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Apple @ Work is a 9to5Mac series where Bradley Chambers looks at the latest trends and news with how the Mac and iOS are working in enterprise IT environments.

A new regular series from Bradley Chambers covering Apple in the enterprise

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers has been managing an enterprise IT network since 2009. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, and thousands of Macs and iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.

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Apple @ Work: Apple’s commitment to supporting older devices with software upgrades is critical for enterprises with Macs, iPhones, and iPads

Apple old device support

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Jamf, the only company in the world that provides complete management and security solutions that are enterprise secure, consumer simple, and protect personal privacy. Today, more than 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure more than 27 million devices worldwide. Learn more.

Now that Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference has come and gone another year, the summer news cycle will all be about iOS 16, the new features for macOS, what’s new with Apple TV, and rumors about the upcoming fall device releases. Those who manage Apple devices at work will be a season of testing, testing, and more testing. Apple’s old device support commitment with software updates for years to come has been part of the reason iOS and macOS have remained one of the most secure computing platforms.

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Apple @ Work: The iPad goes where no Mac has gone before, so it’s time to stop comparing them

iPad vs Mac

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Jamf, the only company in the world that provides complete management and security solutions that are enterprise secure, consumer simple, and protect personal privacy. Today, more than 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure more than 27 million devices worldwide. Learn more.

We’re 12 years into the iPad industry, and it was the last product line that Steve Job introduced at Apple. Over the years, the iPad has been positioned in various ways by Apple, with the latest being the “What’s a Computer” ad campaign from 2017. The iPad and Mac have had this somewhat awkward coexistence. The Mac has seen somewhat of a renaissance, while the iPad has gotten more expensive on the high end. In recent conversations with businesses who use both, I wanted to take time today to appreciate the iPad in a new light. Comparing iPad vs Mac is the wrong discussion. The reality is that you need to consider each device’s unique benefits.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: The news out of WWDC is seamless integration for enterprises

Apple at work podcast

Sponsored by iMazing Configurator: The scalable local device management and provisioning solution for admins from the iOS and iPadOS experts! Learn more and preview it for free today!

Sponsored by Jamf: Get complete management and security solutions for your organization that are enterprise secure, consumer simple, and protect personal privacy with Jamf. Learn more at jamf.com/9to5mac.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Jason Dettbarn from Addigy joins the show to talk about what’s new out of WWDC for IT teams who manage Apple devices.

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Apple @ Work: Gatekeeper on macOS ensures safety and security on all apps – even non–App Store apps

Mac Laptop

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Jamf, the only company in the world that provides complete management and security solutions that are enterprise secure, consumer simple, and protect personal privacy. Today, more than 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure more than 27 million devices worldwide. Learn more.

In Apple’s dream world, the only way to install apps on macOS would be through the Mac App Store. Apple loves the control that the app store model gives them, but they also love the security it brings users. On iOS, Apple got its wish with an App Store-only world (for now), but it’s not possible on macOS as sandboxing isn’t possible on many different types of applications. So in order to bring security and safety to Mac users everywhere, macOS Gatekeeper was invented, and it’s been a resounding success.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Leaving a culture of innovation in education

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Fraser Speirs finishes his 3-part series looking back at this 15+ year career in education by considering his legacy at his school while leaving a culture built on innovation.

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Apple @ Work: A Time Machine in the Cloud would drive Managed Apple ID usage

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

One of the aspects of Apple Business Essentials that is beneficial for enterprises using Apple is the included iCloud storage. However, many businesses already have an enterprise file sharing solution like Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. I’d love to see Apple evolve its iCloud in the enterprise to tackle a new problem: Time Machine in the Cloud.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: What’s the benefit of technology in education?

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Fraser Speirs returns to the show to talk about the role (and benefits) of technology in education.

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Apple @ Work: Why Apple Business Essentials isn’t a direct competitor to other MDM vendors

M1 MacBook Air

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

Apple Business Essentials is an important product for Apple. I’ve talked to many companies who manage Macs and iPads, and they’re not interested in the service. This is a good thing though. Apple isn’t looking to control 100% of the device management market. Companies like Kandji, Jamf, Mosyle, JumpCloud, and Addigy do a great job of enabling Apple to work great in the enterprise. The enemy of Apple Business Essentials isn’t other MDM vendors. It’s unmanaged devices.

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Apple @ Work: Apple is building a feature to install non-App Store apps on macOS; here’s what it shows about Apple’s intentions with Apple Business Essentials

Apple Business Essentials

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

When I learned about the public release of Apple Business Essentials, one of the questions I asked was if anything was new compared to the beta period. One key thing that Apple is adding is the ability to install apps, not from the Mac App Store. Apple said this was one of the most requested features from the beta period, and they plan to deliver it later this summer.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Fraser Speirs reflects on his career with Apple in education

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Fraser Speirs joins the show to talk about ending his 15+ years in education to join the team at 1Password. This will be a multi-part series that continues over a few episodes.

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Apple @ Work: Google Workspace integration gives more businesses a reason to consider using Managed Apple IDs

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses and Schools to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices . Over 32,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

A few weeks back, Apple announced the production release of Apple Business Essentials. In Apple’s Newsroom post, there was a small mention of something fairly earth-shattering in the enterprise world. I believe it means Apple has a firm understanding of what enterprises need to be successful with Apple at work.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: What are the real-world benefits of Apple Business Essentials?

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment, management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley is joined by Dan Tyke from North Shore Fire/Rescue and Max Williamson from Sock Club to talk about their experiences with Apple Business Essentials during the beta period.

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Apple @ Work: For enterprises that use Mac, consider 1Password or LastPass as a company-wide password management solution

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

I am not sure when password management services went from a prosumer concept to enterprise tools, but I am glad it’s happened. For years, IT departments have told users to use complex passwords that aren’t repeated. That advice didn’t come with any solutions to help people properly manage them, though. Today, tools that were previously aimed at consumers now have strong enterprise offerings. For IT departments looking to ensure password security, both 1Password and LastPass have strong solutions.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Google Workspace integration will drive the use of Managed Apple IDs

Apple At Work

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment, management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, I go solo for the first time and talk about Apple’s upcoming integration with Google Workspace for Managed Apple IDs.

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Apple @ Work: Tailscale is a first-principles approach to VPN technology with full macOS and iOS support

Tailscale

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

There’s a concept of building from first principles that can create some pretty incredible products. For example, one of the technologies I’ve long thought was more complicated than it should be is VPN. VPNs came further into the spotlight with remote work and employees needing to access company resources from wherever they are. I recently came across a product that works great on macOS that takes that first-principles approach to how VPN connections work, and it’s called Tailscale.

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Apple @ Work: macOS 12.3’s challenges with cloud file providers highlights the benefits of managing corporate files in the browser

Safari in macOS Monterey walkthrough

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

With the release of macOS 12.3, enterprise users of products like Dropbox and OneDrive had to be aware of some challenges related to the cloud-based files and the Files Providers API. Unfortunately, with macOS 12.3, Apple deprecated the kernel extension that was being used for this solution. While both companies have plans to resolve the problem, it highlights the need to audit your vendors and workflows continually.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Where device management meets device security

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Jamf CEO Dean Hager returns to the show to talk about finding turn-key solutions for device security (malware) and MDM.

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Apple @ Work: For a small business without an IT staff, here’s how to keep your Macs secure

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

Usage of Apple products in the enterprise is growing at an unprecedented rate. The 2020 MacBook Air is still my daily driver, and it’s become prevalent in the enterprise. The balance of power and battery life is incredible at the price point. Even among small businesses, the Mac is increasingly becoming a popular choice. As we saw with Apple’s latest Apple at Work video, startups love Apple just as much as large companies. However, small businesses might lack the dedicated IT support to keep their Macs secure. Here is a round-up of tips and tricks for securing your Mac at work if you lack a dedicated IT staff.

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Apple @ Work: Using web apps on macOS is streamlined with site specific browser applications

Unite Figma

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the leader in modern mobile device management (MDM) and security for Apple enterprise and education customers. Over 28,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

I’ve written countless articles about the growth of software as a service applications. There are clear benefits to SaaS business models over one-time-use purchases. Many applications have morphed into windows into a cloud service. One “hack” that many IT administrators should consider to streamline their users’ experience is “site specific” applications designed to launch a single website.

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Apple Business Essentials is now available to all small businesses in the US, Google Workspace integration coming this spring

After a beta period with thousands of businesses, Apple is ready to extend simplified device management, iCloud Drive storage, and device repair solution to all small businesses. Originally launching in beta in November of 2021, Apple Business Essentials is designed to take the headache out of device management for growing organizations using Apple.

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Apple @ Work: How Google Apps for Your Domain helped Apple grow its Mac market share in the enterprise

Apple Mac lineup MacBook Air Pro

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Kandji, the MDM solution built exclusively for organizations that run on Apple. Kandji is a modern, cloud-based platform for centrally managing and securing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, saving IT teams countless hours of manual work with features like one-click compliance templates and 150+ pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Request access.

Employee choice when it comes to technology is something I applaud. Technology is deeply personal to many people, so using the tools you’re comfortable with improves morale and streamlines productivity. Unfortunately, employee choice with technology wasn’t always something employers considered. Many people give the iPhone credit for driving employee choice as it created a halo effect. The iPhone contributed that, but I want to argue that Google deserves a lot of credit here as well. Read on to learn more about how Google helped drive the concept of employee choice with technology.

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Apple @ Work: The AppleSeed for IT program is essential for success with major macOS releases

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Kandji, the MDM solution built exclusively for organizations that run on Apple. Kandji is a modern, cloud-based platform for centrally managing and securing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, saving IT teams countless hours of manual work with features like one-click compliance templates and 150+ pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Request access.

The months in 2022 keep moving along. It feels like we were waking up on a 1/1/22, but here we are, nearly through with Q1. If you’re in the same community, these are the “quiet months” before we move into the period where speculation about Apple’s summer software announcements ramps up, followed by the fall releases. If you’re in the IT world, you’re possibly just coming up from air on deploying macOS 12 to your fleet, so the concepts of yet another software release might be exhausting. Truthfully, it is, but it’s coming whether you want it or not. There are things you can do today to prepare for macOS 13 in your organization, though.

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