Entering a new era of efficiency with zero touch provisioning  

Using traditional device provisioning methods ties up IT resources for days or weeks, pulling them away from more business-critical tasks and negatively impacting the bottom line.

Zero touch provisioning (ZTP) enables endpoint devices to be remotely provisioned and configured automatically. Devices can go straight from the manufacturer to the end user and policies, configurations and applications will automatically load when the user turns on their device.

This allows businesses to scale device deployment alongside demand across multiple locations. By using modern tools, it positions them effectively to navigate the complexities of endpoint device configuration, ushering in a new era of efficiency and productivity.

The impact and challenges of traditional device provisioning  

Traditional device provisioning significantly burdens IT teams and can become expensive. These costs aren’t merely financial but also encompass time and productivity losses. For organisations deploying many devices simultaneously, these costs escalate rapidly, affecting both the IT department and the organisation. 

The replicate-and-reapply processes are error-prone and lack scalability. These errors can potentially open security vulnerabilities and operational inefficiencies, escalating the total cost of ownership and further straining resources. 

With remote work now favoured among employees and dispersed workforces common for many organisations, traditional provisioning approaches are unsuitable for the modern business landscape. 

Businesses need approaches and solutions that streamline provisioning, reduce the burden on IT teams and ensure a smooth and efficient user experience. 

End users now expect and demand more from their employers. Inadequate technology and device management is a primary cause of employee dissatisfaction and turnover. According to the Adobe 2022 State of Work Report, 32% of workers left jobs when technology obstructed their ability to work. A second Adobe study revealed that 91% of end users want their employers to adopt new tools and software to enhance task and process efficiency. 

The advantages of zero touch provisioning 

Zero touch provisioning facilitates the automatic configuration of devices and remote onboarding. It's a cornerstone of modern management. 

The advantages of ZTP include: 

• Efficiency: ZTP reduces operational costs by conserving time and enhancing organisational productivity. New devices are onboarded in 30-45 minutes instead of days or weeks. 

• Remote management: Businesses can remotely manage or scale their operations and device deployments alongside demand, with zero touch provisioning allowing for device deployment from anywhere. 

• Consistent configurations and secure device onboarding: All devices are configured consistently according to the organisation's security policies. This helps prevent security gaps caused by inconsistent configurations and allows devices to be securely onboarded onto the network.  

• Reduces provisioning errors: Human error is one of the primary causes of device misconfiguration. ZTP allows businesses to configure and deploy devices automatically and consistently. 

• Audit trails: Automated provisioning processes generate and maintain records. This can help organisations maintain control and visibility over their network security, and an audit trail can be useful for troubleshooting and compliance purposes.  

Zero touch provisioning deployments with Microsoft 

Zero touch provisioning is a key part of Microsoft’s innovative endpoint management strategy. 

Windows Autopilot enables companies to remotely establish, preconfigure, reset and recover Windows devices. 

Devices can be made Autopilot-ready straight from the manufacturer. This is achieved by permitting device suppliers to handle all Windows Autopilot registrations within the customer’s Entra ID cloud-based tenant. This process eliminates the need for IT teams to maintain and manually load Gold corporate images, device drivers and other configuration components. Once the device is preconfigured, it can be shipped directly to the user, bypassing IT involvement. 

The correctly configured policies, settings, and applications will load automatically once the end user begins to use their new device. 

Modern device management tools, such as Devicie, facilitate ZTP, install the latest software and application versions, and aid organisations in selecting appropriate, best practice security and device management policies. By leveraging modern platforms, it prevents the use of outdated Standard Operating Environments (SOEs) and enables businesses to maintain a consistently updated and stable environment without needing a yearly maintenance project. 

Revolutionising device provisioning 

End users don't want to wait days or weeks to receive their device; they want to start working as quickly, easily, and efficiently as possible. The new era of remote and hybrid work demands technology that accommodates these changes and employee needs. 

Zero touch provisioning is a significant advancement in device lifecycle management. All organisations should prioritise the implementation of a zero touch provisioning solution to not only improve their user experience, but to also uplift their security posture.