Deployment strategies in Windows 8

Microsoft recommends a few targeted strategies for deploying Windows 8. These strategies
range from manually configuring Windows 8 on a few computers to using automation tools
and technologies to deploy the operating system to thousands of computers.
The following list describes the four recommended deployment strategies:

•    High Touch with retail media   This is a hands-on, manual deployment, where you

install Windows 8 on each client PC by using the retail installation media, and then you
manually configure each PC. Microsoft recommends this strategy if your organization
does not have dedicated IT staff, and it has a small, unmanaged network with fewer
than 100 client computers.

•    High Touch with standard image  This strategy is similar to the High Touch with

retail media strategy, but it uses an operating system image that includes your
 customizations and application configurations. Microsoft recommends this  strategy
if your organization has at least one IT pro (with or without prior deployment
 experience) on staff, and a small or distributed network with 100–200 client PCs.

•   Lite Touch, high-volume deployment   This strategy requires limited interaction

during deployment. Interaction occurs at the beginning of the installation, but the
remainder of the process is automated. Microsoft recommends this strategy if your
organization has a dedicated IT staff, and it has a managed network with 200–500
client computers. Prior deployment experience is not required, but it is beneficial for
using this strategy.

•    Zero Touch, high-volume deployment  This strategy requires no interaction

 during deployment. The process is fully automated by using Configuration Manager.
 Microsoft recommends this strategy if your IT organization has experts in deployment,
networking, and Configuration Manager, and it has a managed network with 500 or
more client computers.