If you’re a new Mac admin wondering how to simplify and automate user/device enrollment and management, all you need is Apple Business Manager. And this article is there to help.
Below, we’ll explain what Apple Business Manager is, what benefits it brings, and, more importantly, how it works. You’ll also understand how to make the most of this solution and manage large-scale global deployments with minimal manual intervention.
Apple Business Manager (ABM) is a web-based portal that combines the capabilities of the Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP) and the Apple Automated Enrollment Program (ADE). It allows you to manage the deployment and configuration of your organization's Apple devices, apps, Apple IDs, and content.
The Apple Business Manager's entire purpose is to help organizations simplify Apple device purchases, enrollment, and management.
While you can use the Apple Business Manager without integrating it with an MDM solution, it would merely function as an inventory database for Apple serial numbers.
When integrated with an MDM solution, the Apple Business manager offers more control to the IT team.
For instance, IT teams can deliver pre-configured devices to users. Upon receipt, users just need to turn on the device and connect it to the internet. This will start the enrollment process, eliminating the need for IT admins to configure the devices manually.
In a nutshell, by integrating ABM with an MDM solution, IT teams can:
Automate device enrollment in the corporate environment.
Get more control over managed devices.
Make Apple devices corporate-ready out-of-the-box.
Purchase and distribute apps over manager devices more easily.
Let’s now discuss the key features of the Apple Business Manager.
Let’s explore the key features of Apple Business Manager (ABM):
With ABM, you can automatically enroll devices into your mobile device management (MDM) solution (Microsoft Intune or Apple Business Essentials) as long as the device is registered with your organization at the time of purchase from Apple or an authorized reseller.
This automatic device enrollment further streamlines processes like device setup and deployment by eliminating the need to set up devices before use manually.
Apple Business Manager is the only way to buy books and apps (install and update) in bulk and distribute them to individual users or devices across your organization. This ensures every user and device has the tools necessary to work productively.
Your organization retains ownership and control of the apps and books you buy. ABM also allows you to revoke apps and reassign them to different users or devices, regardless of their location (the app must be available in that country).
Yet another important feature of Apple Business Manager is Managed Apple IDs. Using ABM, IT admins can easily create managed Apple IDs from users’ personal Apple IDs to control which Apple services the device (where the ID is logged in) can access.
Managed Apple IDs add a layer of security as the IT team vets every application or content before it is deployed through your MDM solution. This prevents users from accessing the App Store and installing any unwanted apps.
IT admins can set roles like Administrator, People Manager, Staffer, Device Manager, etc, to manage Apple IDs to ensure each user has only the access necessary to perform their tasks.
Apple Business Manager serves as a database or inventory for Apple serial numbers(IDs, devices, or apps).
However, when integrated with an MDM solution, you can remotely manage apps and user devices, enforce security policies, and automate deployment, among other things.
In simple words, MDM helps supercharge the ability of Apple Business Manager by offering you more control of the distributed devices.
Let’s explore how Apple business manager works:
If you’re new, you’ll see only one user (which will be you) with the role of an administrator. You can add new users and assign them different roles by clicking the “Add” button on the top right. Once you have entered the necessary details, click Save.
That’s how the “Add User” interface looks like:
Click the “Create Sign” button as highlighted in the screenshot below:
Upon hitting the button, you’ll see a popup. Select “Send as an email” and click “Continue.” This will notify the user and prompt them to complete the setup.
Select the device you want to manage and then click “Edit MDM Server,” which is aust above the device. Then, select the MDM to which you wish to assign the device.
Once the device is assigned to an MDM, you can enjoy supervision and automated enrollment regardless of location.
Upon verification, you’ll see a list of applications and books. You can use the search bar to find any application you wish to distribute.
Say you wish to distribute Netflix. Please search the keyword, select an app, and select the location (MDM server) where you want it. After that, select the quantity and hit “Get,” and the applications will sync to your MDM server automatically.
Note: While you can install apps using the MDM alone, not using ABM to distribute content is disadvantageous.
For instance, users must enter their personal Apple IDs to log in. However, if you purchase apps via Apple Business Manager and distribute them via MDM, you can enforce a corporate identity on the app without prompting users to enter their credentials.
When working independently, the Apple Business Manager is a little more than an inventory for Apple serial numbers. However, when used in unison with an MDM solution, you can experience several benefits, including:
ABM helps you enable automated device enrollment, allowing you to deploy Apple devices without manual configuration.
Your employees can unbox their devices, connect them to the internet, and start working. This eliminates the need for IT admins to set up each device manually, significantly reducing the effort required and saving time.
Using Apple Business Manager, you can easily create Managed Apple IDs. These IDs function as corporate IDs, allowing you more control over corporate data and applications. You can decide which apps or content you want a user to access on their device.
When integrated with an MDM solution, you can supervise devices and offer additional management controls, such as ensuring compliance or enforcing security policies.
Scaling becomes easy because ABM enables IT teams to automate device enrollment and manage accounts, devices, and apps from a centralized portal.
IT teams can contact their vendors to facilitate deployment and MDM integration without having to deploy resources physically. This simplifies the onboarding process for new devices and users, no matter how large the fleet is.
ABM is a free tool that saves you money right off the bat. Also, as ABM automates device enrollment and offers centralized device and content management, your IT overhead reduces, optimizing the overall costs.
Here are some best practices for using Apple Business Manager for efficient device management and security within your organization:
Ensure proper device assignment to the correct team or individual: Carefully assign users or groups based on their specific roles and responsibilities. This ensures that each user has the right device configured with the right settings and permissions necessary to work productively.
This also helps ensure the devices comply with the organizational policies.
Update the ABM dashboard regularly for accuracy: You must regularly update device information (remove obsolete devices), user assignments (update user roles), and organizational details within your Apple Business Manager portal.
This is essential for better decision-making, maintaining compliance requirements, and boosting operational efficiency.
Leverage Managed Apple IDs for better user control: By creating and assigning Managed Apple IDs to employees via ABM, you can manage user accounts better and control access to Apple services.
Also, integrate with Microsoft Azure Active Directory to use federated authentication. This will allow users to use their existing credentials as Managed Apple IDs without remembering a new set of credentials.
Audit and monitor device usage for compliance: Conduct regular audits of app installations, security settings, and device configurations. Also, integrate your MDM solution with your ABM to monitor compliance and enforce security policies.
Regular audits will help you diagnose and deal with potential security risks and ensure adherence to compliance regulations.
Let’s discuss some common challenges you may experience when using Apple Business Manager:
Apple Business Manager is designed specifically for Apple devices, i.e., you can leverage ABM only if you deploy iPhones, iPads, or Macs.
If you have a mixed fleet of devices, such as Windows and Apple devices, you’ll need additional solutions like Windows Autopilot, which is ABM equivalent but for Windows devices.
You can integrate both these solutions with a diverse Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, such as Microsoft Intune, and deploy preconfigured Windows and Apple devices across distributed workforces.
If you’re new to Apple’s ecosystem, you might find it challenging to understand and fully utilize the ABM interface.
For instance, several new IT admins think of ABM as an MDM or try to use ABM without integrating it with a mobile device management solution.
You'll need the right skills and training to leverage the solution and integrate it with your existing MDM.
You can refer to resources from Apple like:
While you can use Apple Business Manager individually, it will function simply as an enrollment and inventory management solution with limited functionality.
Using an ABM, you can enroll devices in the portal. Still, you cannot control apps distributed on your devices, handle software updates, enforce security policies, or remotely lock & erase corporate-owned devices.
You must integrate ABM with a reliable MDM solution for all these functions or to seamlessly deploy and manage Apple devices across your distributed workforce.
If you are not new to ABM, you know that you can only enroll in devices purchased directly from Apple or authorized resellers that are compatible with the Device Enrolment Program (DEP). This means older or 2nd hand devices may not be eligible for ABM enrollment.
However, if you have a global workforce, how would you procure genuine Apple devices eligible for ABM, especially at a large scale?
Let’s assume you procure the devices. How will you enroll each device in your ABM and assign it to your MDM solution? And what about delivery, repairs, retrieval, and disposal?
That’s when Workwize enters the picture. Read along to discover how Workwize helps you truly automate device deployment and tackle the above challenges.
Workwize is a global IT hardware management platform that helps you manage IT assets for your globally distributed teams. Here’s how Workwize forms a perfect pair with Apple Business Manager:
Say you are headquartered in California, and you have 500+ employees in your Bangalore office in India. You plan to automate deployments by leveraging Apple Business Manager and integrating it with Microsoft Intune (an MDM).
The first problem you’ll face is procuring devices from Apple or authorized resellers in Bangalore. Otherwise, you’ll have to ship them from California, which is expensive and logistically challenging and also time-consuming.
Enter Workwize.
Workwize allows you to buy, lease, or rent IT equipment (laptops, accessories, office supplies, or furniture) from our network of extensive global IT and office suppliers. By partnering with Workwize, you can ensure that only high-quality devices eligible for ABM enrollment are procured.
The best part? Workwize has a warehouse in India and several other countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Canada, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Germany, and the UK.
Therefore, you can deliver devices directly to your distributed teams within 1-2 days (express delivery), minimizing logistical costs and your carbon footprint and saving time and hassle.
Moreover, you can track your devices' delivery or deployment status, eliminating uncertainty.
Say you’re procuring devices using Workwize. Now, Workwize will integrate with your preferred mobile device management (MDM) solution like Microsoft Intune, simplifying mobile device management.
Here’s how this happens:
Workwize integrates with your MDM solution, allowing you to manage app updates and installations and enforce security protocols directly through your MDM.
This further helps you deliver pre-configured devices to your employees, which they can connect to the internet and get working from day one.
In a nutshell, Workwzie truly automates deployment and MDM enrollment and minimizes manual intervention, paving the way for zero-touch deployments.
Workwize seamlessly integrates with your SCIM, Active Directory, and HR systems to automate user provisioning. You can also integrate Workwize with Slack to get timely notifications.
Workwize seamlessly integrates with ABM, Windows Autopilot, and the MDMs of your choice, allowing you to automate the deployment of Apple and Windows devices.
Also, you can integrate Workwize into any custom workflow and create a unified IT ecosystem.
One of the biggest advantages of using Workwize is it helps you ensure a great end-user experience. How?
Using Workwize, you can pre-configure devices, i.e., apply apps, books, security policies, or other configurations, and deliver ready-to-use Macbooks or laptops on time. The users need to connect the device to the internet, and they can start working the same day.
This zero-touch deployment method helps users skip unnecessary screens and eliminates the need for physical IT staff to set up the device. Also, because of Workwize’s strong logistics network, the devices are delivered on time. And all these factors result in brilliant user experiences.
Don’t underestimate the value of a good onboarding experience. SHRM states that 69% of employees are more likely to stay with a company for over 3 years if they have experienced great onboarding.
And the goodness doesn’t end here. Retrieval and offboarding employees are also a great hassle. Excessive manual resources are required, global transportation is challenging, equipment needs to be refreshed for redeployment, there are compliance issues, and there is a risk of data leaks.
But Workwize has you covered as we take care of the entire lifecycle from procurement to disposal.
Workwize implements zero-touch onboarding and zero-touch offboarding or retrieval, offloading the stress of equipment returns. Here’s how we help you with seamless user offboarding:
Automatic multichannel communication and secure transport of retrieved assets.
Certified data erasure that ensures permanent and irreversible disposal.
Track the offboarding status and asset retrieval in real-time and reduce the risk of lost assets.
Assets are wiped clean and made ready for redeployment.
Global logistics solution to streamline retrieval of assets across the globe.
100% retrieval rate, meaning we’ve never lost or misplaced a device ever!
Using the Workwize dashboard, you can view the inventory and track your devices' deployment, retrieval, or disposal status. You can also access detailed reports, enabling you to audit the assets effectively and make data-driven decisions to optimize the IT asset lifecycle further.
Book a free demo with Workwize and see how it complements ABM and enhances its capabilities.
Suppose you deploy Apple devices to your distributed workforces across the globe. In that case, you inevitably need an Apple Business Manager unless you want to make user/device enrollment, deployment, and management a nightmare.
However, to get the most out of Apple Business Manager, integrate your ABM with an MDM.
Also, tie up with a global IT hardware management platform like Workwize to further streamline the IT hardware lifecycle.
Otherwise, you’ll have to deploy manual resources and spend a fortune managing processes such as device procurement, deployment, management, retrieval, and disposal globally.
No Apple Business Manager is exclusively designed for Apple devices. For Windows or Android devices, you need Microsoft's Windows Autopilot.
Generally, if a company stops using ABM, the devices managed through it will remain functional or listed under the ABM. However, IT admins won’t be able to remotely configure settings, distribute data or apps, or wipe any data.
Essentially, all the corporate-owned devices will function like personal devices unless the user re-enrolls them in a mobile device management solution.
The Apple Business Manager supports the use of personal devices for corporate or professional tasks through user enrollment.
User enrollment is designed specifically for BYOD programs. It allows employees to use personal devices for corporate tasks and ensures their privacy while containerizing corporate data.
The IT department can only enforce certain settings, monitor corporate compliance, and add/remove only corporate apps and data. It can't remotely wipe data, access device locations, or access personal user data.
Yes, ABM is a completely free tool from Apple. However, you will have to integrate Apple Business Manager with a mobile device management solution, which will come at a cost.
Yes, Apple Business Manager allows you to search locations, activities, user group accounts, user accounts, and even devices. However, what you can and cannot search may vary depending on your role.
Yes, Apple has its own MDM solution called Apple Business Essentials. It allows you to manage system updates, device content, and behavior, track device location, and control a range of device settings.
However, Apple Business Essentials is a basic MDM solution as it lacks the ability to remotely view devices, stage application rollouts, and other crucial features for organizations operating with mixed fleets.
You can always explore alternatives like Microsoft Intune, which supports iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices.