Swimage Objectives



The objective of Swimage is to handle the migration of any PC at any time, with any condition imaginable.   Here is a breakdown of the Swimage objectives at a high-level.  Any combination of each item in a quadrant is possible with Swimage. 

Design Objectives

The overall design of the deployment process requires careful attention to requirements and objectives for your organization. Failure to overcome these challenges will result in a process that remains stagnant and inefficient, which will ultimately raise the cost associated with the management of the PC client.

Reduce Costs

  1. Hardware Management
    1. Extend life
    2. Properly manage life
    3. Vendor flexibility
  2. Software Licenses
    1. Remove unused applications
    2. On-demand provisioning
    3. License metering
    4. Asset management
  3. Infrastructure
    1. GPO extensions
    2. Reduce server requirements
    3. Consolidate application source
    4. Increase bandwidth
  4. Support
    1. Service desk
      1. Short staffed
      2. Knowledge-base
      3. Self-service
      4. PW reset tools
      5. Control rights
      6. 45 min reimaging policy
    2. Imaging
      1. Hardware independent
      2. Control over image patching
      3. Version control
    3. Patches
      1. Manage patches by exception
      2. Run patches for image creation from SCCM
    4. Application install/deployment
      1. Package -Package -Package
      2. If not package, centralize the source
    5. Break-fix
      1. Data Management
        1. Full image (safety net)
        2. Restore known/supported data
        3. Iron Mountain
      2. Asset Management
        1. Application Inventory
        2. Lifecycle Management
          1. Record of fixes and transfers
      3. Disposal
        1. Record of disposal

Improve User Experience

  1. Self-service Migrations
  2. Minimize downtime
  3. Increase productivity
  4. Training
  5. Spare computers/parts

Maintain Security

  1. Maintain Encryption
  2. Control Local Admin Privilege
  3. Local Admin Password
  4. Remote/Home User Management
  5. NAP/NAC Support
  6. Media control

Optimized Desktop Vision

As part of the initiative, the following objectives must be maintained in the overall vision:

• Desktop standard: All desktops configured the same way equates to predictability and scalability. It is with predictability that machines can be managed on a large scale with a small number of people.

• Single image: A single image, which works universally on all hardware models, ensures that the desktop architecture standard is maintained, which simplifies management substantially.

• Modular build: Modularity ensures that components can be introduced and tested into the build independently, which assists in maintaining a single, standard image, while improving stability and change management.

• Automated: Automation of repetitive tasks makes the PC desktop more efficient and consistent, enhancing reliability and predictability.

• Repeatable: Performing the same step once or a thousand times should have exactly the same result.

• Maintainable: As the environment changes, including policies, hardware, and software, so must the process. Simplifying the maintenance ensures that the overall goals are maintained.

• Scalable: Scalability ensures that the process remains consistent and manageable as it is introduced into very large environments.

Return to Swimage Training