# How Are Deployments Different than Associations?

## What

Deployments and associations use the same core assignment rules, but deployments let you group multiple associations and manage them together.

## When/Why

Use deployments to assign content to devices, much like an association. The difference is that a deployment can group multiple associations into one easier-to-find content delivery rule.

## How

See [View - Deployments](https://kb.filewave.com/books/filewave-anywhere-help-menus/chapter/view-deployments "View - Deployments") for creating a deployment from scratch. Related articles also cover the Associations to Deployments Conversion Tool and the practical benefits of deployments.

## Digging Deeper

Deployments use the same content delivery rules as associations, including:

- Timing options for installation
- License management (for VPP related content)
- Installation method, such as Kiosk or direct installation

<table id="bkmrk-%C2%A0-%C2%A0"><thead><tr><th> </th><th> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/scaled-1680-/2Pyn3vK0VBevFXqE-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/2Pyn3vK0VBevFXqE-image.png)

</td><td>[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/scaled-1680-/IYO7eI43VFKhQVUg-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/IYO7eI43VFKhQVUg-image.png)

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Unlike a single association, a deployment can apply those rules to multiple Filesets or payloads at the same time. When the delivery rule needs to change, you can update the deployment once instead of editing each association separately.