The day has finally come; your new computers have arrived! You accept the shipment, start unboxing them… and then realize they have no software installed and that you will have to update every single one manually.
This is the challenge of computer imaging, the process of installing the operating system, applications, and predetermined settings onto a newly acquired device. Anyone who’s bought a new PC or smartphone can tell you that getting a new piece of equipment up and running can be a serious hassle. Now, imagine you have to do it for over a hundred new healthcare computers, each with an extensive list of software and security requirements that must be fulfilled.
While challenging, imaging is a critical step in ensuring a computer’s functionality and safety.
Imaging Techniques: Traditional vs. Cloud-Based
There are two primary methods for imaging new devices: traditional and cloud-based.
Traditional Imaging
In traditional imaging, a company’s IT staff creates a “golden image,” a template applied to all devices that the company uses. This golden image contains all the programs and software they want their computers to have and is usually saved on a physical storage medium like a USB drive or optical disk. A company might have multiple golden images for different device types; for example, a hospital might have one golden image for their panel PCs, another for their medical-grade tablets, etc.
Traditional imaging methods give IT departments the most control over their workforce’s devices and ensure they always have direct access. It is also the preferred method for companies that work with sensitive information or intellectual property that they do not want to risk compromising via cloud-based access. However, it is also very labor-intensive, especially for large fleets of equipment. If a hospital acquires 100 new all-in-one medical PCs, that’s 100 PCs that need to be imaged, tested to ensure everything is installed correctly, and then sent off to their respective assignments.
Cloud-Based Imaging
In cloud-based imaging, IT teams upload the new device's image using cloud services rather than physical storage. This is convenient because it removes the need for physical storage devices (which can be misplaced or damaged) and can support multiple locations that don’t share a local network or are separated by long distances.
However, some organizations that work with sensitive data (such as healthcare) may be unwilling to commit such data to the cloud. If cybercriminals were to access the cloud storing imaging data, they would have the means to access every device that uses that particular image.
Thick vs. Thin Computer Imaging
Computer imaging also comes in two types of complexity, broadly called thick and thin.
- Thin device imaging consists of the computer’s operating system and a few essential apps and tools. These types of images are easy to implement and typically come with the expectation that employees will add whatever they need on top of the image. While easier to deploy and more flexible to add on to, they lack the depth of options that come with thick device images and may run into compatibility or security issues with other programs or devices.
- Thick device images will typically come with a specific OS version, drivers, and tools tailored to the device or its role. While they require more labor and overhead to develop and maintain, they also ensure maximum consistency between devices and the IT team’s control over them. They also require less input from the end-user to set up, as the image should provide all the tools they need.
Benefits of Computer Imaging
While a time-consuming process, computer imaging is essential to using computer equipment in a serious work environment. The primary benefits of computer imaging are:
- Standardization: By using computer imaging processes, a company or group can ensure all of their devices behave exactly the same and use the same tools and processes. This makes training new employees easier and lets them switch between devices without issue, such as how healthcare providers often rotate from one computer to another as needed.
- Security: Imaging ensures that every device has the same cybersecurity features, making it easier for IT teams to protect them from outside threats. If a weakness in one device is detected, an update that protects the entire fleet can be rolled out.
- Savings: Having a standardized process for deploying new equipment saves time and prevents compatibility issues from coming up later, saving time and money for every crash or disrupted workflow you avoid.
Computer Imaging With Cybernet Manufacturing
Imaging is one of the most essential steps in deploying new computers, regardless of your sector or industry. However, the process can be extremely time-consuming and distract your IT team from other critical tasks.
That’s why Cybernet Manufacturing offers imaging services on all of our medical and industrial computers and tablets. We can handle imaging during our internal testing and inspection processes, ensuring that your computers are ready to serve the moment they arrive at your doorstep. If you’d like to learn more about our imaging services, contact the team at Cybernet today.