Endpoint management used to be simpler. Machines sat in a building, connected to a network, managed by on-premises servers. Your devices were where you expected them to be, and your management tools could reach them reliably.
That world is disappearing. Devices now scatter across locations - branch offices, home offices, classrooms, public sites. Users expect to work from anywhere. IT teams are smaller relative to the number of devices they manage. And the traditional approach of managing everything through on-premises infrastructure becomes increasingly impractical.
Faronics Cloud is our response to this shift: a cloud-based endpoint management platform that lets IT teams manage devices wherever they are, without requiring on-premises servers, VPNs, or complex infrastructure. This guide explains what Faronics Cloud is, what problems it solves, who it's designed for, and how to know if it's the right fit for your environment.
What Faronics Cloud Is
Faronics Cloud is a cloud-hosted platform for managing Windows and Mac endpoints. It provides a single web-based console where you can deploy, configure, monitor, and maintain devices - regardless of where those devices are physically located.
What it manages. Faronics Cloud manages our endpoint protection tools: Deep Freeze (reboot-to-restore), Anti-Executable (application whitelisting), WINSelect (desktop restriction), and related utilities. You configure policies in the cloud console, and those policies push to devices over the internet.
How it works. A lightweight agent installed on each device maintains a secure connection to the Faronics Cloud service. The agent checks in regularly, receives configuration updates, reports status, and executes commands. All communication happens over standard HTTPS - no special ports, no VPN requirements, no complex firewall rules.
Where it lives. The management console is entirely web-based. Log in from any browser, anywhere. There's no server to install, no database to maintain, no infrastructure to manage on your end. Faronics hosts and maintains the platform; you use it.
What it replaces. For Faronics tools, it replaces the traditional on-premises Faronics Core Console. Instead of running management software on your own servers, you use the cloud service. For broader IT management, it complements (and can replace) tools like Microsoft Intune, SCCM, or other enterprise management platforms.
Problems Faronics Cloud Solves for IT Teams
Cloud endpoint management addresses specific pain points that traditional on-premises management struggles with:
Managing devices outside your network. With on-premises management, devices need to connect to your internal network to receive updates and configuration changes. Laptops that travel, machines at remote sites, devices in users' homes - they're invisible until they connect back. Faronics Cloud reaches devices wherever they have internet access. A laptop in a hotel, a kiosk at a branch office, a computer in a teacher's home - all manageable from the same console.
Eliminating on-premises infrastructure. Traditional management requires servers: database servers, management consoles, distribution points. These require hardware, licences, maintenance, backups, and expertise to run. Faronics Cloud eliminates this entirely. No servers to maintain. No databases to back up. No infrastructure to secure. You access a web console; we handle the rest.
Simplifying multi-site management. Organisations with multiple locations traditionally needed either a management server at each site or complex networking to reach remote machines. Faronics Cloud doesn't care where devices are. A district with 50 schools manages all of them from one console. A company with offices across the country sees everything in one place.
Enabling small IT teams to manage at scale. Small teams can't afford dedicated infrastructure staff. Faronics Cloud removes infrastructure from the equation. Three-person IT teams manage thousands of devices because the platform handles complexity they'd otherwise need to build and maintain themselves.
Reducing time-to-value for new deployments. With on-premises management, deploying to a new site means extending your infrastructure: VPNs, firewall rules, perhaps local servers. With Faronics Cloud, you install the agent and you're done. New devices check in immediately. New sites come online in minutes, not weeks.
Who Faronics Cloud Is Designed For
Faronics Cloud fits certain organisational profiles better than others:
K-12 schools and school districts. Managing computer labs, library machines, classroom devices, and staff laptops across multiple buildings. IT teams are typically small relative to device counts. Deep Freeze for lab protection, WINSelect for lockdown, all managed centrally without on-premises servers at each school.
Public libraries and library systems. Public-access computers across branches, managed by small central IT teams. Devices need protection from patron misuse; IT needs visibility and control without visiting each location.
Small and medium businesses. Companies without large IT departments or dedicated infrastructure staff. Need to protect shared workstations, training room PCs, or public-facing terminals without building enterprise-scale management infrastructure.
Managed service providers (MSPs). Managing devices across multiple client sites from a single platform. Each client's devices can be organised separately whilst administration happens from one console. No need to integrate with each client's internal infrastructure.
Organisations with distributed locations. Retail chains, healthcare networks, government agencies with branch offices, franchises. Devices spread across many sites, managed by central IT. Cloud management reaches them all equally.
IT teams that want simplicity. Even organisations that could run on-premises infrastructure may choose cloud management simply because it's easier. Less to maintain, less to troubleshoot, less complexity overall.
What Types of Devices Faronics Cloud Manages
Faronics Cloud manages Windows and Mac endpoints running Faronics protection software:
Windows workstations. Windows 10 and Windows 11 (and earlier supported versions). Desktop PCs, laptops, all-in-ones, thin clients running Windows. This is the primary use case - shared Windows machines in labs, libraries, training rooms, and public access points.
Mac computers. Deep Freeze for Mac is managed through Faronics Cloud. Schools and organisations with Mac labs can protect and manage them alongside Windows devices in the same console.
What it doesn't manage. Faronics Cloud is not a general-purpose MDM (mobile device management) platform. It doesn't manage iOS devices, Android devices, or Chromebooks. It's specifically for Windows and Mac endpoints running Faronics tools. If you need mobile device management or Chromebook management, you'll need complementary tools.
Integration with other tools. Faronics Cloud focuses on what Faronics tools do: reboot-to-restore, application whitelisting, desktop lockdown. It complements rather than replaces broader endpoint management platforms. Many organisations use Faronics Cloud alongside Microsoft Intune, SCCM, or other enterprise tools - each handling what it does best.
How Cloud-Based Management Changes Daily IT Work
Moving from on-premises to cloud management changes how IT teams operate day-to-day:
Visibility from anywhere. Check device status from home, from a coffee shop, from your phone. No need to be on the corporate network or VPN into management servers. If you have internet access, you have visibility.
Respond to issues remotely. User reports a problem at a remote site. Log into Faronics Cloud, check the device status, push a configuration change, schedule a reboot - all without travelling or coordinating local access. Problems that previously required site visits become solvable remotely.
Deploy changes once, apply everywhere. Update a policy, and it pushes to all devices in that policy group - regardless of where they are. No waiting for devices to connect to internal networks. Changes propagate as devices check in.
No infrastructure maintenance. No patching management servers. No database maintenance. No certificate renewals on internal systems. No server hardware refreshes. The time you'd spend maintaining infrastructure gets redirected to actual IT work.
Easier onboarding and offboarding. New IT staff get access to the console immediately - no installing management tools, no configuring connections. Former staff lose access just as easily. Access management happens in the cloud, not on local systems.
Automatic platform updates. Faronics updates the cloud platform continuously. New features appear in your console without you deploying anything. Bug fixes happen in the background. You're always on the current version.
When Faronics Cloud Is a Good Fit
Faronics Cloud is typically the right choice when:
• You have devices distributed across multiple locations
• You want to avoid on-premises management infrastructure
• Your IT team is small relative to the number of devices
• You need to manage devices that aren't always on your network
• You value simplicity over maximum customisation
• You're deploying new sites frequently and need fast time-to-value
• You don't have dedicated infrastructure staff
For schools, libraries, SMBs, and distributed organisations, these conditions are often the norm. Cloud endpoint management matches how these organisations actually operate.
Getting Started with Faronics Cloud
If Faronics Cloud sounds like a fit, here's what the path forward looks like:
Trial. Start with a 30-day free trial. Deploy on representative devices - a few lab machines, a remote kiosk, devices at different locations. See how cloud management works in your environment before committing.
Deployment. Install the Faronics Cloud agent on endpoints. This can be done manually, through your existing deployment tools (SCCM, PDQ, imaging), or via downloadable installer packages. Devices appear in your console as they check in.
Configuration. Create policy groups for different device types: lab machines, library PCs, staff laptops. Configure Deep Freeze, WINSelect, and Anti-Executable settings for each group. Push policies to devices.
Ongoing management. Monitor device status, schedule maintenance windows, respond to issues, adjust configurations as needs change. The console provides visibility; you make decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Faronics Cloud secure?
Yes. Communication between agents and the cloud service is encrypted via HTTPS. The platform is hosted on secure infrastructure with appropriate certifications. Access to your console is protected by authentication. We take security seriously - we're in the business of protecting endpoints, after all.
What happens if internet connectivity is lost?
Faronics tools continue working locally. Deep Freeze still protects the machine. Anti-Executable still blocks unauthorised software. WINSelect restrictions still apply. The device just doesn't receive new configuration updates or report status until connectivity returns. Protection doesn't depend on constant connectivity.
Can I migrate from on-premises Core Console to Faronics Cloud?
Yes. You can transition devices from Core Console management to Faronics Cloud management. The process involves installing the cloud agent alongside or replacing the existing agent. Contact our team for migration guidance specific to your deployment.
What's the pricing model?
Faronics Cloud uses subscription licensing, typically per-device per-year. This includes the cloud platform and the endpoint protection tools you deploy. Contact sales for specific pricing based on your device count and product requirements.
Does Faronics Cloud replace Microsoft Intune or SCCM?
No - it complements them. Faronics Cloud manages Faronics-specific capabilities: reboot-to-restore, application whitelisting, desktop lockdown. Intune and SCCM handle broader device management: OS deployment, software distribution, compliance policies. Many organisations use both, each handling what it does best.
The Bottom Line
Faronics Cloud is a cloud endpoint management platform that lets IT teams manage devices remotely without on-premises infrastructure. It's designed for organisations with distributed devices, small IT teams, and a preference for simplicity over complexity.
For schools, libraries, SMBs, and multi-site organisations, cloud-based management matches how work actually happens today. Devices are everywhere; management should be able to reach them everywhere.
Whether Faronics Cloud is right for you depends on your environment. If you're managing devices across locations, want to avoid infrastructure overhead, and value simplicity - it's worth evaluating. If all your devices are on-premises and you have established infrastructure - on-premises management remains a valid choice.
Ready to See Faronics Cloud in Action?
Try it free for 30 days, or request a demo to see how it fits your environment.
