows Autopilot deployment service. 

Recognises its assigned profile. 

Enrols in Microsoft Intune. 

Applies the relevant apps, settings, and security policies. 

The employee then logs in with their Microsoft 365 account, and within minutes, they’re up and running on a secure, compliant device. So far, so good.

Still, Autopilot isn’t just about first-time setup. It also supports other common scenarios IT support deals with on a daily basis, such as:

• Resetting devices: use Autopilot Reset to quickly wipe and reconfigure a device for a new user. This is a significant step forward for security with lost devices as they can be remote wiped, and will be as soon as they connect to the internet reducing the risk of data loss.
• Self-deployment mode: for shared or kiosk devices, Autopilot can configure everything without any user interaction.
• White glove provisioning: partners or internal IT teams can pre-provision devices with all apps and policies before delivery, so users experience minimal setup time.

It’s features like these that make Autopilot much more than just a deployment tool. Rather, it’s a comprehensive full lifecycle management solution that really can contribute to the scalability, productivity, and efficiency of all types of organisations.

Of course, while Autopilot does simplify deployment, there are still important planning steps to get it right. These include the following:

• Device registration: hardware IDs need to be captured and uploaded to Autopilot, ideally by the OEM or reseller.
• Licensing: you’ll need appropriate Microsoft 365 and Intune licences.
• Profile design: careful planning is required to define deployment profiles that reflect the needs of different user groups.
• Network readiness: devices need reliable internet connectivity to complete setup. [/textframe]

Autopilot in the real world

We’ve had significant success utilising Autopilot here at Littlefish, and have teamed up with a partner to offer a full hands-off device lifecycle service. For several clients we now provide a full asset lifecycle service, meaning a customer only ever must see, store, or touch a device when it’s actively in use. Our leveraging of Autopilot enables us to store a thin level of stock to facilitate new joiners, dispatch these as part of the new starter process, and have them fully configure and build devices remotely.

When the inevitable happens, however, and there’s a fault with a device that means it needs replacing, our matured processes kick in. We send a courier with a replacement which will be with the user the next working day. The courier also has a returns box which the user puts their broken device into. The user then gets on with their work using a newly built (via Autopilot) device, whilst the broken one returns to us for repair or disposal.

Likewise, when someone leaves your organisation, we can arrange a courier to go and collect all the kit and return it for reuse. As part of the full service, we will clean and repair any devices that are returned before issuing them to a new starter. Should a device be faulty, but still in warranty, we’ll arrange to have it repaired under the manufacturer’s warranty (likewise, when a device is at the end of life we’ll dispose of it in a WEEE compliant and secure manner).

Final word

Autopilot represents a major shift in how organisations think about device deployment. Using it takes the stress out of provisioning by moving the heavy lifting to the cloud and putting the user in control of setup (all under the watchful eye of IT, of course).

If your organisation is still relying on manual imaging or hands-on provisioning, Autopilot is well worth considering. It’s especially valuable for:

• Organisations with a distributed or hybrid workforce. 
• Companies looking to reduce deployment time and cost. 
• IT teams under pressure to scale without expanding headcount. 
• Businesses with seasonal or temporary workers requiring fast device turnover. 

As organisations look to future-proof their IT operations, zero-touch deployment is now the new standard. Please feel free to get in touch to find out more about how Littlefish can help with your modern workplace strategy.