#Apple mobile device management full#

The idea behind this feature was that if a device were lost or stolen, it could not be wiped without entering the associated Apple ID. With iOS 7, Apple included another feature that has saved many an administrator from endless headaches: disabling Activation Lock. It also provided APIs to enable or disable MDM solutions, allowing IT teams to use TouchID for access to the enterprise container, as well as the device itself. This new security measure was the first of its kind within the Apple product line to use biometric data instead of a passcode for device access. One of the most noticeable and innovative features of iOS 7 was TouchID. In 2013, iOS 7 packed a punch with a completely new OS redesign, upgraded security features and better management capabilities.

#Apple mobile device management full#

Supervised mode gave IT full administrative rights to the device and set restrictions to prevent the user from falling out of compliance. However, the option of containing enterprise data on a userвЂ™s personal device - as opposed to purchasing, setting up and deploying a new device - proved to be the more cost-effective business model.ДЄside from the BYOD aspect, iOS 6 introduced a supervised mode, making it easier for IT teams to manage corporate-owned devices. During this time, organizations frequently used a corporate-owned device model as their standard practice for mobile productivity. The APIs released in this version allowed IT teams to containerize and separate their enterprise information within the userвЂ™s device, which brought about the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model. At that time, MDM solutions aimed to capitalize on a then-rising enterprise need: containment.Д«y this point, iOS devices had gained popularity for personal use, and businesses were just catching on to their versatility. The release of iOS 6 in 2012 brought a new facet to MDM capabilities by providing application programming interfaces (APIs) to private developers. Enterprise Containment and the BYOD Model By this point, enrolled devices were subject to more customization from an IT security standpoint, such as disabling Siri and determining what could be synced and backed up to iCloud. The following year, iOS 5 introduced Siri, iCloud and OTA operating system (OS) updates, which could also be managed by an MDM solution. As an added benefit, iOS 4 also introduced mobile application management (MAM) capabilities, enabling security teams to push apps down to devices and set compliance rules. These functions included locate, lock and wipe. IT and security leaders gained the ability to enroll iOS devices over the air (OTA) to perform basic MDM functions. In 2010, Apple released iOS 4, which opened the door to the enterprise with MDM capabilities. Apple and the Dawn of Mobile Device Management Each device represents a potentially vulnerable endpoint, and cybercriminals have mastered the art of exploiting these weaknesses to infiltrate corporate networks.ДЇortunately, each iteration of AppleвЂ™s iOS has made security teamsвЂ™ jobs easier by introducing new features that can be applied to mobile device management (MDM).Д«elow is a brief history to show how each release marked another crucial step in the evolution of enterprise mobility. As organizations have gradually embraced mobile technology over the years to boost productivity, the task of protecting enterprise networks has become increasingly difficult for IT and security professionals.