diff --git a/cmd/deploy.go b/cmd/deploy.go
index 4e12a8d1..578000b2 100644
--- a/cmd/deploy.go
+++ b/cmd/deploy.go
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@ func newDeployCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "deploy [component]",
 		Short: "Deploy ACS components",
-		Long: `Deploy ACS components (central, secured-cluster).
+		Long: `Deploy ACS components (central, secured-cluster, operator).
 
 Examples:
   roxie deploy central
   roxie deploy secured-cluster
-  roxie deploy both`,
-		ValidArgs: []string{"central", "secured-cluster", "both", "all"},
+  roxie deploy both
+  roxie deploy operator`,
+		ValidArgs: []string{"central", "secured-cluster", "both", "all", "operator"},
 		Args:      cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
 		RunE:      runDeploy,
 	}
@@ -64,6 +65,10 @@ func runDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		component = args[0]
 	}
 
+	if component == "operator" && helm {
+		return errors.New("cannot use --helm flag with 'operator' component")
+	}
+
 	if (component == "central" || component == "both") && os.Getenv("ROXIE_SHELL") != "" {
 		return errors.New("already in a roxie sub-shell (ROXIE_SHELL environment variable is set), please exit the shell and try again")
 	}
@@ -123,6 +128,8 @@ func runDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		d.PrintCentralDeploymentSummary()
 	case "secured-cluster", "sensor":
 		d.PrintSecuredClusterDeploymentSummary()
+	case "operator":
+		// No deployment summary needed for operator-only deployment
 	}
 
 	if envrc != "" {
diff --git a/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go b/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
index ab48c8cd..04a446b7 100644
--- a/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
+++ b/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
@@ -14,6 +14,19 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
+// deployOperatorOnly deploys only the operator without any Central or SecuredCluster resources
+func (d *Deployer) deployOperatorOnly(ctx context.Context) error {
+	d.logger.Info("🚀 Deploying Operator only...")
+
+	if err := d.ensureOperatorDeployed(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	d.logger.Success("✓ Operator deployed successfully")
+	d.logger.Info("You can now deploy Central or SecuredCluster components separately")
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ensureOperatorDeployed ensures the operator is deployed with the correct version and mode
 func (d *Deployer) ensureOperatorDeployed(ctx context.Context) error {
 	// Skip operator deployment/checks if flag is set to false
diff --git a/internal/deployer/deployer.go b/internal/deployer/deployer.go
index 0fb8e9d8..e049f817 100644
--- a/internal/deployer/deployer.go
+++ b/internal/deployer/deployer.go
@@ -363,6 +363,8 @@ func formatComponentName(component string) string {
 		return "Secured Cluster"
 	case "central":
 		return "Central"
+	case "operator":
+		return "Operator"
 	default:
 		return component
 	}
@@ -389,6 +391,8 @@ func (d *Deployer) Deploy(ctx context.Context, component, resources, exposure st
 	d.logger.Infof("Initiating deployment of %s", formatComponentName(component))
 
 	switch component {
+	case "operator":
+		return d.deployOperatorOnly(ctx)
 	case "central":
 		return d.deployCentral(ctx, resources, exposure)
 	case "secured-cluster", "sensor":