Deploy updates overview

Learn about how Adobe delivers product updates and the methods for deploying them in your organization.

Adobe provides multiple methods to deploy product updates across enterprise environments. Administrators can control how and when these updates are delivered across your organization.

How continuous updates work

With the transition to cloud-based services, Adobe uses a continuous delivery model for product updates. New features, enhancements, bug fixes, and improvements are released regularly rather than waiting for major product releases. This model allows organizations to:

• Provide users with the latest functionality and improvements
• Test and validate updates before broader deployment
• Control how and when updates are deployed to users

Update packaging and consistency

Adobe installer technology allows administrators to create a single installation package for users with the same product requirements, regardless of their current Adobe application setup. A single package can be used for:

• Fresh installations
• Existing installations
• Product updates

This reduces the need to maintain multiple package versions for different deployment scenarios. As the same installer mechanism is used across deployments, administrators also encounter more consistent error messages and error codes during installation and update workflows.

Deployment methods

Adobe provides four primary methods for deploying updates, each with different levels of user control and administrative overhead.

Self-service updates

If users have access to the Creative Cloud desktop application, they receive notifications when updates become available and can install updates directly. This approach:

• Reduces IT administrative overhead
• Gives users immediate access to new features and updates

Package updates via the Admin Console

The Packages tab in the Admin Console allows administrators to create and manage deployment packages. You can create:

• Self-Service packages that allow users to install updates themselves
• Managed packages  that allow administrators to control deployed updates

Administrators can also download Adobe Templates (pre-created packages) from the Admin Console and distribute them to end users.

Packages are maintained in the Admin Console and can be downloaded and deployed as needed.

Remote Update Manager (RUM)

Remote Update Manager (RUM) allows administrators to invoke the updater on client computers remotely. Using RUM, administrators can:

• Update all applications
• Update selected applications
• List available updates
• Download and cache updates for later installation

Internal update server

Organizations can host updates on an internal update server using the Adobe Update Server Setup Tool (AUSST). With AUSST, administrators can:

• Synchronize an internal server with Adobe update servers
• Host updates on-premise
• Control when updates are made available to users

Users can install updates:

• Through Remote Update Manager
• Through self-service workflows using the Creative Cloud desktop application

Check for available updates

• Administrators can check for updates for existing packages in the Admin Console. View outdated application details and choose an update method in the Packages tab.
• Administrators can configure email notifications for new product versions in Packages > Preferences.

• If your organization uses Self-Service deployment, users receive update notifications through the Creative Cloud desktop application.