macOS Device Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Manage MacBooks Using SureMDM

Apple devices, including macOS-powered laptops and desktops, are popular choices in many businesses due to their security, reliability, and high performance. However, the rising adoption of MacBooks has also led to a significant increase in security threats, with the new types of macOS malware such as ransomware, trojans, and backdoors rising by 100% in 2023¹ compared to the previous year. This highlights the importance of effective Mac device management to secure, manage, and monitor macOS devices.

What is macOS MDM?

Mac device management or macOS MDM is a Mobile Device Management framework developed by Apple, that enables MDM providers to securely manage and oversee macOS devices. macOS MDM allows IT administrators to remotely configure, secure, and manage macOS devices. Whether for a few devices or thousands, macOS MDM ensures that devices are compliant with organizational policies and are up-to-date with the latest software and security patches.

Key Features of Mac Device Management

1. Device Configuration and Security: MDM allows administrators to efficiently configure devices with the necessary settings and apply customized restrictions to align with business needs. It also enables IT teams to implement critical security policies and manage devices remotely, ensuring seamless operation and full control.
2. App Distribution & Management: MDM allows IT admins to deploy and manage internal or third-party enterprise applications remotely, and those from the App Store. Leveraging Apple's Volume Purchase Program (VPP) integration, organizations can buy and distribute apps in bulk to managed devices. Additionally, some MDM solutions support an Enterprise App Store for simplified app management. 
3. OS Update Management: MDM provides administrators with comprehensive control over how and when macOS updates are installed on managed devices. IT admins can enforce both major upgrades and minor updates through native prompts for Mac users. Administrators can defer updates to ensure users only install updates after IT thoroughly reviews and approves them, enabling a secure and well-coordinated rollout process.
4. Remote Diagnostics and Troubleshooting: MDM allows IT admins to remotely diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctioning devices, minimizing downtime for employees and saving on shipping costs.  
5. User Management: With MDM, administrators can efficiently manage user accounts on macOS devices. This includes adding new user accounts, removing existing ones, and modifying account permissions.
6. Scripts and Custom Payloads: MDM provides the capability to execute scripts securely and wirelessly, for better management. Additionally, it supports the deployment of custom payloads created using tools like Apple Configurator and other such tools for custom configurations.

Why Mac Device Management is Essential for Businesses

1. Enhanced Productivity
   By automating many administrative tasks, such as software installations, updates, and configurations, macOS MDM frees up time for IT admins to focus on their core tasks. It also allows IT teams to manage devices more efficiently, reducing the overhead associated with manual management.
2. Improved Security
   Mac device management gives businesses complete control over their Apple devices, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure. Policies such as remote lock, enabling FileVault for data encryption, and remote wipe provide an added layer of security against data breaches, loss, or theft.
3. Consistency Across Devices
   Mac device management ensures that all devices within the organization have the same configurations, apps, and security settings. This helps maintain a consistent user experience, reduces errors, and ensures that devices comply with organizational standards.
4. Scalability
   As businesses grow, so do their device fleets. macOS MDM allows companies to easily scale up their device management efforts without the need for extensive manual intervention. Whether managing 10 or 10,000 devices, MDM provides a streamlined solution that grows with your organization.
5. Compliance and Audit Readiness
   Compliance with regulatory standards is a critical concern for many industries. macOS MDM helps businesses meet compliance requirements by enforcing device security standards and maintaining records of device configurations and policies. Using macOS MDM, administrators can generate detailed reports on device inventory, offering valuable insights and data-driven analysis. This visibility is especially useful for audits and ensuring ongoing industry certifications.

Why Choose SureMDM for managing macOS Devices

SureMDM is an excellent choice for managing macOS devices due to its comprehensive features, that support both agent-based enrollment (even QR code as well) and zero-touch enrollment, remote device configurations, and app deployment to make devices business-ready. Custom payloads offer the flexibility to execute and configure custom configurations for enhanced device management.

With its advanced features like managing macOS updates, FileVault encryption and rotation, scripting, and compliance, SureMDM streamlines mac device management while enhancing productivity and security. Additionally, SureMDM's scalability and cross-platform support make it ideal for businesses of all sizes. With dedicated customer support and robust reporting tools, SureMDM streamlines macOS device management while enhancing productivity and security.

Source
1. Techopedia