10 SCCM Automatic Deployment Rules Best Practices

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) Automatic Deployment Rules (ADRs) are a powerful tool for automating the deployment of software updates. ADRs allow you to define a set of criteria for selecting software updates and then automatically deploy them to target systems.

However, ADRs can be difficult to configure and manage. To ensure that your ADRs are effective and efficient, it is important to follow best practices. In this article, we will discuss 10 SCCM Automatic Deployment Rules best practices that you should consider when creating and managing your ADRs.

1. Use Automatic Deployment Rules to deploy software updates

Software updates are critical for keeping your systems secure and up-to-date. With Automatic Deployment Rules, you can easily create rules that will automatically deploy software updates to the appropriate computers in your environment. This saves time and effort since you don’t have to manually select which computers should receive the update. Additionally, it ensures that all of your computers are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and bug fixes.

2. Create a separate ADR for each product (Windows, Office, etc.)

By creating a separate ADR for each product, you can ensure that the correct updates are being deployed to the right machines. This helps reduce the risk of deploying an update to a machine that doesn’t need it or isn’t compatible with it. It also makes it easier to manage and troubleshoot any issues that may arise from the deployment process. Additionally, it allows you to customize the settings for each product so that they are tailored to your specific needs.

3. Configure the ADR to use a dedicated deployment package

When you create a deployment package, it contains all the necessary files and settings for your software. If you use an existing package, then any changes to that package will affect all deployments using it. This can lead to unexpected results or errors when deploying software.

By creating a dedicated package for each ADR, you ensure that only the intended software is deployed and that no other packages are affected by changes. This also makes troubleshooting easier since you know exactly which package was used for each deployment.

4. Set up a dedicated update group for each ADR

When you create an ADR, it will automatically create a new update group for the updates that are included in the rule. This is important because it allows you to easily manage and track which updates have been deployed via the ADR. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot any issues with the deployment of those updates.

By setting up a dedicated update group for each ADR, you can quickly identify which updates were deployed by which ADR, making it much easier to keep track of your deployments.

5. Enable maintenance windows on the deployment packages

Maintenance windows allow you to control when the deployment packages are installed on the target machines. This is important because it allows you to avoid deploying packages during peak usage times, which can cause performance issues and slow down your network. It also helps ensure that the package is deployed at a time when users won’t be affected by any potential disruptions caused by the installation process.

Enabling maintenance windows also gives you more control over how long the deployment takes. You can set the window to start and end at specific times, or even specify a duration for the window. This way, you can make sure that the deployment doesn’t take too long and that it’s completed within an acceptable timeframe.

6. Disable superseded updates in the deployment package

When you deploy a package with superseded updates, the client will download and install all of them. This can cause problems if the newer versions are incompatible with the older ones or have different settings. It also wastes bandwidth and time as the client downloads and installs unnecessary files.

To avoid this issue, make sure to disable any superseded updates in the deployment package before deploying it. This way, only the latest version of the update will be installed on the client machine.

7. Schedule the ADRs to run at least once per month

By scheduling the ADRs to run at least once per month, you ensure that any new software updates or applications are automatically deployed as soon as they become available. This helps keep your systems up-to-date and secure, while also reducing the amount of manual work required for deployment. Additionally, it ensures that all machines in your environment have the same version of the software installed, which can help reduce potential compatibility issues.

8. Monitor your deployments closely and make adjustments as needed

When you deploy software or updates using SCCM, it’s important to make sure that the deployment is successful. If there are any issues with the deployment, such as a failed installation or an unexpected reboot, then you need to be able to quickly identify and address them.

By monitoring your deployments closely, you can spot potential problems early on and take corrective action before they become major issues. You should also review the results of each deployment to ensure that all machines received the update successfully. This will help you optimize your deployments and ensure that your users have the latest version of the software or update installed.

9. Make sure you have enough disk space available before deploying updates

When SCCM downloads updates, it stores them in the local cache on the client machine. If there isn’t enough disk space available, then the update won’t be able to download and install properly.

To ensure that you have enough disk space available for your Automatic Deployment Rules, make sure to monitor the disk usage of each client machine regularly. You can also set up alerts so that you are notified when a certain threshold is reached. Additionally, you should configure your Automatic Deployment Rules to only deploy updates to machines with sufficient disk space. This will help prevent any issues caused by insufficient disk space.

10. Don’t forget about WSUS maintenance!

WSUS is the Microsoft Windows Server Update Services, and it’s responsible for downloading updates from Microsoft. If WSUS isn’t properly maintained, then Automatic Deployment Rules won’t be able to download the latest updates. This can lead to outdated software on your systems, which can cause security issues or other problems.

To ensure that WSUS is properly maintained, you should regularly check its status and make sure that all of the necessary updates are downloaded. You should also configure WSUS to automatically approve new updates as they become available. Finally, you should schedule regular maintenance tasks such as running a cleanup wizard and resetting the server node. Following these best practices will help keep your SCCM Automatic Deployment Rules up-to-date and secure.