If you’re seeing part two, and wondering where part one is, right this way. Now, let’s continue down our path to Apple management expertise. In part one — in case you didn’t click on the link — we discussed the basics of Apple mobile device management, including the core components of the mobile device management (MDM) framework.
In part two of our Apple MDM essentials series, we build on management fundamentals and explain how to incorporate and leverage Apple’s programs and services.
Understanding available Apple programs and services become crucial as the number of Apple devices continue to grow in organizations around the world. You need to deploy these devices quickly and efficiently, and provide users with the right content on their devices.
To make this easy, Apple has designed specific programs to support these efforts in the form of:
- Zero-touch deployments
- Streamlined app and book deployments
- Apple ID organization
Zero-touch deployments
Apple’s automated enrollment system allows organizations of any size to pre-configure devices purchased from Apple or an authorized Apple reseller — without ever having to touch the device. By leveraging zero-touch deployments (formerly Apple’s Device Enrollment Program), you no longer need to be the only person receiving, unboxing and configuring new hardware. Instead, devices can be shipped directly to individual employees where they can unbox it, turn it on and have Apple and your MDM solution take care of the rest.
Apps and books
With Apple’s purchasing system, organizations can centrally manage all the applications they download from iTunes and the App Store. Whether the app is free or paid, you can acquire as many licenses as you need, distribute them to employees and even reassign those licenses when necessary. Organizations that utilize apps and books (previously Apple’s Volume Purchase Program) are able to enjoy process improvements and cost savings.
Apple IDs
Anyone who wants to take advantage of Apple’s products and services will create an Apple ID, the centralized account that grants access to things like iTunes, App Store, iCloud and iMessage. Depending on the needs of your organization, your end users can leverage their own Apple ID, or you can avoid using Apple IDs altogether.
When you leverage these programs along with an Apple mobile device management solution, you’ll be able to easily deploy devices at scale, provide the right content to the right people, and make your Apple device strategy more cost effective and easier to manage.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll post more blogs centered around Apple management for beginners, with the next covering the lifecycle management stages of Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV devices.
To learn more about how you can manage your Apple devices and leverage Apple’s free programs and services, or if you want to get a jump on our next Apple MDM lesson, download our Apple Device Management Guide for Beginners.
Depending on the size and needs of your organization, we have two guides to put you on the fast-track to Apple management expertise. Each guide is comprised of everything we will cover in this blog series.
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