What assets should I deploy to first?

1️⃣ It is recommended to start deployment of the forwarder on a “golden” image or lab machine so file collection can start from a clean foundation of your known good. Since the Stairwell platform will recognize similar files on other assets in the environment but upload them only once, this process will make subsequent installations quicker on similar hosts.

2️⃣ Next, it is recommended to install on file shares so that a wider breadth of files are identified. Please note that the forwarder is designed to ignore certain mapped network drives on hosts.

3️⃣ Next, it is recommended to install the forwarder on organizationally similar hosts across the environment. By installing the forwarders this way, assets will balance the collection of newly observed files so no one machine bears the responsibility of uploading all the files. Each subsequent deployment finds fewer and fewer unique files and thus, is required to upload less with each iteration.

4️⃣ Lastly, it is recommended that the deployment team then design a roll out schedule to continue and complete deployment across the environment to ensure the best visibility possible.