Microsoft Surface 3 - Manual (Page 18)

© 2014 Microsoft Page 18
For larger deployments, there are additional scalability considerations, such as:

Selecting technologies that maximize performance by minimizing network traffic

Do the technologies cover multiple scenarios, such as:
o Deployment to field or disconnected workers
o Distribution across sites or subnets
o Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios
o Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) scenarios
Automation
Automation refers to the ability of a deployment task to be performed without human interaction. Some key
considerations in determining the level of automation provided by a deployment tool are:

Minimizing time and effort required to configure and deploy to your organization.

Ability to reduce repetitive tasks, such as application installation, user data migration, etc.

Ability to configure using graphical, on-screen wizards, instead of complex command-lines. The more complex
and manual a process is, the more the possibility exists that errors will be introduced.
Compatibility
A key requirement of any deployment technology is the compatibility of the solution with the hardware and operating
systems in your environment. For example, some deployment tools lack the ability to deploy to latest generation
hardware due to changes in the way that storage and firmware are managed. For example, Surface Pro 3 is a UEFI 2.3.1
class 3 device, so many older technologies may not be compatible.
Price
The cost of a deployment solution is an important consideration. You may have some deployment solutions already
implemented or licensed in your environment. For example, Windows Deployment Services is a feature included with
Windows Server or you may have System Center Configuration Manager already implemented as a management
solution. Some of the technologies discussed in this guide, such as Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and Windows
Automated Deployment Kit are available at no charge.
Third Party Tools
This guide is written to highlight Microsoft technologies, but it is possible to use some third-party tools and technologies
to deploy Surface Pro 3 devices. While this guide is unable to address specific third-party tools, there are two factors to
consider:
1. Many third-party tools use sector-based imaging, which makes servicing and automation difficult or impossible.
2. Some third-party tools simply serve as a wrapper around Microsoft tools and technologies. These third-party
tools may leverage boot media provided by Microsoft tools, or employ a mounting solution for servicing sector-
based images, but use Microsoft technologies to do so.
Microsoft Tools
There are many deployment tools and technologies provided by Microsoft for Windows deployment. These tools
provide a variety of solutions that range in complexity and functionality. Some tools are very specific utilities designed