OneSite Workflow System

Enabling Orchestration and Automation at Scale

The Adaptiva Workflow System is an advanced automation and orchestration tool designed to empower IT administrators with the ability to create and deploy workflows for tasks like client management, compliance, security, and system health monitoring.

At its core, this system provides a visual interface—called the Workflow Designer—that makes building workflows intuitive and accessible. While it supports advanced scripting for power users, most tasks can be achieved through a drag-and-drop interface, enabling IT professionals of varying technical expertise to utilize its full potential.

What sets the Workflow System apart is its integration. It underpins every Adaptiva product, streamlining operations from software deployment to policy processing and device health checks. This ensures that IT teams using the Adaptiva suite benefit from consistent, automated processes across the board.

How It Works

The Workflow Engine operates as both a client-side and server-side solution, offering unmatched flexibility in how workflows are designed, deployed, and executed. Here’s a closer look at its mechanics:

Workflow Designer

The Workflow Designer is the central interface for creating workflows. Accessible from the Adaptiva Admin Interface, it employs a flowchart-style design, allowing administrators to visually map out processes. Workflows are built by dragging pre-defined activities from the palette onto the canvas, connecting them in logical sequences.

• Client Workflows: Executed on individual devices running the Adaptiva Client, such as desktops, laptops, or servers.
• Server Workflows: Run on the Adaptiva Server, typically for background tasks or event-driven operations.
• Business Workflows: Support on-demand or scheduled tasks, often requiring user input at runtime.
  

Workflow Activities

The engine includes over 250+ pre-defined activities that cover a broad range of tasks, from basic file system operations to advanced scripting. Some examples include:

• Command Shell: Execute command-line operations with error handling.
• PowerShell Integration: Run PowerShell scripts for custom tasks.
• WMI Operations: Query or manage Windows Management Instrumentation data.
• SQL Queries: Interact with databases directly from workflows.
• File System Management: Handle file creation, deletion, and modification.

Custom tasks can also be incorporated using scripts written in PowerShell, VBScript, or Java, allowing teams to extend the platform to meet specific requirements.

Execution Requirements

To execute workflows, devices must have the Adaptiva Client installed. This ensures all logic and policies are processed locally, reducing server-side load and enhancing scalability.

Powerful Automation at Scale

The Adaptiva Workflow Engine isn’t just another automation tool—it’s an integral part of Adaptiva’s Autonomous Endpoint Management innovations. Here’s why it’s unique:

1. Comprehensive, Yet Accessible

   With its drag-and-drop interface, the Workflow Engine democratizes automation. Even IT professionals without a scripting background can create effective workflows. For advanced users, the integration of scripting languages and runtime expressions offers unparalleled flexibility.

2. Unified Across Products

   By integrating directly into the Adaptiva suite, the Workflow Engine simplifies endpoint management. Administrators don’t need to juggle multiple tools to handle software deployments, health checks, or compliance audits; it’s all managed through a single platform.

3. Customization Without Complexity

   Pre-built activities provide out-of-the-box functionality for common tasks. For unique scenarios, custom activities can be created once and reused across workflows. This reduces development time and ensures consistency across operations.

4. Scalability

   Designed to handle enterprise-scale environments, the Workflow Engine can execute tasks across thousands of devices with minimal network impact. Its peer-to-peer technology ensures workflows are distributed efficiently without overloading servers or networks.

5. Enhanced Control

   Features like runtime expressions, conditional logic (e.g., If-Else), and exception handling make workflows not only powerful but also precise. Administrators can monitor, debug, and refine workflows in real time.

Streamlining Complexity

For IT teams managing complex environments, the Adaptiva Workflow Engine delivers tangible benefits:

• Automation of Repetitive Tasks: From patching to file management, workflows free up valuable time for strategic initiatives.
• Improved Compliance: Automated checks ensure systems adhere to policies, reducing the risk of compliance violations.
• Faster Issue Resolution: Workflows like health checks and device reboots can be triggered automatically, minimizing downtime.
• Granular Visibility: Built-in logging and reporting provide detailed insights into workflow execution, helping teams troubleshoot effectively.
• Seamless Scalability: Whether managing 100 or 10,000 devices, the engine scales effortlessly.

A Real-World Example: Building a Simple Workflow

Imagine you need to create a workflow to log the IP address of each endpoint in your environment. Using the Workflow Designer, you could:

1. Add a FileSystemOperations activity to create a log file.
2. Use IPAddressInfo to retrieve the IP address of the device.
3. Add a FileOperations activity to write the IP address to the file.
4. Close the file with another FileOperations activity.

Within minutes, you’d have a workflow ready to deploy to any device running the Adaptiva Client. With Adaptiva’s distribution capabilities, you could push this workflow to thousands of endpoints without worrying about network impact.

Taking the Next Step

The Adaptiva Workflow Engine simplifies automation while delivering enterprise-grade functionality. For IT and cybersecurity professionals, it’s not just a tool—it’s a framework for efficient, scalable endpoint management.

To explore how the Workflow Engine can transform your IT operations, visit Adaptiva’s technical reference library or schedule a product demo. Unlock the full potential of automation and see how Adaptiva redefines what’s possible in Autonomous Endpoint Management.