Being a $4 trillion technology and product company is no mean feat. That’s Apple for you! Apple’s reputation for crafting elegant, user-friendly devices has made it a preferred choice among consumers.
What is less widely known, however, is that the technology powerhouse extends its expertise to the business as well. Launched in April 2022, Apple Business Essentials (ABE) exemplifies this, offering a suite designed expressly for the needs of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
However, there’s a pressing question for businesses. Is the ABE product suite genuinely as effective as purported, particularly concerning Mobile Device Management (MDM)? In this blog, we will dissect the workings of ABE, ascertain its efficacy as an MDM tool, and explore an innovative strategy for managing diverse devices.
What is Apple Business Essentials?
To grasp the concept of Apple Business Essentials, one must first become acquainted with Apple Business Manager (ABM). ABM serves as an online platform that allows IT administrators to deploy and manage Apple devices efficiently.
Initially designed to meet the demands of both the enterprise and educational sectors (referred to as Apple School Manager in the educational context), ABM equips organizations with essential functionalities. These include the ability to enroll devices, manage organization-specific Apple IDs, and control user access to previously acquired applications and books.
So, what is Apple Business Essentials? Essentially, Apple Business Essentials expands upon ABM by incorporating additional services such as cloud storage, AppleCare+ for technical support, and an MDM tool. This comprehensive suite enables administrators to configure, deploy, and manage Apple devices remotely, streamlining the management process for businesses.
How to get Apple Business Essentials?
To qualify for utilization within the ABE framework, devices must adhere to the criteria outlined below:
- Procured through Apple directly or via an Apple Authorized Reseller that carries an active and validated Apple Customer Number. Alternatively, the device should be associated with the reseller’s Reseller Number, ensuring seamless device enrollment.
- Corporate-owned devices need to be registered within ABM (Apple Business Manager), which is achievable through the Configurator for administrators.
- For personal devices brought by employees (BYOD), iOS devices can undergo a user-initiated enrollment process.
- It is mandatory to have the latest versions of web browsers, specifically Safari version 14.1 or newer, Chrome version 87 or above, or Microsoft Edge starting from version 87.
- Compatibility with operating systems is required, namely iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12.0.1, or tvOS 15, to ensure full functionality within the ABE program.
It’s important to note that specific requirements for the operating system may be adjusted based on the device’s designated purpose.
Benefits of Apple Business Essentials
Apple Business Essentials is built with simplicity in mind. Apple’s focus on user experience shows clearly how easy ABE is to set up, manage, and maintain. Below are the key benefits that make it appealing for IT teams.
1. Simple and easy to get started
Setting up Apple Business Essentials is straightforward. An administrator enrolls the organization by providing basic details such as name, work email, contact number, and role. Once the account is created, admins can generate managed Apple account or Apple IDs and assign them to employees.
The primary admin can also add up to four additional administrators. This ensures continuity and avoids dependency on a single person for access or management. For small and mid-sized teams, this keeps administration simple without unnecessary complexity.
2. Automated settings and app management
One of the most useful features in Apple Business Essentials is Collections. Collections allow admins to bundle apps, settings, and configurations and deploy them to specific users, groups, or devices.
For example, an IT admin managing executive devices can push a digital signature app only to CXOs, configure access restrictions, and ensure sensitive documents remain protected. Once set up, the same configuration applies automatically to all users in that group.
Users can also belong to multiple collections. This makes it easier to tailor app access and settings based on roles, responsibilities, or workflows without duplicating effort.
3. Built-in AppleCare+ support
Work environments are no longer limited to office spaces. Many employees continue to work remotely, making device support more challenging for IT teams.
Apple Business Essentials includes AppleCare+, which provides direct access to Apple’s repair, replacement, and technical support services. When in-house IT support is not available, AppleCare+ helps keep employee devices operational, reducing downtime and support overhead for organizations.
4. Centralized identity and device control
With managed Apple IDs, organizations get better control over access to Apple services, iCloud data, and work-related content. This helps separate personal and business usage while keeping ownership and control with the organization.
Devices tied to managed Apple IDs are easier to recover, reassign, or wipe when employees leave, reducing the risk of data loss or unauthorized access.
5. Reduced IT overhead for small teams
Apple Business Essentials is especially useful for small businesses or organizations with lean IT teams. Many routine tasks such as app deployment, configuration, and user management are automated, which reduces manual work.
For businesses that want basic Apple device management without deploying a full-scale MDM solution, ABE offers a simpler entry point.
Challenges of Apple Business Essentials
While ABE boasts a range of beneficial functionalities, certain IT admins find its capabilities lacking in some areas, which is understandable. Below are a few aspects these administrators believe could be improved within the solution.
1. Pricing Structure
Like many SaaS solutions, Apple Business Essentials (ABE) provides a selection of monthly subscription models that are differentiated by three levels. The cost adjusts based on the number of devices covered by the subscription, with a single-device option priced at $2.99 and a three-device option available at either $6.99 or $12.99 (more storage). Included in these subscriptions is data storage, offering 50 GB for the single-device plan and 200 GB (or an option for 2 TB) for the three-device plan.
However, it’s worth noting that these pricing plans may not perfectly align with every user’s needs. For instance, a user in need of 100 GB of storage for just one device would find themselves having to opt for the $6.99 plan designed for three devices. Similarly, users with three devices who do not require additional iCloud storage have no alternative but to select from the existing plans. Moreover, the add-on of AppleCare+ shoots up the single-device plan to $9.99 and the three-device plans to $19.99 and $24.99.
2. Scalability
At present, the use of ABE is confined to organizations with no more than 500 employees. This ceiling does not affect most small enterprises immediately, but it can be a significant constraint for midsized organizations.
Furthermore, while this limitation may not pose an immediate concern, it lacks sustainability for the future. As businesses grow and increase their workforce in the coming years, they will find themselves in a predicament. This inevitably leads to a situation where businesses must revisit and revise their strategies from scratch.
3. Granular Management
Administrators often face a further challenge with ABE: its limited granularity in management controls. Administrators have the capability to allocate apps to users and configure devices to run these apps exclusively. However, they lack the ability to fine-tune the amount of data accessible to each user within the app. Additionally, there is no mechanism for administrators to specify user privileges for specific resources or to define the extent of access permitted to users.
4. Multi-OS Support
It’s quite evident that ABE is specifically designed to cater to Apple devices, which have seen a rise in adoption within professional settings. However, its utility is limited in mixed-device work environments that also incorporate Windows, Android, and Chrome OS devices.
Admins will be able to manage their Apple device inventory using ABE effectively, but they will need to seek alternative management solutions for comprehensive control over other platforms.
Is Apple Business Essentials effective as an MDM solution?
The real question is straightforward. Can Apple Business Essentials work as a complete MDM solution? The answer depends on the scope of your organization’s needs.
Apple Business Essentials is a practical option for certain types of businesses. It works well if you:
- Manage a small, consistent set of Apple devices
- Rely only on App Store applications
- Have employees who are already familiar with Apple’s interface
- Plan to stay under 500 employees
- Do not need detailed, role-based access controls
- Do not require multi-factor authentication
- Do not distribute in-house or proprietary iOS applications
For organizations that meet these conditions, Apple Business Essentials can handle basic device setup, user management, and app distribution without adding complexity.
However, Apple Business Essentials shows its limits when requirements move beyond basic management.
Organizations should look at a more comprehensive MDM solution if they need to:
- Secure and centrally store FileVault recovery keys
- Integrate business applications with corporate identity systems
- Support secure collaboration across locations and productivity tools
- Assign billing roles or manage payments through a dedicated admin portal
- Centralize billing and account management
- Automate conflict resolution and advanced administrative workflows
In short, Apple Business Essentials works well as a lightweight management option for small, Apple-only environments. For organizations that need deeper security controls, broader integrations, and enterprise-grade management, a full MDM solution is a better fit.
Make multi-OS device management simple with Scalefusion MDM
Many organizations reach a point where Apple Business Manager is already in place, but Apple Business Essentials no longer meets their needs. Basic setup and app distribution are covered, but requirements quickly grow beyond that.
Teams often need deeper security controls, stronger access management, and support for more than just Apple devices. Most environments today include a mix of macOS, Windows, Android, and sometimes Linux. Managing these platforms separately only adds complexity.
How do you proceed? Scalefusion is the answer.
Scalefusion integrates seamlessly with Apple Business Manager while extending management beyond Apple devices. It gives IT teams a single platform to manage, secure, and control devices across operating systems without switching tools or workflows.
With Scalefusion MDM, organizations can:
- Enforce multi-factor authentication across devices and access points
- Apply conditional access and identity-based policies using IAM
- Control access to corporate resources based on user roles and device posture
- Protect business data using full-disk encryption on corporate devices
- Manage all devices and policies from one unified dashboard
Scalefusion is designed for organizations that need more control, better security, and true multi-OS management, without adding operational overhead.
See how Scalefusion can simplify multi-OS device management. Book a demo now.
Beyond Apple Business Essentials—Get Enterprise-Ready MDM
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FAQ’s
1. Is Apple Business Essentials an MDM?
Apple Business Essentials offers basic MDM functionality as part of its suite of services, which also includes support and cloud storage. However, for organizations with complex device management needs, especially those involving cross-platform devices or requiring granular control, a dedicated MDM solution like Scalefusion provides more advanced features and flexibility.
2. How do I enroll in Apple Business Essentials?
Enrolling in Apple Business Essentials can complement existing device management strategies. It provides a foundational layer of management for Apple devices, but organizations might still require a dedicated MDM like Scalefusion for advanced policy enforcement, cross-platform management, and detailed device monitoring.
3. How much does Apple Business Essentials cost?
Apple Business Essentials is priced per user on a monthly subscription. Plans start at $2.99 per user for one device with 50 GB storage. Three-device plans cost $6.99 or $12.99, depending on storage. AppleCare+ is optional and increases the price to $9.99 for one device or $19.99–$24.99 for three devices.
4. What is a managed Apple account?
A managed Apple account, also called a managed Apple ID, is an Apple ID created and controlled by an organization. It is used for work-related access to Apple services, apps, and devices. Unlike personal Apple IDs, managed Apple accounts are owned by the organization, allowing IT teams to control access, reset credentials, and manage data when an employee joins or leaves.
5. What is Collections in Apple Business Essentials?
“Collections” in Apple Business Essentials are designed to simplify app and settings deployment for specific user groups. While they offer convenience, MDM solutions like Scalefusion provide more granular control through custom configuration profiles, allowing for highly tailored device settings and policies.
6. Apple Business Manager vs Apple Business Essentials: what’s the difference?
Apple Business Manager is a free portal for device enrollment, managed Apple IDs, and MDM integration, but it does not manage devices by itself. Apple Business Essentials adds basic device management, app distribution, and AppleCare+ support, making it suitable for small Apple-only setups, but it lacks advanced security and multi-OS management features.
