Apple declarative device management: Simplify IT operations

You wouldn’t mind your devices being as independent as a well-trained assistant, would you? Who wouldn’t want their devices to be smart enough to handle tasks without constant supervision? Sounds fancy, fascinating, in short, futuristic, right?

That’s precisely what Apple Declarative Device Management (DDM) brings to the table.

Managing devices has always been a mix of keeping them updated, secure, and aligned with your business policies. But here’s the catch: traditional methods demand constant back-and-forth communication between the server and devices. With Apple DDM, your devices become proactive and much faster at implementing changes.

Let’s offload piece by piece: the meaning of Apple DDM, its offerings, and the reasons it is essential for businesses.

Also, how a UEM solution can make it even more impactful?

What is Apple declarative device management?

Before Apple declarative device management, IT admins had to rely on a more linear and server-dependent approach to managing devices. Each update, configuration, or policy change had to be pushed manually, requiring continuous back-and-forth communication between the devices and the server. This reactive model often resulted in delays and inefficiencies, particularly when real-time compliance was critical.

With Apple DDM, we’ve moved a step ahead. It introduces a proactive, self-sufficient approach.

Apple DDM flips this model on its head by empowering the devices to autonomously apply configurations and updates without waiting for commands from the server. Instead of having the server instruct every device on each change, Apple DDM allows devices to manage themselves based on a set of pre-defined declarations or rules. These declarations serve as “if-then” instructions, which allow devices to make decisions based on their own current state and the environment.

For example, when an IT admin adds a new Wi-Fi network configuration to the system, devices that have been enrolled in the management system can instantly adopt this configuration without needing to manually push the update to every individual device.

In essence, Apple declarative device management allows for intelligent self-management of Apple devices. Devices regularly check their status against a set of rules and take action when necessary, ensuring they remain compliant and updated even without constant server intervention.

Supportability: Which Apple platforms support DDM?

Apple rolled out Declarative Device Management (DDM) with a phased approach, gradually expanding support across its ecosystem.

• 2021 – DDM launched with iOS/iPadOS 15 (limited to user enrollment). It laid the groundwork for a more autonomous and responsive device management model.
• 2022 – Apple extended DDM to iOS/iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and macOS Ventura. It also unlocked support for all enrollment types, including Shared iPad, broadening its enterprise relevance.
• 2023 – watchOS 10 joined the DDM family. Apple also added deeper controls for:

1. Software updates
2. Device security
3. App and credential management
4. Transitioning profiles across management states

Here’s a quick look at which OS versions support Declarative Device Management:

This timeline shows that Apple is serious about making DDM the future of Apple device management—and it’s not limited to just iPhones or iPads anymore.

How does Apple DDM work?

Apple DDM works through three fundamental principles: declarations, state updates, and event-driven actions. Let’s break each of these down:

1. Declarations: The core of Apple DDM

Declarations are structured configurations that reside on the device and guide how it should behave. Once deployed, devices interpret and enforce these rules independently, reducing reliance on constant server commands.

There are four types of declarations:

• Configuration – These are the actual policies applied to the device, like Wi-Fi settings, VPN configurations, or restrictions. They’re similar to traditional configuration profiles used in earlier MDM models.
• Asset – Assets are supporting data that configurations might need. Think of certificates or user credentials. These can be referenced by multiple configurations, helping avoid duplication and keeping policy management clean and efficient.
• Activation – Activations determine when a configuration should be applied. They come with conditions, or predicates—for example, “only apply if the OS is iOS 17.” A configuration will only activate when all its associated activations return true based on the device’s state.
• Management – These declarations contain meta-information about the device or the MDM environment, such as organizational details or MDM server capabilities.

By splitting policy logic into these modular declaration types, Apple DDM makes device management more dynamic, scalable, and easy to maintain.

2. State updates: Real-time self-management

Unlike the old polling model, where the server constantly asked for updates, Apple DDM introduces a status channel. Devices automatically send their current state back to the server when something changes, like a new app being installed, a policy being applied, or a compliance rule being met or violated.

This real-time feedback loop allows IT teams to monitor device health, policy status, and compliance without needing to manually check or trigger updates. Devices stay accountable, and admins stay informed.

3. Event-driven actions: Keeping devices in sync

Extensibility makes Apple DDM truly dynamic. Instead of waiting for OS-level updates to support new management features, Apple can now push new declaration types and capabilities through DDM itself. This allows the entire management framework to evolve faster, and lets UEM solutions like Scalefusion adopt and support these changes quickly, without waiting for annual OS releases.

Why businesses need Apple declarative device management

With Apple DDM, businesses can manage their Apple devices with efficiency, security, and autonomy.

But why is it becoming essential for modern organizations?

1. Increased efficiency and speed

One key advantage of Apple DDM is the efficiency in applying changes. While traditional device management often allows for bulk publishing of updates and policies, it still requires server-side intervention and manual effort to ensure deployment across all devices. With Apple DDM, devices autonomously update their configurations based on pre-set declarations, eliminating delays and streamlining the implementation process.

2. Reduced server load

With traditional device management, devices must constantly check in with the server to receive updates and configurations. This creates a load on the server and can lead to delays, especially when managing large numbers of devices. Apple DDM reduces this load by allowing devices to apply changes autonomously. This creates a more efficient management system, as the server is only needed for high-level management tasks.

3. Improved security and compliance

Security is a top priority for any IT team, and Apple DDM significantly improves the ability to enforce security policies. Since devices are always monitoring their state and applying updates based on real-time conditions, the chances of a device falling out of compliance are dramatically reduced. For example, if a device detects that its operating system is outdated or that a security patch is missing, it can immediately apply the necessary updates without waiting for manual intervention.

4. Scalability

As organizations grow, so does the complexity of managing devices. Apple DDM allows for scalable device management by ensuring that updates and configurations are applied consistently across all devices, no matter how many you manage. Whether you’re overseeing a handful of devices or thousands, Apple DDM ensures that all devices remain compliant and up-to-date without a significant increase in manual effort.

How a UEM solution amplifies Apple declarative device management

Apple declarative device management offers great promise, but when combined with a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution or an Apple MDM solution, its potential is fully realized.

A UEM solution acts as the central platform that integrates and manages all endpoints, from laptops and smartphones to tablets and desktop computers.

Here’s how a UEM solution can maximize the benefits of Apple DDM:

1. Centralized management

While Apple DDM handles device-side automation, a UEM solution provides centralized management,  allowing IT admins to monitor, enforce, and manage devices across different operating systems and environments. Whether you have iOS or macOS devices, a UEM solution offers a unified dashboard to track the status of all devices under your management.

2. Comprehensive security policies

Apple DDM allows for security policies to be declared on Apple devices, but a UEM solution extends this capability across all devices, regardless of the OS. UEM platforms enable businesses to implement global security policies, such as encryption, multi-factor authentication and app management, across all devices in the organization.

3. Simplified compliance and reporting

Compliance is essential in regulated industries, and Apple DDM ensures devices self-manage compliance by adhering to declarations automatically. Paired with a UEM solution, it simplifies tracking with detailed reports, including policy compliance, security audits, patch management, and device inventory summaries. These reports help IT admins quickly identify non-compliance, address gaps, and maintain regulatory standards while providing necessary documentation for audits.

4. Advanced Policy Application and Dynamic Configuration

While Apple DDM enables devices to self-configure, a UEM solution amplifies its capabilities by providing advanced policy application tailored to specific use cases. With grouping, IT admins can assign devices to predefined categories, automatically applying configurations and policies based on roles or environments—like enabling corporate security protocols or provisioning educational apps.

UEM solutions also strengthen security by automating actions such as remote wipe for lost or non-compliant devices. By combining Apple DDM’s automation with the centralized control of a UEM solution, IT teams can seamlessly manage diverse device requirements.

Maximizing efficiency and security with Apple DDM using Scalefusion UEM

Handling devices, be it for a large enterprise or a growing startup, has traditionally involved significant overhead. IT admins and device managers have spent countless hours configuring, updating, and ensuring that devices are compliant with corporate policies. But now there is a way to automate and streamline this process, reducing both the time and effort involved in managing devices through Apple declarative device management.

However, to unlock Apple DDM’s full potential, pairing it with a robust UEM solution like Scalefusion UEM can offer even better results. 

Scalefusion UEM complements Apple DDM by offering centralized control, comprehensive security policies, seamless compliance reporting, and better automation for deploying, updating, and managing devices at scale.

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