An event organised by Bechtle and ARP.
Apple devices – From deployment to management
The event “Apple devices – From implementation to management” took place on 16 April. The topic is more relevant than ever, because with the growing demand for Apple solutions in organisations and a rising number of employees who prefer Apple products, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and best practices. For example, do you know how to efficiently deploy Apple devices in your current IT environment and what the process involves?
Here we enjoy a look back on a day full of valuable insights and exciting discussions. The event focused mainly on the technical aspects surrounding the implementation of Apple products in the business environment and covered topics such as MDM, Managed or personal Apple IDs, and the use of shared devices.
Did you miss out? Not to worry. Read on to discover more about everything that went on.
Want to know more about Bechtle's Apple solutions? Or do you have any questions? Then get in touch with us. We'll be happy to help!
I actually used to be anti-Apple, but then I got a new job where they worked with Apple devices. Now I really see their benefits, especially when it comes to lifecycle and lower long-term costs.
Were you there? If you were, you have answers to questions including....
- What exactly is an Apple ID and what is the difference between personal and Managed?
- Which MDM solutions are available and which best suits your needs?
- As the link between your organisation and Apple, how can we support you in getting the most out of Apple devices?
- Why is a Readiness Review so important?
- What are the best practices when it comes to Apple device deployment?
Key takeaways
There isn’t really such a thing as the “best” MDM solution.
There are so many on the market and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. When it comes to making the right choice, it boils down to the company’s wishes, requirements and processes. Think carefully about what’s important to you now and in the future and contact our team for advice.
Want to get started with Apple? The first step is to carry out a Readiness Review.
If Apple devices are to be deployed in your current IT environment, you need to start by analysing what you already have so you know exactly what needs to be done to make the most of your new Apple devices. That’s where the Readiness Review comes in.
Personal or Managed Apple ID? It depends on the specific use case.
For example, if you use an iPad as a shared device, a Managed Apple ID is the best choice, but this does not allow you to use all of the applications or services you have with a personal Apple ID. The 5 GB storage limit per user is also sometimes a bit of a hindrance.
Deploying Apple in a Microsoft environment is not the issue it used to be.
Even as little as a year ago IT managers were still questioning whether Apple could easily run alongside Windows devices, but they no longer need to worry. Many have already experienced that, with the right means, it is a pretty simple process.
Apple at Work
We started the afternoon with an introduction to Apple at Work. When the first iPhone was released, Apple was focused on the consumer market, but then a growing number of people started to take their Apple device to work and found they could use them for a wide-range of business applications. These days, even planes can’t take off without an iPad. The session also covered how Apple supports users, the business and IT departments. But what about Apple and AI? Apple has been equipping all iPhone models with a neural processor (AI chip) since 2017 and has also been adding them to the Mac family since 2020, so you can find AI in all Apple iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Watch devices.
Apple at Work
We started the afternoon with an introduction to Apple at Work. When the first iPhone was released, Apple was focused on the consumer market, but then a growing number of people started to take their Apple device to work and found they could use them for a wide-range of business applications. These days, even planes can’t take off without an iPad. The session also covered how Apple supports users, the business and IT departments. But what about Apple and AI? Apple has been equipping all iPhone models with a neural processor (AI chip) since 2017 and has also been adding them to the Mac family since 2020, so you can find AI in all Apple iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Watch devices.
Deployment – Best practices
For this session, an Apple systems engineer took to the stage to tell us more about Apple deployment. There are multiple ways to roll out Apple devices within your organisation, each with their pros and cons, and each deployment is unique. We discovered more about some of the best practices including first making sure your organisation is ready for deployment through a Readiness Review. Then making sure the infrastructure is up to scratch, and identifying which apps you, users and management will use and work with. We also covered the topic of Mobile Device Management. While Apple doesn’t have a preferred MDM solution, it does have some tips for its devices, for example, look for zero-day availability, feature completeness and declarative device management capabilities.
Deployment – Best practices
For this session, an Apple systems engineer took to the stage to tell us more about Apple deployment. There are multiple ways to roll out Apple devices within your organisation, each with their pros and cons, and each deployment is unique. We discovered more about some of the best practices including first making sure your organisation is ready for deployment through a Readiness Review. Then making sure the infrastructure is up to scratch, and identifying which apps you, users and management will use and work with. We also covered the topic of Mobile Device Management. While Apple doesn’t have a preferred MDM solution, it does have some tips for its devices, for example, look for zero-day availability, feature completeness and declarative device management capabilities.
Mobile Device Management for Apple devices
The ARP/Bechtle Apple technical expert kicked off this session with a survey of which MDM solutions are used. The participants used some five different solutions, but most people said they were using Microsoft Intune. Luc discussed Jamf Pro and Microsoft Intune and the pros and cons of both such as how Intune allows you to manage Windows, Android and Apple devices in a single platform, but offers more limited capabilities, training offerings and self-service compared to Jamf. Jamf, however, requires you to purchase a licence that is often already included with Microsoft Intune and it only allows you to manage Apple products. So how do you choose the best solution? Identify what features you need and which devices you want to manage now and in the future, and then get advice and leverage Bechtle’s Readiness Review.
Mobile Device Management for Apple devices
The ARP/Bechtle Apple technical expert kicked off this session with a survey of which MDM solutions are used. The participants used some five different solutions, but most people said they were using Microsoft Intune. Luc discussed Jamf Pro and Microsoft Intune and the pros and cons of both such as how Intune allows you to manage Windows, Android and Apple devices in a single platform, but offers more limited capabilities, training offerings and self-service compared to Jamf. Jamf, however, requires you to purchase a licence that is often already included with Microsoft Intune and it only allows you to manage Apple products. So how do you choose the best solution? Identify what features you need and which devices you want to manage now and in the future, and then get advice and leverage Bechtle’s Readiness Review.
Apple IDs
What is the difference between personal and Managed Apple IDs and when should you choose which? That was the topic of the next session. Users often falsely assume that if an Apple ID is a “@company name”, it is a business Managed Apple ID. This is something to watch out for because a personal Apple ID, for example, cannot be claimed by an organisation the moment their employee leaves. It is not a Managed Apple ID unless it is created by the organisation itself. The one you choose depends on the functionalities you want to apply. It is also possible to use a personal and shared Apple ID on one device. You can log in with a primary and a secondary ID with different services available on both deployment models. The conclusion? There is no “one size fits all” solution, but rather a “one size fits most”. With a Managed Apple ID, you can turn certain components on and off for specific users.
Apple IDs
What is the difference between personal and Managed Apple IDs and when should you choose which? That was the topic of the next session. Users often falsely assume that if an Apple ID is a “@company name”, it is a business Managed Apple ID. This is something to watch out for because a personal Apple ID, for example, cannot be claimed by an organisation the moment their employee leaves. It is not a Managed Apple ID unless it is created by the organisation itself. The one you choose depends on the functionalities you want to apply. It is also possible to use a personal and shared Apple ID on one device. You can log in with a primary and a secondary ID with different services available on both deployment models. The conclusion? There is no “one size fits all” solution, but rather a “one size fits most”. With a Managed Apple ID, you can turn certain components on and off for specific users.
Apple deployment in practice
The Safety and Health Department for the Gelderland-Central region integrated Apple products into its organisation a while ago and was interviewed during the event, something which the participants found extremely valuable. The department had iPads in use in their firefighting vehicles which needed to be replaced, and so they placed an order with our subsidiary, ARP. They needed to get them up and running as quickly as possible as every second counts in this sector. Even though the iPads had been equipped with zero-touch deployment, there were still some issues to contend with including that some apps couldn’t be updated. In fire engines, it is crucial that the iPad is always ready to use and up to date. ARP, in collaboration with Apple, looked at how we could get deliver the devices as quickly as possible to meet the customer’s requirements.
Apple has a select partner network that includes ARP and has high demands on the members of it. Thankfully, ARP was able to quickly connect with Apple and come up with a solution, serving as a link between the customer and Apple, meaning they could be assisted quickly. The Safety and Health Department for the Gelderland-Central region recommends thinking carefully about your problem before trying to look for the solution that fits. And, of course, to leverage ARP’s experience as they look at what obstacles you might encounter and what the process as a whole will look like. A Readiness Review is also always a good idea so you have a solid foundation to build on.
Apple deployment in practice
The Safety and Health Department for the Gelderland-Central region integrated Apple products into its organisation a while ago and was interviewed during the event, something which the participants found extremely valuable. The department had iPads in use in their firefighting vehicles which needed to be replaced, and so they placed an order with our subsidiary, ARP. They needed to get them up and running as quickly as possible as every second counts in this sector. Even though the iPads had been equipped with zero-touch deployment, there were still some issues to contend with including that some apps couldn’t be updated. In fire engines, it is crucial that the iPad is always ready to use and up to date. ARP, in collaboration with Apple, looked at how we could get deliver the devices as quickly as possible to meet the customer’s requirements.
Apple has a select partner network that includes ARP and has high demands on the members of it. Thankfully, ARP was able to quickly connect with Apple and come up with a solution, serving as a link between the customer and Apple, meaning they could be assisted quickly. The Safety and Health Department for the Gelderland-Central region recommends thinking carefully about your problem before trying to look for the solution that fits. And, of course, to leverage ARP’s experience as they look at what obstacles you might encounter and what the process as a whole will look like. A Readiness Review is also always a good idea so you have a solid foundation to build on.
Panel discussion
Prior to the event, participants had the opportunity to submit questions for the panel discussion, and what a debate was had! The experts from Apple and ARP answered both the questions previously submitted and those from the live audience.
One topic that was touched on was deploying Macs in a Microsoft environment, which was a hot topic for IT a year ago, but everything has changed now. “It’s all about the company culture and not IT,” was one of the opinions from the audience along with: “These days you can make them work alongside each other just fine, but it depends what the business wants.” As mentioned earlier, a lot of the audience also use Microsoft Intune, which makes it easy to manage Windows and Mac at the same time.
What about using Apple devices as shared devices? The audience also had an opinion on that: “It can work, but it’s not as easy to use” and “people want to keep their device to themselves”. Answering from the panel, the Apple systems engineer replied that it is very much dependant on your role and situation. An iPhone is often seen as a personal device, but an iPad can be shared or used personally. For example, at a nurses station, one colleague works with it, then the shift ends and the next colleague picks it up. The iPad was originally created for a single user, but features have been added to allow multiple users to work on a single device. Technical expert, Luc Janssen, says that you should also look at what a customer’s technical needs are per use case. First, think about how you want to identify users and how you handle authentication, etc.. You could also use a shared account without a login. Think of an iPad at reception where visitors sign in.
The iPad was created for a single user, but features have been added to allow multiple users to work on a single device. Not hundreds of course, but four to five. You could also use a shared account without a login. Think of an iPad at reception where visitors sign in, for example.
Want to integrate Apple devices into your existing IT environment but don’t know where to start? The event taught us that it is good to conduct a baseline measurement so you know what needs to be done to ensure that you can get the most out of your Apple devices. The Readiness Review can help you discover what’s good and where’s there’s room for improvement without having to devote a lot of time to it yourself.
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