What is Apple Business Manager?
Whether your business has a fleet of ten or ten thousand Apple devices, Apple Business Manager (AMB) is designed to make it easy for your enterprise to deploy and manage all its Apple devices from one place by pre-registering new devices into your management software (MDM).
Apple Business Manager is a web-based portal where your registered Apple devices will be detailed, where you can purchase apps for your business (in volume if required) and where you can create and manage business Apple IDs for your staff.
There is no charge for Apple Business Manager and it works seamlessly with a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, allowing your IT team to set up its Mac and iOS devices with minimal staff interaction. Apple Business Manager combined with an MDM cuts out the typical pain points of switching to or deploying new Apple devices offering businesses of all sizes what is known as a zero-touch deployment solution.
Once your IT administrator has registered your business for an ABM account (this can take a week so for Apple to set up) your IT team can link it to your business’s MDM solution so that new business devices can be managed from one central location, eliminating the slow and often inconsistent process of manually installing software and configuring devices.
From this point on even devices for home or hybrid working, staff can be shipped out in bulk to employees' homes safe in the confidence that they will auto-enrol and configure as soon as they are switched on.
Do I need an MDM if I have Apple Business Manager?
It needs to be stressed that ABM is not an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution; it does not provide any facilities to set up devices, install apps, and manage security or device updates. It is however a crucial part of the Apple device management journey, allowing you to securely get your Apple devices and business-owned apps into your MDM and allowing you to ensure your devices can be automatically set up and managed when they are first switched on. ABM essentially offers the following functionality.
App and Content Management
Apple Business Manager improves app and content management by allowing businesses to purchase apps and books in bulk through Apple's Volume Purchase Program (VPP). This feature facilitates remote app distribution and updates, ensuring seamless app management across your enterprise.
With the ability to distribute apps efficiently, businesses can keep their teams equipped with the latest tools while maintaining control over app versions and licensing. This contributes to a smoother zero-touch deployment, as devices can be configured and updated without the need for on-site IT involvement.
Integration with Identity Providers
Apple Business Manager also offers robust integrations with identity management solutions like Google Workspace or Microsoft Entra. By supporting federated authentication and managed Apple IDs, ABM demonstrates its flexibility in working within an organisation’s existing IT infrastructure.
This capability streamlines enterprise device management and boosts security, allowing for a smoother transition to managed Apple IDs while ensuring compliance with organisational policies. The Mobile Device Management (MDM) integration further enhances this process, as IT teams can effectively manage devices from a centralised platform.
In a nutshell, ABM covers three main areas:
Registering all business-owned devices in an ABM account
Bulk purchases of apps via the Apple App Store
Managing Apple IDs for business users
If you would like to find out more about Apple Business Manager or MDM solutions and how we can help provide Apple Mac IT support for your business, get in touch with us today.
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