When you're evaluating endpoint management solutions, deployment time matters. Nobody wants a six-month implementation project that consumes your team's time and delays the protection you need. But unrealistic vendor claims of "deploy in minutes" often ignore the real-world work involved.
So how long does Faronics Cloud deployment actually take? The honest answer: it depends on your environment, your approach, and how much preparation you've done. A single test machine can be protected in under an hour. A full production rollout to hundreds of devices typically takes days to a couple of weeks - not because the technology is slow, but because thoughtful deployment takes time.
This guide breaks down what deployment actually involves, provides realistic timelines for different scenarios, and highlights what speeds things up or slows things down.
What "Deployment" Actually Involves
Before discussing timelines, let's clarify what we mean by deployment. It's not just installing software - it's a process with distinct phases:
Phase 1: Account setup and console familiarisation. Create your Faronics Cloud account, log in to the console, understand the interface. This is quick - typically 15-30 minutes. But don't skip the familiarisation; you'll be more efficient if you understand the console before configuring policies.
Phase 2: Policy configuration. Before deploying to devices, decide how you want them configured. What should Deep Freeze protect? What should WINSelect restrict? What applications should Anti-Executable allow? Create policy groups for different device types. This planning phase takes anywhere from an hour to a day, depending on environment complexity.
Phase 3: Baseline preparation. For Deep Freeze deployments, machines need to be in their "known-good" state before freezing. Install all required software. Configure settings properly. Test that everything works. This might already be done if you're deploying to freshly imaged machines; it takes longer if you're retrofitting existing machines.
Phase 4: Agent installation. Install the Faronics Cloud agent on endpoints. This can happen manually (run an installer), via deployment tools (SCCM, PDQ, Group Policy), or baked into your imaging process. Per-machine installation takes 5-10 minutes; automated deployment to many machines happens in parallel.
Phase 5: Verification and testing. Confirm devices appear in the console. Verify policies applied correctly. Test that protection works as expected. Log in as a test user and try the things you're trying to prevent. This is often rushed or skipped - don't. Testing catches configuration mistakes before they affect users.
Phase 6: Rollout to production. Deploy to your full device fleet. This might be all at once or in phases. Monitor for issues. Address problems that emerge. Communicate with users and stakeholders.
The technical parts (agent installation) are fast. The thoughtful parts (planning, testing, phased rollout) take longer but prevent problems.
Typical Deployment Timeline by Scenario
Here are realistic timelines for common deployment scenarios:
Single test machine (proof of concept)
Timeline: 30-60 minutes
Create account, install agent on one machine, apply a basic policy, test that it works. This is "time to first protected device" - useful for initial evaluation but not representative of full deployment.
Small deployment (10-50 devices, single site)
Timeline: 1-3 days
Day 1: Account setup, policy configuration, baseline preparation on representative machines, pilot deployment to 5-10 devices
Day 2: Testing, refinement based on pilot feedback, deployment to remaining devices
Day 3: Verification, user communication, documentation
Medium deployment (50-200 devices, possibly multiple sites)
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Week 1: Planning and policy configuration (1-2 days), pilot deployment (1-2 days), testing and refinement (1-2 days)
Week 2: Phased production rollout, monitoring, issue resolution, documentation
Large deployment (200+ devices, multiple sites)
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Week 1: Detailed planning, policy design for different device groups, baseline preparation, deployment infrastructure setup
Week 2: Pilot deployment at representative sites, testing across different scenarios, refinement
Weeks 3-4: Phased production rollout (by site, by device type, or by OU), monitoring, issue resolution, training
Real-world example: School district (500+ devices across 10 buildings)
Timeline: 2-3 weeks, often timed with school breaks
Pre-break: Policy configuration, pilot testing on a single lab
During break: Mass deployment via imaging or deployment tools
Post-break: Verification, issue resolution, user training
The key insight: Technical deployment is fast. A well-prepared organisation can install agents on hundreds of machines in a single day. The time is in preparation, testing, and thoughtful rollout - not in the software installation itself.
What Affects Deployment Speed
Some factors accelerate deployment; others slow it down:
Factors that speed up deployment:
• Existing deployment infrastructure (SCCM, PDQ, imaging solutions) - push agents to many machines automatically
• Standardised machine configurations - fewer policy variations needed
• Freshly imaged machines already in known-good state - no baseline preparation needed
• Clear requirements and decisions already made - less planning time
• Dedicated deployment window (school break, weekend) - uninterrupted work
• Experience with Faronics tools - familiarity reduces learning curve
Factors that slow down deployment:
• Manual per-machine installation - scales linearly with device count
• Diverse machine configurations - more policy groups, more testing
• Machines in unknown state - need assessment and preparation before freezing
• Unclear requirements - decision-making during deployment
• Machines actively in use - limited deployment windows
• Multiple stakeholders requiring approval - organisational delays
• Remote or poorly-connected sites - network constraints on agent distribution
The biggest variable is usually baseline preparation. If machines need software installed, settings configured, and problems fixed before freezing, that takes time. If machines are already in their intended state (from fresh imaging or prior standardisation), deployment is dramatically faster.
Rolling Out Gradually vs All at Once
Two basic approaches to production rollout, each with trade-offs:
All-at-once ("big bang") deployment
Approach: Deploy to all devices in a single window (often a weekend or school break).
Advantages: Faster overall timeline. Consistent state across all devices. Single deployment effort. Users return to fully-protected environment.
Risks: If something's wrong with the configuration, it affects all devices simultaneously. Less time to discover issues before wide impact. More pressure to get it right first time.
Best for: Organisations with clear requirements, thorough testing, standardised machines, and dedicated deployment windows.
Phased rollout
Approach: Deploy to groups of devices over time - perhaps by site, by department, or by risk level.
Advantages: Configuration problems affect limited devices first. Time to discover and fix issues. Lower risk per phase. Learnings from early phases improve later phases.
Risks: Longer overall timeline. Mixed environment during rollout. May require multiple deployment windows. More coordination overhead.
Best for: Large or complex environments, risk-averse organisations, deployments without dedicated windows, first-time Faronics users.
Our recommendation: Always pilot first, regardless of which approach you choose for production. Deploy to 5-10 representative machines, test thoroughly, refine configuration, then proceed with your chosen rollout method. The pilot catches problems before they affect production users.
Common Deployment Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
We've seen thousands of deployments. Here are the mistakes that cause the most problems:
Skipping the pilot. Deploying directly to production because "we don't have time" or "it's simple." Then discovering a configuration problem that affects all devices. Always pilot. Even a single day of testing saves days of troubleshooting.
Freezing machines that aren't ready. Deploying Deep Freeze before baselines are properly configured. Now you're thawing machines to fix what should have been fixed beforehand. Prepare baselines thoroughly before freezing.
Not testing as end users. Testing only with admin accounts. Policies that work for admins may behave differently for standard users. Log in as a test user with normal permissions and try actual workflows.
Over-restricting initially. Configuring maximum lockdown immediately, then discovering it breaks legitimate workflows. Start with moderate restrictions, verify functionality, then tighten as needed.
Not documenting configuration. Making decisions during deployment without recording them. Six months later, nobody knows why certain settings were chosen. Document as you go.
Ignoring maintenance requirements. Focusing entirely on initial deployment without planning ongoing maintenance windows. Deep Freeze requires thaw periods for updates. Build this into your planning from the start.
Not communicating with users. Deploying protection without explaining to users what's changed. Users encounter unexpected behaviour, generate support tickets, and blame IT. Communicate before, during, and after deployment.
Trying to deploy everything at once. Deploying Deep Freeze, WINSelect, Anti-Executable, and web filtering simultaneously. When something breaks, which tool caused it? Deploy one tool, verify it works, then add additional layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really deploy to a machine in under an hour?
Yes, for a single machine that's already in its intended state. Create account (5 minutes), configure basic policy (15 minutes), install agent (5 minutes), verify (10 minutes). But don't confuse "first device protected" with "production deployment complete."
Do I need to visit each machine physically?
Not necessarily. Agent installation can be automated via SCCM, PDQ Deploy, Group Policy, imaging, or remote management tools. If you have deployment infrastructure, use it. If you don't, manual installation requires physical or remote desktop access.
What if we have devices at multiple locations?
Faronics Cloud is designed for exactly this. Once the agent is installed, devices check in over the internet regardless of location. The challenge is getting the agent installed initially - either via automated deployment tools, remote access, or coordinating with on-site staff.
Can deployment happen during working hours?
Agent installation typically requires a reboot. Deep Freeze initial freeze requires a reboot. These interruptions are brief but present. For production machines, after-hours or scheduled maintenance windows are preferable. For new or reimaged machines, deploy before they enter production.
How do I include Faronics in our imaging process?
Install the agent as part of your standard image, configured to check in to your Faronics Cloud account. When machines are deployed from the image, they automatically appear in your console. This is the most efficient approach for new deployments.
The Bottom Line: Days, Not Months
Faronics Cloud deployment is measured in days or weeks, not months. A small environment can be protected in a day or two. Large deployments typically complete within 2-4 weeks. The technology is fast; the time investment is in thoughtful preparation and careful rollout.
What makes deployment smooth: standardised baselines, existing deployment tools, clear requirements, thorough piloting, and phased rollout. What causes delays: manual processes, unprepared machines, unclear decisions, and skipped testing.
Invest time in doing it right rather than doing it fast. A well-planned deployment prevents ongoing problems. A rushed deployment creates ongoing headaches.
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