Apple @ Work is dropped at you by Addigy, the ONLY real-time Apple machine administration platform that mixes MDM with dwell agent capabilities to handle and safe your Apple ecosystem — no matter your Mac-spertise. Go to addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you handle your Apple gadgets in real-time.
Apple Configurator 1.0, launched again in 2012, did away with the necessity for hundreds of iTunes accounts, however it additionally revolutionized the machine administration capabilities of supervised iOS gadgets. Beforehand, machine deployments had been restricted to guide configuration and supervision by somebody on-site, however Apple Configurator introduced a brand new imaginative and prescient for mass deployment to educators and companies.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT community from 2009 to 2021. By means of his expertise deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a cellular machine administration system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 100s of Macs, and 100s of iPads, Bradley will spotlight methods wherein Apple IT managers deploy Apple gadgets, construct networks to assist them, prepare customers, tales from the trenches of IT administration, and methods Apple may enhance its merchandise for IT departments.
Apple Configurator 1.0
Apple Configurator 1.0, launched to the general public again in 2012, did away with the necessity for hundreds of iTunes accounts, however it additionally revolutionized the machine administration capabilities of supervised iOS gadgets. The concept behind Apple Configurator is to simplify machine administration by assembling all of the settings you need on an iPad or iPhone in a single place after which deploying them with ease. It additionally introduced the concept of the Quantity Buy Program to life the place customers may buy apps in bulk, and deploy them to a number of iOS gadgets directly. Beforehand, IT directors would sync apps over iTunes. Sure, you’d sync apps to a number of iOS gadgets directly over… iTunes. In case you’re questioning, sure, it was sluggish. Once more, previous to Apple Configurator 1.0, the concept of deploying iOS gadgets was a relentless battle of workarounds.
Over the following ten years, cellular machine administration options would take over a lot of what Apple Configurator did, and in a way more scalable means. As an alternative of syncing over a wire, IT directors would push the whole lot out over the air. I nonetheless consider Apple Configurator is vital software program to know easy methods to use, although.
Why Apple Configurator nonetheless issues
Beforehand, machine deployments had been restricted to guide configuration and supervision by somebody on-site. This may very well be a time-consuming course of, particularly when deploying a whole lot or hundreds of gadgets directly. Apple Configurator introduced a brand new imaginative and prescient for mass deployment; the power to automate and simplify the method of configuring a lot of gadgets, all from one centralized location.
Apple Configurator isn’t an entire MDM answer. You could join Apple Configurator on to a tool to be able to handle it – it lacks key options that might provide the capacity to handle gadgets remotely, assign customers, and use different superior choices that companies and faculties want.
Nonetheless, you need to use Apple Configurator to oversee gadgets that aren’t related to a wi-fi community; for instance, kiosk or reference gadgets. It’s a great tool for superior customers and directors who need to handle their gadgets immediately, quite than by way of an MDM answer. It will probably additionally complement an current MDM implementation by permitting you to entry your group’s infrastructure when wanted. When you don’t desire a absolutely zero-touch deployment, it may be helpful for kickstarting the enrollment course of for brand new gadgets and robotically embody a Wi-Fi profile configuration.
One space I nonetheless discover Apple Configurator to be extremely helpful is in mass updating gadgets to the newest model of iOS. When you’re in a spot with restricted or metered bandwidth, it may be rather more manageable to gather the gadgets you’re accountable for and replace them utilizing the identical iOS obtain. I’ve talked with IT directors in rising markets, they usually simply don’t have the bandwidth to replace all of their gadgets individually, and it’s a lot sooner to gather and replace over a USB cable with Apple Configurator.
Wrap-up
Apple Configurator is a crucial a part of the historical past of managing iOS gadgets at work. It was one of many first instruments to be particularly designed for managing and deploying giant numbers of iOS gadgets, and it paved the best way for most of the highly effective and versatile administration instruments which can be obtainable at this time over cellular machine administration options.
Apple @ Work is dropped at you by Addigy, the ONLY real-time Apple machine administration platform that mixes MDM with dwell agent capabilities to handle and safe your Apple ecosystem — no matter your Mac-spertise. Go to addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you handle your Apple gadgets in real-time.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
Take a look at 9to5Mac on YouTube for extra Apple information:
