Let’s consider that your mobile is like your favorite coffee shop. You have your regulars, the apps you use every day, like the morning cup of email or the quick shot of a calendar check. Then, there are the new ones you try occasionally, much like the seasonal latte. Now, let’s say you have to keep track of all those drinks without a barista to help. It would get overwhelming pretty quickly, right?
That’s what application management is like; a skilled barista who knows exactly what you need and when you need it, ensuring everything is served up just right.
With iPhones, iPads, and Macs being so integral to our work and daily lives, keeping the apps on them organized, secure, and up-to-date is a complete necessity.
Whether you’re a small business owner or an IT head for a large, distributed enterprise, Scalefusion makes managing apps as easy as ordering your favorite brew. From deciding which apps your team uses to ensuring everything’s running smoothly and securely, Scalefusion Apple App Management has you covered.
Let’s take a look at how this all works.
What is Apple Application Management?
Apple App Management is all about taking control of the apps on your Apple devices, like iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It helps businesses decide which apps to install, how to remotely install them, and how to keep them secure and up-to-date.
Think of it as having a remote control for all the apps on your team’s Apple devices. You can easily distribute apps, configure them with the right settings, and even uninstall them if they’re no longer needed. Plus, you can make sure that everything is secure, so sensitive information stays protected.
It gives you the power to manage the apps your team relies on, without having to touch each device individually. It’s all about making sure the right apps are in the right hands, and that they work exactly as they should.
Application Management Challenges
Managing applications across multiple devices presents several challenges for organizations. Ensuring consistent app deployment and configuration on various Apple devices, including keeping apps up-to-date without disrupting workflow, can be complex. IT teams must also address security concerns, such as unauthorized app usage and data leakage.
Balancing user experience with strict compliance requirements often requires a fine-tuned approach. Compatibility issues, maintaining control over both corporate-owned and BYOD devices, and managing app licenses further complicate the task, making application management a critical yet challenging aspect of mobile device management.
Key Features of Apple App Management with Scalefusion MDM
1. Deployment
For the installation of applications, Scalefusion empowers businesses to dictate how apps are deployed on managed Apple devices. IT admins can choose to silently install applications directly from the dashboard, ensuring that needed apps are available on devices without requiring user intervention. Alternatively, businesses can add apps to the App Catalog, allowing users the flexibility to install them at their convenience.
Scalefusion enables enterprises to deploy various categories of applications, including:
1. Apple VPP
The Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP) simplifies the purchase and deployment of apps for businesses. Through Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Apple School Manager (ASM), businesses can distribute both paid and free applications in bulk.
Whether you’re looking to buy business-critical applications or distribute free apps, VPP ensures a streamlined process for managing app deployments across your organization.
2. Apple App Store
Scalefusion improves app management for Apple devices by integrating seamlessly with the Apple App Store. This integration allows businesses to efficiently search for apps directly on the App Store and silently install these apps, without any end-user intervention on the managed Apple devices.
IT teams can ensure that the right apps are available on both company-owned and employee-owned devices by applying appropriate device profiles across all work-related Apple devices. Additionally, Scalefusion supports searching for apps based on regional availability, making it easy to customize app deployments to different locations and user needs.
3. Enterprise Store
For businesses that develop custom apps for internal use, Scalefusion’s Enterprise Store offers a streamlined solution. Unlike apps available on the App Store, these custom apps are not publicly listed.
Scalefusion’s Enterprise Store enables organizations to streamline the distribution of two key types of files on iOS devices:
- IPA files: These are the standard application files for iOS, allowing businesses to upload and distribute custom-built apps to devices.
- eBooks or PDFs: Organizations can publish and distribute digital resources like ePub and PDF files, making it easy to share internal documentation or e-learning materials.
4. Scalefusion Apps
Scalefusion provides proprietary apps designed to enhance the security and management of applications on Apple devices. Some examples include:
- ProSurf Browser: A secure, managed browser that ensures safe and compliant web access.
- Remote Cast: A tool for remotely controlling and managing devices, making support and troubleshooting more efficient.
- BrewSurvey: A specialized app for conducting surveys and collecting feedback, customized to enterprise needs.
2. App Configuration
Scalefusion enhances application management in Apple devices by offering app configuration capabilities, modified to meet the specific needs of businesses. Through Scalefusion, you can leverage app configurations to fine-tune the setup of applications across your enterprise.
Scalefusion allows you to customize various app settings by defining key-value pairs in the configuration. This includes setting parameters such as accessible URLs and email addresses, and other essential configurations that an app might require. You can accurately specify the app configuration details needed, by using different data types like Strings, Arrays, Booleans, Integers, and Floats.
3. App Updates
Scalefusion allows businesses to schedule and manage app updates on Apple devices efficiently. It helps maintain a seamless work environment while ensuring that all devices are consistently running the latest, most secure versions of applications.
Scalefusion minimizes disruptions to user workflows during app updates by allowing IT admins to schedule updates at specific dates and times. Updates can be pushed in the maintenance windows, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
IT teams can monitor app versions across their devices to maintain control and oversight.
4. App Uninstallation
Scalefusion empowers IT admins to manage applications on Apple devices, including the ability to remotely uninstall or delete apps. This feature is especially valuable in scenarios like when an employee leaves, as it allows IT teams to selectively delete corporate apps and data from BYOD devices, safeguarding sensitive company information without affecting personal data.
Apple Application Management on BYO Devices
Scalefusion enables IT admins to push selected work applications to users for unsupervised or BYO devices, prompting them to install these essential apps. This ensures that employees have access to the necessary tools while maintaining a clear separation between personal and corporate data.
Employees often worry that using their personal Apple devices for work may lead to their personal data being monitored or managed by the company.
Scalefusion alleviates these concerns by allowing IT admins to push only selected work applications to BYO devices, keeping personal data untouched, and ensuring that corporate policies only apply to work-related apps and information. This approach strikes a balance between employee privacy and company security, making the BYOD model more acceptable and secure for employees.
Simplify Apple App Management Using Scalefusion MDM
Scalefusion MDM provides comprehensive application management for Apple devices, enabling businesses to effectively manage and secure apps across various deployment scenarios.
With versatile deployment options and smooth update processes, Scalefusion equips IT admins to improve efficiency while ensuring adherence to organizational policies.
Contact our experts for more information and experience the power of Apple application management with Scalefusion by starting a 14-day free trial today!
