PC deployments are one of the most common — and most error-prone — tasks in any MSP's service catalogue. Without a structured, repeatable process, steps get missed, clients notice, and your technicians spend time fixing mistakes instead of moving to the next job.
Why Checklists Fail Without the Right Tool
Most MSPs have tried the checklist approach. A Word document, a shared spreadsheet, or a PSA task list. The problems are always the same: the checklist is out of date, the technician skips to the end, there's no accountability for individual tasks, and nobody knows the current status without asking.
A structured workflow management system solves these problems by making the checklist the source of truth — one that auto-generates the right tasks, tracks completion with timestamps, and syncs with your PSA automatically.
The Four Phases of a Repeatable PC Deployment
Phase 1: Preparation
- Hardware verification and asset tagging
- Operating system imaging from approved image
- BIOS/UEFI configuration (boot order, Secure Boot, BitLocker)
- Initial Windows Updates applied
- Asset registered in documentation system
Phase 2: Software Setup
- Domain join (Active Directory or Azure AD based on client config)
- Microsoft 365 / Office installation and activation
- Endpoint protection deployment and policy application
- Group Policy application and verification
- VPN client installation and test
Phase 3: User Configuration
- User profile creation and permissions setup
- Department-specific application installation
- Email profile configuration
- Mapped drives and printers
- Browser configuration and bookmarks
Phase 4: Handover
- Network connectivity and internet access verification
- Application access verification per user role
- Client sign-off and documentation
- PSA ticket closure with completion notes
- Teams notification to client's account manager
The Classification Approach
Not all PC deployments are the same. A standard office workstation has different requirements than a premium power user setup or a server deployment. Categorising deployments by classification (Standard, Premium, Server) allows your workflow system to generate the appropriate task list automatically — without the technician having to remember what's different.
This classification-driven approach means your senior techs can define the standards once, and your junior techs execute against a known, validated process every time.
The PSA Connection
Every PC deployment should be linked to an Autotask or ConnectWise ticket. The workflow system should update the ticket automatically as phases are completed, and push a completion note with the deployment summary when the job closes. This keeps your PSA data accurate without any manual entry from the technician.
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