Best Practices for Managing Autopilot Profiles Across Multiple Locations

Hi MarPas,

Managing Autopilot profiles across multiple locations can indeed be challenging, and it’s great that you’re evaluating the best approach for your setup. Both options you mentioned are valid, but they come with their own pros and cons depending on your organization’s needs.

Option 1: Single Dynamic Group with Scope Tags

This approach simplifies group management since you only have one dynamic group (All Autopilot Devices) to maintain. Scope tags can then help you segment devices by location.

Advantages:

• Easier to manage groups: You avoid creating and maintaining multiple dynamic groups for each location.
• Centralized control: All Autopilot devices are in one place, which can be handy for reporting and troubleshooting.

Disadvantages:

• Scope tags may require additional effort to set up and maintain.
• If your organization grows or locations change frequently, managing scope tags across multiple locations could become complex.

Best for:

• Organizations with fewer locations or a simpler structure.
• Teams looking to minimize group management overhead.

Option 2: Multiple Dynamic Groups for Each Location

This approach gives you more granularity by creating location-specific dynamic groups and assigning profiles directly.

Advantages:

• Granular control: Profiles are tied to specific groups, making it easier to apply unique configurations or policies per location.
• Clear segmentation: If you ever need to troubleshoot or audit a specific location, the group structure is already aligned to physical locations.

Disadvantages:

• More administrative overhead: You’ll need to maintain separate queries and groups as your locations grow or change.
• Scaling challenges: If new locations are added, creating additional groups and queries may require more time.

Best for:

• Organizations with many locations that need distinct configurations or policies.
• Teams that prioritize location-specific autonomy over centralized management.

My Recommendation

If your organization has a manageable number of locations and distinct profile requirements, Option 2 provides clarity and easier troubleshooting for location-specific needs. However, if simplicity and scalability are your priorities, Option 1 might be the better choice.

In my experience, a hybrid approach can also work. You could start with Option 1 to centralize control and then gradually move to Option 2 for high-priority or complex locations.

Cheers,
[G4ia!]