Introducing Riihicloud Smart Packages
This post will provide an in-depth look at Riihicloud Smart Packages, which are a vital component of our comprehensive device/endpoint management service offering. At Riihicloud, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative solutions that enable Automation, Cybersecurity, and Digital Employee Experience, and our Smart Packages play a crucial role in fulfilling these value propositions. If you are unfamiliar with the Riihicloud Service concept, please check out the introduction.
So, what are Smart Packages exactly, and how do they contribute to our overall service? We will answer these questions and more, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and functionalities of our Smart Packages.
In contrast to the Riihicloud Service, which can be visualized as a gable roof house, the Smart Packages can be likened to a flat-roofed structure. At the core of this foundation lies the Smart Packages engine, which enables the utilization of three distinct package types: Application, Configuration, and Custom packages. The final section of the Smart Packages architecture on top is the execution layer, which includes Automatic Installations or Company Portal as deployment methods. These functionalities work together to facilitate seamless integration and delivery of our services, ensuring optimal results for our partners and clients.
At the heart of the Smart Packages architecture is our proprietary engine, which has been meticulously developed over the years to mastermind our entire package system. This engine is programmatically instructed by XML parameters of packages, which define specific tasks and actions. These parameters can be customized to suit the unique needs of individual companies, enabling them, for instance, to define installation intervals and special features of packages, such as soft installations, hard installations, or a combination of both. With this level of flexibility and control, our partners and direct customers can ensure that Riihicloud is optimized for their workflows and processes, providing them with a competitive edge in their respective industries.
The Smart Packages framework comprises three distinct package types, each serving a unique purpose. The Application packages are designed to facilitate the installation of various software programs. What sets our application packages apart from similar package concepts is the ability to customize and configure the software during installation, such as including certificates or defining specific parameters and settings. While the concept of distributing and updating software packages is not new, our Smart Package engine streamlines the process, enabling efficient and seamless distribution and installation of these packages.
Another package type within the Smart Packages framework is the Configuration package. These can be conceptualized as ‘cloud-based group policies’ primarily used for configuring systems and software applications. What sets our Configuration packages apart from other vendors is the comprehensive range of deployment-ready configurations, providing clients with a vast array of options. The off-the-shelf packages include, for instance, cybersecurity settings and set-ups that enhance the digital user experience. Like our Application packages, Configuration packages can be fine-tuned to meet the unique needs of each customer environment. For instance, a customer may require the distribution of support software and the necessary licensing keys to their workstations.
The final package type within our Smart Packages framework is the Custom package. As the name suggests, these packages are fully customized to meet the unique needs of our clients. This level of customization is highly valued by our direct customers and their Managed Service Providers (MSP), as their requirements can vary significantly. Our customizing options are virtually endless with countless software programs available in the market, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions. Our Custom packages provide clients with the ultimate flexibility and control over their software configurations, enabling them to optimize their systems for their specific workflows and processes.
The distribution of our various Smart Packages is fully automated, enabling quick and efficient installation and deployment on workstations or availability in the Intune Company portal. Our clients can choose to deploy the packages via either method, depending on their preferences and needs.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Riihicloud service has relied on Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) packages. Intune did not offer any other viable options for package technology at that time, so we used MSI packages for several years until the wide market acceptance and Intune support for Win32 apps. We closely monitored this new packaging technology and realized the need to implement it into our offering soon. The decision to transition from MSI-based packages to Win32 apps was made in the summer of 2022 when a business opportunity emerged. We dedicated a few months to converting our existing MSI-based packages to Win32 app-based ones. The outcome is significantly more technologically advanced and provides a host of new features that can be utilized alongside the intelligent aspects of our packages.
In summary, our Smart Package concept is powered by cutting-edge technology and can be customized to meet the specific requirements of our customers, including software, configurations, and distribution methods. We are committed to our value propositions of Automation, Cybersecurity, and Digital Employee Experience, which are partially realized with Smart Packages, and we stand confidently behind them.
In our next blog post, we will delve into the details of how we update our Smart Packages, providing valuable insights into the weekly processes that ensure our clients are always up to date with the latest software and configurations. So, stay tuned for more information on this critical aspect of our Smart Packages framework.
