Adobe delivers updates, features, and new versions of apps as they become available. Decide how to deploy and deliver these apps and updates to your end users. There are several options available, and you can choose one or more that best suits your requirements. It must be noted that each method has its own pros and cons. Weigh the benefits against the requirements of your organization or group.
As the administrator of the Adobe enterprise organization, you can make Creative Cloud and Document Cloud applications available to your end users in two ways:
Like millions of Adobe users, you can allow your creatives to install applications and updates via the Creative Cloud Desktop application. Self-service packages reduce IT overhead and ensure that your creatives have access to all the tools they need and receive updates as soon as they are released.
If you want to enable self-service but your end users do not have administrative privileges, you can do one of the following:
- Create a Self-Service package
- Create a Managed Package with elevated privileges turned on
- Create a package based on an Adobe Template with elevated privileges turned on
Self-service workflows enable users to download and install apps as and when required. Apps that a user is entitled to get, are provisioned when the user signs in. Other apps can be used as a trial for a limited time. This also frees up admins from creating and deploying multiple packages and updates. For example, self-service workflows are efficient in the following scenarios:
- You have diverse and changing requirements of apps by different users.
- Your users have several hardware and operating system combinations.
- You have remote workers in your organization.
- Different teams and users upgrade at different times, because of ongoing projects.
- You want to reduce the initial footprint on a machine by allowing a user to install only the applications they require, and for as long as they require.
As a first step, end users download the Creative Cloud desktop app from the Creative Cloud website. In addition to downloading and installing the software, the app also provides access to Creative Cloud services such as File Sync, Font Sync, and Behance.
Self-service workflows require the following:
- Named licensing
- Complete access to Creative Cloud web services
- Admin privileges on the client computers
For end-user documentation, see Creative Cloud desktop app.
Using Managed packages, you can decide what get’s deployed and when it gets updated. You can create the packages that contain the latest or archived versions of Adobe products. These packages can then be deployed to the user's computers in your organization. You can even perform silent and custom deployment where no inputs are required from your users during installation.
For example, you can use managed delivery of apps for the following:
- To exercise strict control over installed apps on client machines.
- To reduce Internet bandwidth consumption, by preventing multiple self-service downloads.
- When there is no Internet access on client computers.
- To strictly control the versions of installed apps across your organization.
- To modify the update behavior in installed applications.
To create Managed packages using the Adobe Admin Console, you can do either of the following:
- Create pre-configured packages by using Adobe Templates.
- Create customized packages with the configuration and applications you want your end users to have.
You can also use the Creative Cloud Packager, in which case, the Creative Cloud Packager must be installed on a computer that can connect to the Internet and has no Adobe software installed. Also, separate Mac and Windows machines are required to create packages for each platform.
At this stage, you need to design the packages, make a list of packages, determine package counts, and decide upon a naming scheme for the packages. For information, see Planning packages.
There are several mechanisms to deliver app updates available to end users. Choose one of the following based on your organization's need.
Self-service
Users can download and install updates directly from Adobe. This method ensures that your end users have access to the latest updates when they become available. Updates can be downloaded and installed using the Creative Cloud desktop app or using the Adobe Updater included with the apps. For these workflows, the client machines require access to the Adobe servers and admin privileges.
This option is available for both self-service and managed app delivery.
Managed delivery
When you create packages, you can choose a managed update delivery mechanism.
- Have client machines install updates via an internal update server.
- Trigger updates remotely using Remote Update Manager. Use this option when client machines don't have admin privileges.
- Create and deploy Update only packages using Creative Cloud Packager.
For more information on managed delivery, see Applying updates.
Twitter™ and Facebook posts are not covered under the terms of Creative Commons.