Apple device management
Apple devices can improve your business’s productivity, enhance your security, and keep your staff happy. And luckily, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS devices contain frameworks to support Apple mobile device management (MDM). SimpleMDM leverages those frameworks to make maintaining Apple devices at scale quick, easy, and intuitive.
SimpleMDM for Apple device management
Customize and automate the enrollment experience, push out payload settings, distribute apps, enforce security policies, and more with streamlined Apple device management from SimpleMDM. With granular control and real-time insights, take charge of your organization's Apple device management while providing a seamless user experience.
Vital Apple device management features in SimpleMDM
The most effective Apple device management solutions include features to simplify every step of the process — from device enrollment through device offboarding.
Convenient setup
An Apple MDM solution should make your life easier. SimpleMDM does just that by streamlining enrollment and setup so they take just minutes.
No-touch enrollment
With the help of Apple's Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) program and Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM), automatically connect mobile devices purchased from Apple and Apple Authorized Resellers to the MDM server.
Customizable configuration
Advanced configuration options allow you to automate workflows to your heart’s content. Or shave some time off the configuration process by selecting premade profiles. Live your best life.
Data separation
A host of enrollment options enables the use of personal devices and other Apple products for work, restricting company data to business apps and requiring secure passwords to protect your organization.
Flexible app distribution
Your workforce needs the right tools for the job, so SimpleMDM gives you plenty of options to get them the relevant resources. App management has never been easier.
Rapid deployment
Whether you’re downloading popular apps from the Apple App Store, purchasing enterprise solutions, or developing custom B2B apps, deploy Managed Apps quickly and easily.
Company-owned license distribution
With Apple Apps and Books, you can assign licenses to supervised devices without the user’s Apple ID — which also means you don’t have to keep track of users’ Apple IDs.
Robust Munki integration
Take advantage of additional application management capabilities, including installing a broader range of software and providing macOS users with a self-service app store.
Powerful security controls
Cybersecurity is complicated, but securing your fleet doesn’t have to be. SimpleMDM’s rich security controls help safeguard your environment without sucking up your time.
Real-time fleet visibility
Get instant insight into an Apple device’s OS version, hardware encryption, settings, installed apps, and more.
Configuration profile reinstallation
Automatically reinstall the Privacy Preferences Policy, Kernel Extensions Policy, FileVault, and Custom Configuration Profiles when a device checks in after an OS update.
Policy enforcement
If a user breaks a defined policy, you can block features, disable functions, or hide apps. You are the law!
Simplify your Apple device management
SimpleMDM is straightforward, powerful, and flexible — all the ingredients you need to streamline processes and save time.
Apple device management FAQs
What is Apple device management?
Apple device management refers to the administration of virtually any machine in the Apple ecosystem, including iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, MacBooks, and iMacs. Aware of the need for effective device management, Apple provides robust features built for the task, including Apple Configurator, Managed Apple ID, Shared iPad, and more. However, Apple recommends using an MDM solution — like SimpleMDM — to securely deploy, configure, and manage devices in an enterprise environment.
What are the benefits of Apple device management?
The main benefit of Apple device management is the ability to customize and secure machines without putting your hands on them. However, this breaks down into a whole host of other potential advantages:
Support bring your own device (BYOD)
Simplify enrollment and provisioning
Control company-owned data and licenses
Enhance security
Manage updates
Provide better support
How do you manage Apple devices?
Effective Apple device management typically requires a dedicated MDM solution. Most businesses do not rely exclusively on Apple products, instead maintaining a mixed environment that includes Windows PCs. To take advantage of best-in-breed technology and improve their unified endpoint management, many businesses manage the distinct platforms separately.
As you plan your Apple device management approach, consider these steps:
Determine the number of company-owned and employee-owned Apple devices
Consider what work-related tasks employees use their devices for
Assess the necessary business apps
Align your Apple device management approach to a broader IT management strategy
Explain the roles of privacy and data protection, particularly in BYOD setups
Monitor for suspicious activity or data usage
With careful planning and preparation, managing Apple devices is painless even in mixed OS environments.
How do you manage Apple devices in a BYOD environment?
In a BYOD environment, balancing Apple device management with employee privacy concerns becomes paramount. While you need visibility into corporate-owned apps and data, team members often push back if your control over their personal devices extends too far. Apple MDM software supports User Enrollment, which has several features to satisfy both employees and IT teams:
Personal Apple ID remains active alongside the Managed Apple ID on the device
Corporate IT controls owned data and Managed Apps
Any Managed App and corporate data are deleted when a device is unenrolled from the MDM
User-owned apps are invisible to administrators
MDM does not collect device-identifying information
Employees get shared iCloud access
Corporate and personal data are separated for iCloud Keychain, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, and more
Whether you like it or not, employees often use personal devices for work. With the right MDM solution, you don’t have to give up full control of your corporate software assets just because they’re on a privately owned device.
What newer Apple device management features should I look for?
Declarative device management and Platform SSO are two of the latest device management features introduced by Apple that have been hotly anticipated.
Declarative management takes a proactive approach, allowing devices to apply logic asynchronously — no need for prompting from the MDM server. Meanwhile, Platform SSO synchronizes local credentials with your IdP to allow users to access various applications, websites, and services by logging in once.
Apple regularly introduces new features, so selecting an MDM that supports newer options — like SimpleMDM — can massively enhance your Apple device management capabilities.
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