Best Operating System Deployment Software [Updated for 2024]

Operating system deployment software is one of the most important categories of software you need today. Thanks to intense competition, OS deployment tools nowadays offer very high levels of functionality at a low cost for most people.

Finding the best OS deployment software can be challenging, given how many options are now available on the market. That's why we spent countless hours researching every piece of software we could get our hands on.

We've mentioned the Windows 10 system image backup before. In this article, we'll share with you our top picks for operating system deployment software, based on our experience with these tools. Read on to choose the best OS deployment tool for you.

What is Operating System Deployment?

It takes time to switch between devices and change installation settings, but there is a more efficient way: operating-system imaging and deployment software. An imaging-deployment tool captures an operating-system image and deploys it remotely to multiple machines.

In this article, we will introduce you to the best Windows deployment software that will help you deploy an installer from one computer to another in a matter of seconds. But before we start listing the tools, let's first define operating system deployment.

The OS Deployment feature enables you to deploy a captured operating system image to target computers. OS Deployer lets you generate a master image of an operating system and deliver it from a single location to PCs and servers.

This approach helps to standardize the operating system across an organization, reducing maintenance, training, and administration costs. Now that you know how OS deployment works, let's look at what it can do for you.

From the preceding sections, you probably have an idea of what OS deployment entails; but how do OS deployment tools help you simplify OS deployment? Here are some features of OS deployment tools and why we recommend them.

• Straightforward backup and migration: Create an operating system image for backup, migration, or restoration using the software.
• Deploy images online or offline: Deploy or generate default operating system images whether you're connected to the internet or not.
• Deploy across different computers: Facilitates deployment across multiple computers and networks.

An OS deployment tool has these three fundamental capabilities. Read on to learn more about the top OS deployment tools out there.

Complete Guide: How to Deploy Windows 10/11 to Multiple Computers

This guide provides detailed steps on how to create and deploy system images, as well as set up and install operating systems on multiple computers simultaneously.

"Best Operating System Deployment Software"

As mentioned earlier, some of the basic functionalities of OS deployment software are useful, provided you know the best OS deployment software. Here are the top 10 OS deployment software.

Here are the translations of the software names into English: 1. Todo Backup - All-Round Backup Solution 2. Deploy Manager - Expert's Choice 3. NinjaOne Backup - User-Friendly Operation 4. ManageEngine OS Deployer - Rapid Deployment Tool 5. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office - Comprehensive Package for Desktop Users 6. SmartDeploy - Intelligent Solution 7. KACE Systems Deployment Appliance - Best for File Configuration 8. Symantec Ghost Solution Suite - Ideal for Bare-Metal Devices 9. Ivanti DSM - Best for Touchless Imaging 10. SmartImager - Supports All Windows Versions

1. Todo Backup Tools – Comprehensive solutions

When it comes to disk imaging, backup, migration, and recovery, Todo Backup is usually our tool of choice. Fortunately, you can now use this excellent software to deploy or create operating system images.

It boasts the most intuitive interface, simplifying every action to help you find the perfect answer in seconds. It comes equipped with some of the most exciting features, making it the top choice for everyone. Here are a few examples.

Main features:

• Clone, upgrade, and deploy data:
  Effortlessly clone disks and upgrade your data in minutes with Todo Backup, hassle-free.
• Efficient and secure backup and recovery:
  Easily set up system image or critical data backups with Todo Backup, ensuring your data is always safe.
• Bootable Windows PE disc:
  In emergencies, it enables users to create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD. Indispensable when the Windows system fails to start.
• Safe recovery environment:
  When your system crashes, the recovery environment allows you to promptly perform system backup restoration or other backup recovery operations.

Advantages:

• System Image Recovery
• Create backup images for multiple devices
• Safe recovery
• Automatically back up PC

Disadvantages:

• Sometimes slow when generating images

Supported Systems:

It works on all versions of Windows and macOS.

Price:

It provides a free trial, but to keep using it, users have to pay $29.95 annually.

【Editor's Choice】:

For operating system deployment images, we prefer Todo Backup, which offers a variety of recovery and backup options. It combines cloning and migration features, letting you deploy, back up, or restore system images.

2. Deploy Manager – Recommended for experts

Our experts recommend Toolset Deployment Manager as the second-best deployment manager. Toolset Deployment Manager lets you deploy and configure Windows systems as quickly as you would set up a new PC/server, simplifying IT management and boosting productivity.

This excellent solution is ideal for rapid, unattended deployment of bare-metal installations across large numbers of PCs or servers, ensuring that changes made to the target environment are applied in a structured way, without requiring manual installation of Windows on each PC.

Main features:

- Add machines: You can augment your IT infrastructure by importing a list of machines or entering Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. Both methods are effective. - Create system images: Create an exact system image, including parameters specific to a master machine, and deploy it in one step to multiple machines online. - Remote control: When deploying systems over the network, you can power on or wake machines from a remote location. - Deploy across hardware: Deploy the same system image to different hardware, including various machines online.

Advantages:

1. A simple solution for system deployment.
2. Set up systems on new computers, workstations, and servers.
3. Restore Windows to a desired state or to different hardware.

Drawbacks:

1. Users often encounter issues while uninstalling the program.
2. Sometimes, this tool fails to recover data completely.

Supported Systems:

It works on all versions of Windows.

Price:

Its commercial versions cost $12 per desktop and $45 per server.

3. NinjaOne Backup - User-Friendly

NinjaOne offers several backup solutions. It lets you create operating system images for recreating setups or restoring them. It also provides file-level and application-specific backup methods, along with bit-by-bit full disk duplication.

<Key Features>:

1. Cloud-based software 2. Multi-tier backup strategy 3. Network console tailored for MSPs (Managed Service Providers)

Advantages:

1. Flexible and configurable service
2. User-initiated self-recovery
3. Prepare for migration, recover to new devices
4. Automated recovery as an option

Disadvantages:

You would apply for a customized quote, but you would pay only for the products and services you actually use.

Supported devices:

Support all types of devices.

Price:

It offers a 14-day free trial, after which it charges for the services you use. NinjaOne doesn't charge for services you don't use, so it's best to get a customized quote.

4. ManageEngine OS Deployer – A tool for quick deployments

ManageEngine OS Deployer is a deployment platform that creates and distributes default operating system images online and offline. You can customize images with authentication passwords and distribute them to various machines. It lets you deploy operating systems to remote PCs through a console, without having to deal with each device individually.

Features:

Create and save a system image Deploy the system image Online and offline deployment options You can deploy the image over the network or the Internet.

Advantages:

- Single-site or multi-site operation options - Continuous screenshot capture for devices in use - User profile data migration - Automation and bulk operation capabilities

Disadvantages:

• No cloud version available

Supported devices:

It works on any device, whether it's a Mac or a PC.

Price:

It offers a 30-day free trial, and pricing is quote-based according to your needs.

5. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office¹ – A complete solution designed for desktops.

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is a suite of security and disk-management tools for desktops and laptops.

The imaging system offers plenty of options for storing your data, whether that's on local portable storage, a remote server, a private cloud (such as Azure or AWS), a commercial cloud platform, or even the Acronis Cloud. Plus, Acronis scans your data for viruses during both backup and recovery.

Main features:

Here are the English translations for the phrases you provided: 1.
• Create file and application backups
2.
• Online storage
3.
• Disk management utilities

Advantages:

It combines backup services with malware protection. Supports deployment and disk cloning. Aids in setting up replication or data migration. Higher-tier plans include cloud storage.

Disadvantages:

• No support for Linux

Supported Devices:

Available only on Windows and macOS devices.

Price:

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is available in three tiers: Basic for $49.99 per year, Advanced for $89.99, and Premium for $124.99.

6. SmartDeploy – The Smart Solution

SmartDeploy is a desktop solution that combines computer imaging and application deployment. Users can create a “golden” Windows image and deploy it to any make or model of PC. Managing one image is much more efficient than installing multiple operating system images individually. Deploy to up to 25 devices at once with SmartDeploy.

Main features:

- Extraction and storage automation - Large-scale deployment - Virtual machine preview functionality

Advantages:

* Support for over 1,200 hardware models with their respective drivers * Automated processes for extraction and deployment

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for users only looking for disk imaging features
• No support for macOS or Linux

Supported devices:

Available only in Windows operating systems.

Price:

SmartDeploy comes in three editions – Basic, Core and Professional – with annual pricing starting at $960 ( £724.72).

7. KACE Systems Deployment Appliance – Best for File Configuration

KACE Systems Deployment Appliance is an operating system deployment and imaging tool that transfers configuration files to devices. Its graphical user interface and task engine streamline the user experience by providing real-time control over deployment jobs and restarts.

It also includes automation features that can perform manual operations, such as installing applications and deploying scripts, remotely. You can also recover remote systems.

Main features:

• Schedule distribution
• Operating system driver library
• Deploy applications or operating systems

Advantages:

• Select images to deploy from an app and deploy them across the device
• Deploy images in bulk
• Integrate deployments into your onboarding automation workflow

Disadvantages:

Not suitable for MSPs or larger multi-site organizations.

Supported devices:

It works for all kinds of devices.

Price:

A 30-day free trial is available; for a quote on KACE Systems Deployment Appliance, contact the company directly.

8. Symantec Ghost Solution Suite – Best for Imaging Non-Bootable Devices

Symantec Ghost Solution Suite is a software imaging and deployment platform that enables the distribution of software and custom settings to bare-metal machines. It supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Multiple users can access it simultaneously from any browser, making it ideal for remote work.

Main features:

- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux systems - Deployment of software or operating systems - Rapid deployment

Advantages:

1. The wizard provides a step-by-step guide to performing various operations
2. You can choose the level of detail for images
3. Reconfigure the device

Disadvantages:

1. The pricing model is unclear.
2. It's geared mainly toward system administrators, so it may not be the best choice for home users.

Supported Devices:

Symantec Ghost Solution Suite works with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Price:

It costs a minimum of $39, available through partners or the company's website.

9. Ivanti DSM – Best for Unattended Imaging

Ivanti is a zero-touch system imaging and migration platform. The software is easy to set up, with several wizards to assist with the installation of operating systems and drivers. New services can be initiated by selecting the type of deployment you wish to roll out.

Main features:

1. Comprehensive endpoint management system
2. Different imaging options at different levels
3. Imaging wizard

Advantages:

1. A wizard to help you with management tasks (a tool that might guide you through system setups or administrative work)
2. Creation of installation packages or file transfer bundles
3. Automated image deployment (possibly referring to automated software deployment, such as operating systems or applications)

Drawbacks:

1. No cloud base version available
2. No pricing list available

Supported devices:

It works only on Windows.

Price:

To view pricing information, you would need to request a custom quote, but before that, you can try the software with a free trial.

10. SmartImager - Supports all versions of Windows

（Image: A screenshot of the SmartImager tool's interface）

SmartImager is an image deployment software solution that works with any version of Windows. Thanks to its dynamic scripting engine, you don't need to write scripts to distribute operating system images. Furthermore, it automates the driver distribution process and selects the most optimized drivers for a specific platform, thus accelerating the deployment procedure.

Main Features:

• Compatible with Windows operating systems
• Extract and save operating system images
• Automate image deployment

Advantages:

• Compatibility with all Windows versions, including Windows Server for automated driver deployment
• Mobile device management app
• 60-day free trial

Disadvantages:

• Not applicable to Linux and macOS devices

Supported devices:

Supports only the Windows operating system

Price:

SmartImager costs $4,495 (approximately £3,461) per year for imaging deployment on up to 500 machines. For other requirements, you can contact the company directly for a custom quote. A free 60-day trial is also available.

Final Thoughts

All the OS deployment software discussed above will help you manage your OS remotely. These top Windows deployment software platforms are compatible with most data backup and recovery solutions. That said, Todo Backup remains one of our top picks.

We highly recommend all readers to use Todo Backup Tools, due to its amazing features and all-rounded solutions. Let Todo Backup Tools handle your backup and deployment issues, download it now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Deploying Operating System Software - UTF-8 Encoding

I've told you about the best Windows deployment tools, but there are still some questions to answer. Here they are.

What are operating system images and deployment?

The process of capturing an operating system image from a specific machine using desktop imaging tools is referred to as operating system imaging. Depending on an organization's needs, this operating system image can then be simply distributed to other machines.

2. What is an image deployment software?

Imaging software captures an operating system (OS) image and distributes it remotely to multiple computers. It involves modifying the OS, applications, drivers, and settings on one computer, creating an image of it, and then automatically deploying that image to other computers.

How do I create a deployment image in Windows 10?

You can create deployment images in Windows 10 using the Deployment Manager tool. The process is simple and involves three steps: Add machines > Create machine groups > Deploy the system.

4. What's the best tool for deploying operating systems?

Todo Backup is an outstanding system tool with attractive features you won't find anywhere else. If you're looking for the best solution for recovery, imaging, and backup, this is it.