From Imaging to Configuration: Simplifying Device Setup With Faronics Deploy

Now that modern technology is as advanced as it is, setting up a new device goes well beyond plugging it in and turning it on. While certain innovations, such as cloud computing, make transferring data from an old device to a new one quite easy, there’s still a lot about device configuration that frustrates IT teams and decreases the efficiency of staff. Thankfully, Faronics Deploy can help.

What Device Setup Entails

Device setup isn’t what it used to be. The best user experience-focused tech companies make it as easy as they can, but there’s often still a great deal of work for the end user to do. This makes sense when you consider how sophisticated modern tech is, but it’s still important to have a process in place to deploy and set up new devices as efficiently as possible — especially for businesses, non-profits and institutions (such as libraries and schools).

But for modern organizations, device setup is no longer about manually installing software on one computer at a time. In 2026, the focus has shifted from “imaging” to “provisioning,” where devices are configured automatically over the cloud the moment they are taken out of the box.

Let’s look at three pillars of device setup:

OS Imaging

Traditionally, OS imaging involved creating a “Golden Image” — a massive file containing the operating system, driver and apps — and “cloning” it onto every hard drive.

Today, most businesses and non-profits have moved toward modern provisioning (like Windows Autopilot or Apple Business Manager). Instead of wiping the device and starting over, the organization uses the clean OS already on the device and “layers” its settings on top.

• Legacy imaging: This is a “thick” approach, where you build one master copy and blast it to all PCs. It’s difficult to maintain because every new laptop model requires a different set of drivers.
• Modern provisioning: This is a “thin” approach. When a user logs in for the first time, the device checks in with a cloud server, identifies the organization and automatically downloads the necessary profiles.

Application Deployment

Once the OS is ready, the next step is getting tools like Office 365, Slack or specialized CRM software onto the machine. This can happen via automated pushes or self-service portals.

With automated pushes, IT administrators target specific groups. For example, a finance team automatically gets accounting software, while a field team receives mobile data collection tools.

For self-service portals, users access a company portal instead of asking IT for every small app. They can click “install” on pre-approved software, which installs silently with no need for an administrator password. Today, most applications are deployed as “containers” or web-based links, reducing the amount of storage space used on the physical device.

Device Configuration

The device configuration phase defines the rules and security boundaries for the device. Key elements include:

• Security policies: This involves forcing disk encryption, setting password complexity and disabling USB ports if necessary.
• Connectivity: Automatically pre-configuring the office Wi-Fi and virtual private network settings means the user never has to ask for a password.
• Compliance: For compliance, the system can check a device’s health. If the antivirus is turned off, the configuration engine can automatically block the user from accessing company email until it’s fixed.

How Deploy Simplifies Device Setup

Faronics designed Deploy to ease the burden on IT teams as regards setting up new devices. Deploy is a cloud-based unified endpoint management solution that can simplify the entire lifecycle of a device. Faronics Deploy automates device setup using a modular approach.

Here’s how:

OS Imaging

Faronics Deploy moves away from old-school monolithic imaging — where one massive file contains everything — and uses a layered imaging model. This is particularly helpful for organizations with a mix of different laptop and desktop models. With Deploy, you can capture a clean master image of Windows from a physical or virtual machine with one click. 

And instead of creating a separate image for every laptop model, you can maintain one OS image and separate driver groups. Deploy mixes and matches the right drivers for that specific hardware on the fly. Furthermore, Deploy allows for flexible delivery. The solution supports several ways of getting the OS onto the machine.

Application Deployment

After installing the operating system, Faronics Deploy automates the software layer, so IT staff don’t have to run installers manually. With Deploy, organizations can benefit from:

• Pre-packaged library: Deploy includes a library of over 100+ common apps that are already “silently” configured. You don’t have to build the installers yourself.
• App presets: The solution enables you to create bundles (e.g., a “finance bundle” or a “volunteer bundle”). With one click, the system will install every app in that group.
• Custom scripting: For specialized non-profit or business software that isn’t in the library, you can upload your own scripts to be pushed out automatically.

Device Configuration

Deploy doesn’t just help IT teams set up new devices; it also helps with maintenance. A major IT problem for many organizations is configuration drift. Deploy can help stave off this issue. During the initial setup, the solution allows IT staff to pre-define the computer name, join a domain, create local admin accounts and set regional settings, such as the time zone and language.

Configuration policies are also key. With Deploy, you can define security rules, such as firewall settings or power saving modes, and apply them to groups of computers. And, if a user (or a virus) changes a setting, the Deploy dashboard flags the device as “non-compliant.” You can then use the remote control feature to fix it or simply re-deploy the configuration layer to snap it back to the organization’s standard.

Manage Drift With Deploy

Want to learn more about how Faronics Deploy can help make device setup smooth and prevent configuration drift? Contact us today to get started.