Platform for deployment and distribution of modules to endpoints

A software agent stored in non-transitory computer memory comprising software instructions configured to execute on an endpoint and carry out the following steps:

• connecting to a heartbeat server at a regular interval to determine whether an updated manifest is available, wherein the manifest identifies a plurality of modules for the agent to install on an endpoint;
• downloading a manifest from a file server, in response to an indication that a new manifest is available;
• downloading, in response to the contents of the manifest, a plurality of files relating to the plurality of modules;
• providing the plurality of files to a scripting engine for execution;
• and
• providing messaging services to allow the plurality of modules to report data back to a device management server.

A system for providing modules to a plurality of endpoints, comprising software instructions stored on non-transitory computer memory on at least one server, wherein the software instructions comprise:

• a file server configured to host a plurality of feature modules,
• a module manager configured to maintain the plurality of feature modules,
• a manifest server configured to maintain a plurality of manifests, wherein each manifest conveys the feature module components that at least one endpoint should have installed;
• a heartbeat server configured to receive requests from a plurality of agents, wherein each agent operates on an endpoint, and to convey information about at least one latest manifest to each agent when that agent has not yet downloaded the latest manifest;
• and
• an upload server configured to receive data from modules installed on each endpoint, wherein the modules include those modules identified in the latest manifest.