What is provisioning?

Imagine you’re setting up a brand-new workspace. You need desks, chairs, computers, and all the right tools to get started. Now, imagine doing that in the digital world – that’s where provisioning comes in.

Provisioning is part of the deployment process and refers to the process of setting up and managing user access to IT resources, such as applications, systems, and data.

But why is this important? Understanding provisioning isn’t just for IT pros. If you’re running a website, managing cloud storage, or building applications, knowing how this works could save you time, money, and frustration.

In this guide, we’ll break down what provisioning is, why it’s essential, and how it can transform the way your business operates.

The different levels of provisioning

There’s no singular set definition for “provisioning”. In fact, it can refer to several different levels — depending on the context — which we’ll break down in more detail below.

Server provisioning

First up, server provisioning is the term used to describe the process of setting up a server to be used within a network. This includes everything from sorting out the physical hardware in the data centre to installing the different software needed, like the chosen operating system (e.g. Windows or Linux).

Another key part of the server provisioning process is connecting up any storage, networks, applications and middleware – in essence, you’re creating a new machine and clearly establishing its desired state prior to configuration.

This can get pretty technical, but the good news is that – when you rent a server from a hosting provider like us – we handle the provisioning stage for you, before leaving you to work out your ideal configuration. It’s super speedy too – for example, a VPS (Virtual Private Server) can be provisioned in just a few minutes or less.

Network provisioning

By contrast, network provisioning is the act of establishing a network (or networks) which can then be accessed by different authorised users, devices or servers. This is also one of the most important provisioning levels where security is concerned, as it involves connectivity and the process of setting up access.

One of the biggest challenges in network provisioning is the number of different devices that need connecting – and how this number can rapidly fluctuate for projects that scale up or down.

Service provisioning

As the name suggests, service provisioning relates specifically to the process of setting up a service. Unlike the other levels in this list, this term is more often found in a context related to telecommunications, to describe the process of provisioning a service for a customer.

Application provisioning

With application provisioning, administrators can create and deploy custom-built application configurations, which are often called “packages”. It’s a solution that allows you to optimise performance for the precise IT environment of a project or business.

User provisioning

Remember the IT infrastructure we mentioned? Well, user provisioning (also known as “account provisioning”) is essentially a form of identity management which oversees the creation of individual users and their designated privileges.

This term also covers any modifications made to user permissions, as well as disabling or deleting users altogether – you might find the act of taking away access is sometimes described as “deprovisioning”.

User provisioning is arguably the most crucial level to the day-to-day operations of a project, as authorised users and their access need regularly updating whenever someone new joins the team, or someone leaves.

Provisioning vs. configuration

Provisioning and configuration are both crucial, yet distinct, operations in the deployment process. Before any resource, such as a device, server, or network component, can be configured, it must first be provisioned – essentially made available for use.

Once this has happened, IT infrastructure resources undergo configuration, where components and settings are arranged to align with specific business needs.

Just as there are various types of provisioning, configuration also comes in different forms. For example, you can configure firewall settings, network access, or connectivity options, configure databases on servers, or adjust application settings.

Both provisioning and configuration can be significantly enhanced through automation.

Benefits of automated provisioning

Automated provisioning, like what we provide at Fasthosts, has several advantages that can save time and money, while also enhancing the security of the IT environment:

Increased productivity

Automated provisioning significantly boosts productivity across an organisation by streamlining processes and optimising time allocation. IT teams benefit the most, as they are relieved from repetitive manual tasks and can focus on more strategic, high-level work. 

Developers can also deliver new applications and services faster, as the necessary environments are automatically and consistently provisioned. 

This ensures that employees across the company have the resources they need to stay productive, preventing workflow disruptions.

Scalability 

As your business grows, so do your provisioning needs. Automated provisioning helps scale your infrastructure efficiently and confidently, ensuring that servers, network components, devices, and other resources are provided and accessed as intended. 

Improved compliance

Automated provisioning enhances compliance by centralising standards and governance. Policies and procedures can be implemented consistently across the IT ecosystem. 

Additionally, any necessary changes can be rolled out automatically, ensuring uniformity and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Reduced risk of errors

Manual provisioning, being human-driven, is prone to errors. With automation, resources and their access are provisioned according to predefined standards, reducing the risk of misconfigurations. 

An automatic audit trail is maintained, tracking access definitions, authentication grants, and resource usage, thereby minimising troubleshooting time and enhancing security by reducing the likelihood of configuration errors.

If you’re renting a server, and you have questions about provisioning – be it setting up a network or sorting out your authorised users – our expert team will be happy to help. 

We’re available online or over the phone 24/7 with friendly support, so if you're looking to take your business to the next level, talk to our sales team.