Free EditionApple has always been the preferred OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) of choice when it comes to enterprises thanks to its security and productivity related features. However, managing Apple devices has always been an issue for IT administrators as with security comes complexity. Apple realized this and came up with free solutions of their own, namely Apple Profile Manager and Apple Configurator. These tools too proved to be difficult for IT admins to use as the former was a very primitive Apple MDM solution while Apple Configurator doesn't support management over-the-air. This led to a need for a free iOS mobile device management solution that supports advanced Apple MDM features as well as support OTA management.
ManageEngine MDM is an Apple MDM solution that comes with support for all Apple devices such as iPods, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs and Mac machines. It provides end-to-end support for managing all Apple devices right from installing apps to securing its communications. Mobile Device Manager Plus also integrates with Apple's mobile device management programs, providing extensive management capabilities as this integration makes management a breeze for IT administrators. Mobile Device Manager Plus offers a free 30-day trial for unlimited devices as well as a free edition for upto 25 devices.
Here is the list of features supported for Apple by MDM:
The first step to manage Apple devices is to add them to MDM and this process can be done easily with MDM using a few steps. Further, integration with Apple Business Manager (previously known as Apple DEP) and support for Apple Configurator ensures several devices can be enrolled at once, with minimal admin intervention and almost no user interaction.
MDM lets you build your own enterprise app catalog, containing a combination of App Store apps as well as in-house enterprise apps, which can then be easily distributed and installed on Apple devices, irrespective of whether it is readily available or not. Further, the integration with Apple Business Manager (previously known Apple Volume Purchase Program) with MDM, ensures you can have the apps silently installed/deleted/updated without any user intervention. Further, MDM also helps you manage licenses of paid apps by providing details such as the total licenses, licenses utilized etc. MDM lets you pre-configure settings on the apps during installation ensuring the app is ready to be used immediately on installation.
One most important features expected from a paid or free Apple MDM is the capability to remotely configure certain settings on the device, making the device ready for usage without the user having to configure it. MDM supports 25+ policies which let you configure all basic settings on the device such as Wi-Fi, VPN etc. Further, you can set up Apple devices as purpose-built devices using Kiosk Mode(or App Lock), which locks the device to an app or set of apps and prevents users from modifying pre-defined settings. You can also achieve containerization in iOS devices using MDM.
As an IT administrator, you are expected to maintain details regarding the device stock as well as granular details such as device warranty etc. With MDM, the details about managed Apple devices can be generated as reports automatically and also mailed to the needed teams, on a specified schedule.
One of the primary reasons for IT administrators to prefer Apple MDM solutions over the set of management tools provided by Apple is the extensive security settings provided by the former. With support for both proactive security and reactive security, MDM provides a set of options to protect data at rest, in motion, and in use. In case of stolen/misplaced devices, you can put the device in Lost Mode, which ensures the device cannot be accessed as it gets locked and also has the option of displaying a message and a contact number, for the device to be handed over when found. To protect unauthorized data access/sharing of device data, you can either completely wipe the device or just erase the corporate data using selective wipe.
Try Mobile Device Manager Plus' Apple MDM features for free by signing up for our fully-featured 30-day free trial.