The Ultimate Guide to Managing Apple Devices in Microsoft Intune

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through managing Apple devices using Microsoft Intune and Apple Business Manager. With the increasing reliance on mobile devices in the workplace, understanding how to effectively manage these devices is crucial for IT administrators. This guide covers everything from setting up necessary certificates to deploying apps and configuring policies.

Step 1: Understand Licensing Requirements

Before starting, ensure you have the appropriate licenses for Microsoft Intune and Apple Business Manager. You need:

• Microsoft 365 subscription with Intune capabilities.
• Enrollment in Apple Business Manager to manage devices.

Step 2: Be Cautious with Personal Apple Devices

If you are managing personal Apple devices, be aware of privacy and security implications. Always confirm that users understand their data may be monitored or managed by your organization.

Step 3: Create an Apple Push Certificate

To enable device management, you need an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) certificate. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Apple Push Certificates Portal.
2. Create a new certificate request using your Intune account.
3. Download the certificate and upload it to Intune.

Step 4: Connect Intune and Apple Business Manager

Once you have the APNs certificate:

1. Go to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.
2. Navigate to "Devices" > "Enroll Devices" > "Apple Enrollment."
3. Set up the connection to Apple Business Manager by entering your organization's details and the APNs certificate.

Step 5: Configure the VPP Connector

The Volume Purchase Program (VPP) connector allows you to manage app licenses:

1. In the Endpoint Manager, go to "Devices" > "Enroll Devices" > "Apple Enrollment."
2. Select "VPP Tokens" and upload your VPP token.
3. Ensure that your token is valid and that you can manage app licenses effectively.

Step 6: Determine Device Enrollment Method

Decide whether you want to enroll new devices or existing ones:

• For new devices, leverage Automated Device Enrollment (ADE).
• For existing devices, use Apple Configurator to prepare them for Intune.

Step 7: Use Apple Configurator for iPhone

If you're enrolling existing devices:

1. Connect the device to your computer with Apple Configurator.
2. Prepare the device by selecting "Prepare" and following the prompts to set it up for management.

Step 8: Add Existing Devices into Apple Business Manager

To manage existing devices:

1. Navigate to the Apple Business Manager portal.
2. Add the devices using their serial numbers or by linking with your MDM server.

Step 9: Create an Enrollment Profile

Set up an enrollment profile for your devices:

1. Go to "Devices" in the Endpoint Manager.
2. Select "Apple Enrollment" and create a new enrollment profile.
3. Configure settings such as user access and device features.

Step 10: Install Apps via Intune

To deploy applications:

1. Go to "Apps" in the Endpoint Manager.
2. Choose "Add" to select apps from the Microsoft Store or use VPP apps.
3. Assign the apps to user groups or devices as needed.

Step 11: Utilize Intune Device Functions

Explore the functionalities of Intune for device management:

• Remotely wipe or lock devices.
• Monitor compliance with security policies.
• Retrieve device inventory reports.

Step 12: Create Configuration Profiles

Configuration profiles allow you to manage settings on devices:

1. Navigate to "Devices" > "Configuration Profiles."
2. Create a new profile for settings like Wi-Fi, VPN, and email accounts.

Step 13: Establish Apple Update Policies

To keep devices updated:

1. Go to "Devices" > "Update Policies."
2. Create a policy that specifies how and when devices should update to the latest iOS versions.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to manage Apple devices using Microsoft Intune and Apple Business Manager. By following these steps, you can ensure effective device management, maintain security, and enhance productivity within your organization. For further exploration, consider joining the Microsoft 365 community or accessing additional resources to optimize your management skills.