Apple @ Work is brought to you exclusively by Mosyle, Apple’s only unified platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates into a single professional-grade platform all the solutions needed to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage and protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to get millions of Apple devices up and running effortlessly and affordably. Request your extended trial today and see why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
WWDC has come and gone, and we now focus on a summer of fickle beta hardware usage as we prepare for Apple’s latest iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS updates. Of course, with new major Apple software releases come the latest updates to Apple device management. If you manage Apple devices at work, here’s an overview of what to expect this fall.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience in deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, 1000 Macs and 1,000 iPads, Bradley will highlight the ways Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple can improve its products. its for IT departments.
Changes to activation lock
In my opinion, one of the biggest improvements this year comes to Apple’s Activation Lock. Activation Lock is one of Apple’s key deterrents to device theft, ensuring that when a device is marked as lost—either through Find My, iCloud.com, or by an IT administrator through device management—a password or key is required before that it is possible. used again.
However, problems arise when a device is returned without disabling Activation Lock or if MDM fails to remove it. Even if the device is wiped, it can’t be activated, leaving IT unable to use or sell it until the lock is lifted.
Previously, removing this lock required assistance from Apple Support and proof of purchase of the devices. With the Apple Business Manager (or Apple School Manager) fall updates, IT administrators can disable activation lock for organization-owned Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro devices.
The best part is that Apple Business Manager can remove user and device based locks. On Macs, this functionality extends even if Activation Lock was enabled by a user using a personal Apple account before the computer was enrolled in MDM.
The Vision Pro gains zero-touch deployment
Apple is continuing its focus on making Apple Vision Pro IT-friendly. This fall, Apple Vision Pro will be able to automatically enroll in MDM through automated device enrollment through Apple Business Manager (or Apple School Manager), just like Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. visionOS 2.0 will also bring many of the MDM features that are already available in iOS and iPadOS.
SSO platform improvements
Apple announced that macOS 15 will extend the functionality of the Single Sign-On Platform to require Identity Provider authentication in FileVault, the lock screen, and the login window. This upgrade includes new policy options for configuring Touch ID or Apple Watch to unlock the screen, ensuring an efficient user experience while having strong security standards.
Managed Apple Accounts
Apple has introduced a new domain capture and account transfer feature to help organizations manage accounts using their own domain emails – now called Managed Apple Accounts. If an end user has created a personal Apple ID with their organization’s email (eg, @school.edu or @business.com), Apple provides a way for users to save their personal Apple ID, while enabling the organization to capture email for use as a managed Apple account.
Software update improvements
Another important change on the horizon, thanks to Declarative Device Management, is improved management of beta testing programs for Apple’s new operating systems. Previously, administrators had required extensive manual intervention to enroll users in these programs. DDM aims to simplify this process, allowing IT teams to remotely enroll devices in various beta programs, implement phased rollouts, control beta software versions installed on monitored devices, and gain better visibility of what is installed on their managed devices. Additionally, devices can be added to a beta program using an organization token, eliminating the need for users to sign in with an Apple ID of any kind.
Management of local network drives and external hard drives
In macOS 15, an important limitation for managing local network drives and external hard drives has been reintroduced. IT administrators can now control whether these drives can be connected to their devices and restrict them to read-only access.
Safari extension management
Safari extensions have been around for several years, but IT administrators are now gaining control over how they work on managed devices. You will be able to control which extensions are allowed, if they are always active and which websites they can work on. End users will be notified if their IT team has enabled the add-ons.
iPadOS and the Calculator app
While this likely only affects education customers, the calculator app from iOS is At last comes to iPad with iPadOS 18 with some great features like Math Notes, which let you type or write equations on a screen and where problems are solved instantly. For IT administrators, they can manage the use of Math Notes on their devices.
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Overall, it’s a year of solid additions from Apple for IT teams. There are many new additions that will continue to make Apple one of the best partners for IT administrators when choosing devices that are easy to manage, but also secure and easy to use.
Apple @ Work is brought to you exclusively by Mosyle, Apple’s only unified platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates into a single professional-grade platform all the solutions needed to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage and protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to get millions of Apple devices up and running effortlessly and affordably. Request your extended trial today and see why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.
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