Before committing to any endpoint management platform, you need to know: will it actually manage my devices? Nothing's more frustrating than discovering your tool doesn't support your operating systems, device types, or deployment scenarios after you've already invested in it.

This guide provides a clear answer for Faronics Cloud: what devices it supports, what it doesn't, how it handles mixed environments, and how to think about different device categories in your organisation.

Supported Operating Systems

Let's be direct about what Faronics Cloud manages:

Windows

Faronics Cloud fully supports Windows endpoints. This is the primary platform for Deep Freeze, WINSelect, and Anti-Executable.

Supported versions:

• Windows 11 (all editions)

• Windows 10 (all editions)

• Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016 (for specific use cases)

• Earlier Windows versions may be supported - check documentation for specific version compatibility

Device types: Desktops, laptops, all-in-ones, thin clients, tablets running full Windows, virtual machines. If it runs a supported Windows version, Faronics Cloud can manage it.

macOS

Deep Freeze for Mac is available and manageable through Faronics Cloud. This allows Mac labs and shared Mac environments to benefit from reboot-to-restore protection.

Supported versions:

• macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, and recent prior versions

• Check documentation for specific version compatibility as Apple releases updates

Available features: Deep Freeze for Mac provides reboot-to-restore functionality. WINSelect and Anti-Executable are Windows-specific products.

What Faronics Cloud Does NOT Manage

Being clear about limitations is important. Faronics Cloud has an add-on MDM module for managing:

• iOS devices (iPhones, iPads)

• Android devices (phones, tablets)

• Chromebooks (Chrome OS devices).

It does not manage:

• Linux desktops (Ubuntu, etc.)

• Network devices (printers, routers, IoT)

Managing Windows and Mac Devices Together

For organisations with both Windows and Mac computers, Faronics Cloud provides a single console:

One console, both platforms. Windows and Mac devices appear in the same Faronics Cloud console. You can view, configure, and manage both from one place.

Platform-specific features. Deep Freeze works on both platforms. WINSelect and Anti-Executable are Windows-only. When you create policies, you'll work with the features available for each platform.

Separate policy groups. Create device groups by platform. Your "Windows Labs" group contains Windows machines with Windows-specific policies. Your "Mac Labs" group contains Macs with Mac-specific settings. Organise however makes sense for your environment.

Common use case: A school with Windows computer labs and a Mac creative lab. All machines managed from one console. Windows labs get Deep Freeze, WINSelect restrictions, and Anti-Executable. Mac labs get Deep Freeze for Mac. Same console, platform-appropriate protection.

Grouping Devices by Role

Beyond operating system, devices serve different purposes. Faronics Cloud lets you organise and configure devices based on their role:

By location. Group devices by building, floor, branch, or site. "Main Library," "North Branch," "South Branch" - each with appropriate policies. Useful for multi-site organisations where different locations may have different requirements or maintenance windows.

By function. Group devices by what they do. "Public PCs," "Staff Workstations," "Training Room," "Exam Computers," "Kiosks." Each function gets policies appropriate to its use case. Public PCs get maximum lockdown; staff workstations might have fewer restrictions.

By department or user group. Group devices by who uses them. "IT Department," "Marketing," "Student Labs," "Teacher Workstations." Different groups may need different software whitelists, different restriction levels, or different maintenance schedules.

By risk level. Group devices by exposure. "High-risk" public-facing machines get maximum protection - Deep Freeze, WINSelect, Anti-Executable. "Medium-risk" internal shared devices get Deep Freeze and moderate restrictions. "Lower-risk" staff machines might have Deep Freeze only.

Practical example: A library system might organise like this:

• Public PCs (all branches) - Deep Freeze + WINSelect + Anti-Executable, maximum lockdown, reboot between patrons

• Children's area PCs - Same protection, plus web filtering integration

• Staff workstations - Deep Freeze only, minimal restrictions, longer maintenance windows

• Catalogue stations - Deep Freeze + WINSelect kiosk mode, locked to catalogue application

Each group has policies matching its requirements. One console manages everything.

Device Hardware Considerations

Faronics tools don't have demanding hardware requirements, but some considerations matter:

Storage type. SSDs are strongly recommended over mechanical hard drives. Deep Freeze involves frequent disk activity during freeze/thaw operations. Profile creation on frozen systems is disk-intensive. SSDs handle this dramatically better - faster logins, faster reboots, better overall performance.

RAM. Faronics tools have minimal memory overhead. However, Windows itself performs better with adequate RAM. For Windows 10/11, 8 GB is a reasonable minimum for general use; 16 GB provides headroom for heavier workloads.

Processor. No special CPU requirements. If the device runs Windows/macOS adequately, it will run Faronics tools fine.

Network. Devices need internet access to communicate with Faronics Cloud. Standard connectivity is sufficient - no special bandwidth requirements for management traffic.

Virtualisation. Deep Freeze works on virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, VirtualBox, etc.). This is useful for VDI environments or testing scenarios.

The Bottom Line: Windows and Mac, Focused and Effective

Faronics Cloud manages Windows and Mac endpoints - specifically, shared-access devices where reboot-to-restore, application whitelisting, and desktop lockdown provide value. It's not a general-purpose MDM for every device type.

This focus is intentional. Rather than trying to manage everything adequately, Faronics Cloud manages Windows and Mac shared devices excellently. For schools, libraries, and organisations with mixed device types, use Faronics Cloud for what it does best and complementary tools for other platforms.

Organise your devices by role, location, or risk level. Apply appropriate policies to each group. Manage everything from one console. That's effective endpoint device management.