Apple within the enterprise targeted firm, Jamf, kicked off its digital JNUC convention right this moment with a deluge of reports and data for Mac, iPhone and iPad utilizing enterprises.Apple and Microsoft collectively for workThe present comes at a pivotal second within the transformation of enterprise IT. Not solely is figure changing into digital, however Apple’s presence within the house continues to develop.The transfer to digital conferences means the occasion has extra attendees than ever earlier than, with round 15,000 individuals attending, the corporate stated.Speaking earlier than the present, Jamf CEO, Dean Hager, instructed me: “This yr, there’s one thing actually thrilling that is taking place with Apple and Microsoft.
“In the last 12-months, Apple’s announced its new security framework, the single sign on extensions, Apple Silicon for the Mac, they’ve deprecated kernel extensions… I mean they’re being aggressive — really going after it with the Mac and iPad to take over the work environment. At the same time, you’ve got Microsoft over here, who’s doubling down their investment on the Mac, specifically with Office 365.”
Jamf lately mentioned plans to let Microsoft Endpoint handle enterprise iPhones utilizing Azure, and there’s rather more on this integration that’s being revealed right this moment.Apple is a peer participant in enterprise ITMicrosoft VP Brad Anderson will reveal Office 365 engaged on a Mac, together with new options revealed in Outlook final week. His message? Office on a Mac is now simply nearly as good as it’s on Windows. “Office for the Mac might be the number one most important thing for Mac growth within the enterprise,” stated Hager.Another piece of huge information round Microsoft management of identification:The introduction of recent Microsoft grouping capability, which implies IT assist can now use the mixture of Apple’s merchandise, Jamf and Microsof to manage which teams can entry knowledge and providers and from which units.This is prone to be of nice curiosity to enterprise IT. It makes it potential for Azure for use to handle passwordless distant setup of Apple tools, together with Macs.This shall be extremely useful to enterprise within the new WFH period.Remote working and the brand new normalJNUC 2020 has distant working and the digital transformation of the enterprise at its coronary heart, evidenced by rock onerous safety, Azure integration and nil contact configuration.
“2020 has been a year like no other. Workflows that were once visionary, like zero-touch deployment and virtually educating students or caring for patients, are now necessary,” Hager stated.
I spoke with Microsoft’s Anderson, who instructed me:
“What we have seen from the pandemic is the move to get more in the cloud has accelerated in a dramatic way. So, as an example, I am now seeing more than double the devices every seven days coming into Microsoft Employee Manager than I did prior to the pandemic… we’re seeing half a billion new devices every seven days coming into the cloud to be managed and that’s Windows, iOS, Mac and Android.”
During the keynote, we additionally heard from Jeremy Butcher and the top of Starling Bank, who instructed us that when COVID-19 broke out his first step was to buy each out there MacE-book within the UK with a purpose to equip his groups.Biometric Mac securityWe heard a few of the enhancements round Azure and Macs fairly lately. These imply staff can now make use of a passwordless workflow utilizing an iPhone and Face ID or Touch ID to safe the Mac provisioning course of.It means you should use Face or Touch ID in your iPhone (and a PIN quantity if required) to allow Azure credentials and securely unlock the Mac.This thrilling function works by combining Microsoft Azure AD credentials, the Jamf Connect iOS app and Apple’s personal system administration instruments.In practise, it appears to load a certificates on the iPhone which is then validated on a Bluetooth-paired Mac. This instrument shall be made out there in beta type later this yr, with normal availability anticipated in early 2021.Azure meets Apple’s Single Sign-OnJamf additionally demonstrated a preview of the forthcoming Microsoft Enterprise SSO Plugin, which allowed for a clear Azure AD authentication whereas accessing the Jamf Self Service portal.macOS and iOS include Apple’s native Single Sign-On Extension framework, which when used with an id supplier’s extension on a managed system, can vastly enhance the login expertise to enterprise functions. That’s what this integration makes use of.iOS Device ComplianceJamf introduced it has prolonged its partnership with Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security by launching iOS Device Compliance.This shall be made out there right this moment in preview and lets organizations select Jamf for iOS administration whereas additionally sharing vital system data like compliance standing with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.IT groups can make the most of the built-solely-for-Apple Jamf options for Apple ecosystem administration, whereas leveraging conditional entry to make sure that solely trusted customers from compliant units, utilizing accepted apps, are capable of entry firm knowledge.In different information, Jamf introduced key updates to its Marketplace, which now gives over 350 listings, together with latest integrations with Jira, ServiceNow and Splunk.HealthJamf introduced a brand new telehealth workflow aimed toward defending suppliers whereas nonetheless connecting sufferers to the care they want and the communities they love, Virtual Visits.This is in use by Oxford Health. Holly Panting, IT Project Manager, Oxford Health, stated: “With Virtual Visits, we can facilitate an easy way for patients to stay connected without the technology being overly complicated in order to improve the patient experience.”TrainingJamf introduced Learn Anywhere, which incorporates new options that assist educators talk with college students, use participating sources and assess studying goals from any surroundings. These embrace instruments corresponding to distant class, increase hand and assessments.
“Jamf allowed us to transition our district from in-class learning to distance learning in 24 hours,” stated Jacob Luevano, Innovative Teaching Strategist, Manor Independent School District.
“Many students who didn’t have access to apps, resources and all the benefits of modern technology, now do. This allows them to better engage with their peers and teachers, and empowers them to seamlessly transition from classroom to home with their Apple device in hand.”
Apple Classrooms Jamf additionally introduced that it used a portion of its IPO proceeds, in partnership with a number of of its banking companions and monetary sponsors, to launch 4 new Apple Classrooms, known as Innovation Hubs.The occasion runs for the remainder of the week, anticipate a deluge of reporting as I attempt to report from the present, and please get involved together with your information and observations regarding the altering world of enterprise IT.Please observe me on Twitter, or be a part of me within the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions teams on MeWe.
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