Software Deployment Process: A Complete Guide 2022

A software deployment process is vital for the success of any project. Typically, many define it as a fixed process of deploying, configuring, and updating software applications to help ensure maximum optimization. However, today’s process can be much more complicated. This article will help you understand the basics of a software deployment process so you can deploy one to boost your business.

Why Do You Need a Software Deployment Process for Your Business?

One of the most important aspects of every software or mobile app development project is the software deployment process. Even when the development phase is finished, the project isn’t finished. Your software will not be able to serve its intended purpose until it is correctly distributed. And, that is why having a software deployment process is so important.

The process through which your software developers distribute applications, modules, updates, and patches to users is known as deployment. So, with a suitable software deployment process, your software development teams can speed up your project by creating, testing, deploying new code more quickly, and maximizing business opportunities.

Note: “Software deployment” differs from “software release”. While a software release refers to the iterative process of any given application, a software deployment process includes more functionality, optimization to reduce bugs, and other benefits.

Every Stage of a Software Deployment Process

A software deployment process mainly includes 3 basic stages which are development, testing, and monitoring. However, with the increase in complexity of modern technologies, the software deployment process also requires more steps in order to ensure a successful result.

Plan

Making a software deployment plan is an important first step in the software deployment process. What software or application are you trying to deploy? How many end-users do you expect? Are there any risks involved? Be sure to consider these questions and more before creating your plan.

Design

Designing a successful software deployment can be a daunting task. There are a variety of ways to approach this, however, the best option depends on your specific business needs. You might need to answer questions like Which type of deployment is the safest for your company’s data? Do your end users need to have the updated software at the same time, or can it be rolled out slowly? These goals can be accomplished through different types of software deployment.

Test

To ensure a successful software deployment process, you need to create a test environment that simulates your business. This testing allows you to detect any potential issues before they occur, ensuring a successful software installation.

Schedule

Breaking your software deployment plan into manageable tasks will help to ensure a successful process. Consult with your software developers or use automated software to create a schedule for when each task should be completed. Following a schedule and assigning tasks will make the software deployment process much more manageable and less prone to problems.

Deploy

After completing the previous steps, you’ll be ready to deploy the software to your endpoints. If you’ve followed the instructions carefully, launching your software or future patches should go smoothly. When it comes to software deployment, network-based employment and agent-based deployment are two main methods that are usually used in a software development process.

• Network- or domain-based deployment works by connecting computers, servers, and various devices together. Then, the developers release the software to the IT devices. For deployment to work, all computers that you aim to release the software must be connected.
• Agent-based deployment can successfully deploy software to any device with an internet connection. Newwave Solutions offers software deployment and software development services that have the capability of deploying your project successfully on any device.

Types of Software Deployment

There are many types of software deployment available, but the most common are:

• Basic Deployment. Basic deployment is the simplest type of software deployment. This type updates all the target environments simultaneously without any process or strategy. Because it doesn’t deploy software in a slow and controlled manner, it is the riskiest.
• Rolling Deployment. In rolling deployment, applications are slowly updated by replacing the old application software with the new one. Typically, rolling deployment is completed faster than blue-green deployment, but it also carries some risk because the original application is not preserved.
• Blue-Green Deployment. Blue-green deployment starts by having the original environment plus a duplicate environment. This enables you to preserve the old environment while deploying the new application simultaneously. Once the new application is deployed, make sure that everything runs properly. If any issues crop up, traffic can be redirected to the old environment so that it continues to run seamlessly. When you have determined that the new environment is free of issues, you can switch back to the new environment and end the old one.
• Canary Deployment. Canary deployment is when an application is deployed in small batches. Initially deployed, it only goes to a small group of people. Deployment then continues incrementally in staged releases. By doing this type of deployment, you can test the new deployment on a few users before deploying it to the rest of the users.

Conclusion

Effectively using a software deployment process will help your business successfully carry out software management for all your devices. It supports the continuity of business operations and prevents extensive downtime. Software deployment used as part of a unified solution with other tools like patch management, endpoint management, and backups/restores can help simplify your business’s digital transformation.

Newwave Solutions software deployment allows you to manage, deploy, and patch your software at scale. 

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