Changing the Minds of Admins and Embracing macOS in the Organization

A changing workplace

In the wake of the pandemic, the modern workplace has shifted from office buildings to home offices. With this, the standards of service for IT organizations shifted. Binder states that IT organizations must have the mindset of keeping “the users that we’re here to serve happy, productive and secure.” To do so, he mentions these standards for IT to uphold:

• Flexibility to adapt to true remote work styles
• Proper management and service capabilities despite employee location
• Usage of experience level agreements (XLAs) instead of service level agreements (SLAs)

So where do macOS and Jamf come in? Apple and Jamf conducted a survey in 2019 that resulted in these statistics:

• Most employees agree they are more likely to choose or stay at a company that offers them a choice in work computer or mobile device.
• Most employees agree that they could not do their jobs as effectively without using a Mac.
• Most employees who previously used a PC for work experience fewer issues now that they are using a Mac.

Given this information, adding Mac to your workplace becomes relevant, whether that includes using Mac exclusively or adding it alongside Windows or other operating systems. Binder reminds us that the employee experience is a critical factor in choosing your hardware and that a part of this experience is the expected level of service from IT regardless of what devices employees use or where they work. This service includes IT support, replacement and delivery of hardware and application deployment.

Binder refers to IBM’s research through their Mac@IBM program, where IBM adopted a framework of employee choice for their devices. Their research found that employees that choose Mac perform better and are more likely to stay at the company. He praises IBM’s commitment to the employee experience by focusing on the XLA and dropping “user useless” metrics.

Myths, busted

Employer hesitation to adopt macOS may be based on a few common myths. Binder addresses these myths, among others:

• Expense: While Macs typically have a greater upfront cost, it’s more important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). In general, Apple TCO tends to be more affordable in the long run.
• Security: There is a misconception that Mac is not a secure platform; this is often the result of using Windows specific-security methods instead of those suitable cross-platform.
• Integration: Some administrators believe that Apple solutions are not ready to be integrated with their infrastructure. Binder tells us that the true issue is that Windows is an enterprise-focused solution, while Apple is user-focused, requiring different mindsets and experiences.

Embracing macOS

Binder discusses how your organization can embrace macOS. He emphasizes that integrating Mac into your workplace must not come at the expense of other operating systems and should focus on supporting employee choice. He emphasizes the need for IT to support free and equal choice between operating systems by ensuring all platforms are supported in the IT ecosystem. Binder reminds us that this all fulfills IT’s purpose: creating the best possible workplace for employees.