According to the latest statistics, iPhone users have increased from 10 million in 2008[1] to 1.46 billion in 2023[2]. iOS devices are now common in professional settings. Moreover, with the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend taking the forefront, many knowledge and frontline workers are using their iOS devices for office use.
While BYOD offers numerous benefits, such as increased flexibility and enhanced productivity, it also presents significant challenges, particularly regarding security and management. Balancing the advantages of iOS BYOD with its inherent risks is crucial for maintaining a secure and efficient work environment.
Addressing the above security and management challenges requires organizations to implement robust iOS BYOD management solutions like Scalefusion MDM to manage employee-owned devices to safeguard data and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
This blog will highlight the key features offered by Scalefusion for iOS BYOD management.
Key Features of BYOD Management for iOS Devices with Scalefusion
Scalefusion offers various features of BYOD management for iOS devices:
1. Multi-Enrollment Types
Scalefusion provides easy methods to enroll iOS BYO (Bring Your Own) devices:
a. QR code-based enrollment: QR code-based enrollment for iOS BYO devices offers a streamlined and efficient way to invite users to enroll their devices. This method allows organizations to create multiple configurations with specific device profiles tailored for different departments in the organization. Users can quickly scan a QR code through the Scalefusion MDM Agent app to enroll their devices, ensuring a seamless setup process.
b. Apple ID-driven user enrollment: Apple ID-driven enrollment enhances modern BYOD management by enrolling users’ iOS devices on the Scalefusion dashboard using managed Apple IDs which can be obtained via Apple Business Manager. This separates work and personal data on employee’s devices.
For Apple ID-driven user enrollment, IT admins need to import users from Google Workspace or Microsoft Entra ID to Apple Business Manager to treat them as managed Apple IDs. Moreover, admins can invite employees to enroll their BYO devices using these managed Apple IDs.
With Apple ID-driven user enrollment IT teams no longer have to supervise employee-owned devices. They can add managed Apple IDs to the enterprise’s Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager account, enroll the devices on Scalefusion MDM, and push the apps via VPP (Volume Purchase Program) without compromising user privacy and organizational data security.
c. Serial number-based enrollment: Serial number-based enrollment enables organizations to seamlessly enroll employees’ personal iOS devices to the Scalefusion dashboard in bulk. IT admins need to simply upload a CSV file containing the serial numbers of the employee-owned iOS devices, along with the group or profile and device names for each device. Based on the serial number of each iOS device, the custom field values provided ahead of enrollment will be assigned to the BYO devices once they are enrolled.
2. Application Management
With Scalefusion, IT admins can deploy the following types of business applications:
- App Store apps: All the apps available on the App Store
- Enterprise Store apps: Enterprise apps designed to be used internally within an organization
- Scalefusion apps: Scalefusion proprietary apps for comprehensive application management
Scalefusion simplifies application management for iOS BYO devices by offering the following capabilities:
a. Silent app installation: IT teams can search and install the necessary work applications on the Scalefusion dashboard and publish them directly to employee devices over the air, without user interaction.
b. App catalog: App catalog gives users control over app installation on their devices. Unlike apps that are installed silently, App catalog allows enterprise IT admins to publish apps, which employees can then install at their convenience.
It serves as a repository of all apps published by admins through the Scalefusion dashboard, making these apps readily available for users to install whenever they choose. This enhances flexibility and user autonomy while ensuring that necessary applications are easily accessible.
3. Browser Shortcuts
Browser shortcuts enable IT admins to allow web clips on the home screen based on the visibility of permitted websites. This helps to access necessary websites directly from their home screen, enhancing productivity and accessibility.
4. Data Loss Prevention
Scalefusion’s iOS BYOD management enables IT admins to prevent data sharing between work & personal applications. Data stored in iCloud via managed Apple IDs is separate from personal data. If the device gets lost or stolen, IT admins can remotely wipe and clear the work data from managed iCloud, without affecting the employee’s data.
Data loss prevention policies allow administrators can block copy-and-paste actions from managed apps to unmanaged apps, preventing unauthorized data transfers. Additionally, they can control the opening of documents from managed to unmanaged apps to maintain data integrity. Moreover, administrators can prevent sensitive information from being captured by blocking camera and screenshot functionality.
5. Network Configuration
Scalefusion enables IT admins to configure the following network-related settings on BYO devices which include:
a. Wi-Fi configuration: IT admins can limit the user to connect to a specific Wi-Fi network for accessing work data. They can configure Wi-Fi with the following settings:
- Configuration name: Enter a name for this configuration, to refer to it across the Scalefusion dashboard.
- SSID: Enter the SSID broadcast name for the Wifi.
- Hidden network: Enable this if the network that needs to be configured is hidden.
- Proxy setup: Proxy is used to give access to a few websites to the user connected to a Wi-Fi network. There are two types of proxy – manual and automatic.
- Global settings: These settings offer the following-
1. Allow users to access Wi-Fi connection inside the app: This setting allows users to access a Wi-Fi connection from inside the Scalefusion app.
2. Allow users to connect/disconnect from the Wi-Fi network: This setting allows users to connect or disconnect from the Wi-Fi network.
3. Delete Wifi configuration from the device: This setting deletes Wifi configuration from the device. IT admins can select this to delete a Wi-Fi configuration when it is unpublished from the device or devices are moved to a different profile.
Scalefusion offers two Wi-Fi authentication methods – LEAP and PEAP. In addition to username and password, PEAP mode enables administrators to associate Wi-Fi certificates for authentication.
b. Bluetooth configuration: IT admins can configure the following Bluetooth settings on the employee’s device:
- Enable: Turns on bluetooth on the device.
- Disable: Turns off bluetooth on the device.
- Not Set: Bluetooth remains in its current state on the device.
c. Hotspot configuration: IT admins can configure the following Hotspot settings on the employee’s device:
- Enable: Turns on the hotspot on the device.
- Disable: Turns off the hotspot on the device.
- Not Set: Hotspot remains in its current state on the device.
d. Roaming settings: IT admins can choose to enable or disable the voice and data roaming settings.
e. Configure eSIM settings: Scalefusion allows IT admins to configure eSIMs and deploy the configuration to eSIM-supported BYO iOS devices. This feature enables remote triggering and automation of the download and installation of an eSIM on a managed device and requires an eSIM URL purchased from network providers.
6. Certificate Management
With, Scalefusion’s certificate management, enterprises streamline the process of deploying digital certificates to end users’ devices by automatically provisioning digital identities onto devices without end-user interaction. Moreover, IT admins can enable authentication on managed BYO iOS devices.
Scalefusion allows enterprises to deploy the following types of certificates:
- Identity certificate: Apps/browsers can use these for user identification and certificate-based authentication. These are in .p12 and .pfx formats.
- Certificate Authority (CA) certificate: These verify the trust of the certificate presented.
- Chained certificates: These are certificates linked in a hierarchy from a leaf node to the certificate payload/body.
7. Custom Payload
Custom payloads allow IT administrators to create security policies using the Apple MDM protocol by adding settings that aren’t included in Scalefusion. This feature also enables admins to choose how to handle conflicts if the custom payload and device profile contain the same settings.
Get Scalefusion for Enhanced iOS BYOD Management
Incorporating iOS devices into the workplace through BYOD policies brings undeniable advantages, but it also requires careful management to mitigate security risks and ensure compliance.
With a comprehensive suite of features offered by Scalefusion MDM organizations can maintain a secure and effective work environment, empowering employees to use their iOS devices confidently and productively.
To know more about BYOD management for iOS devices get in touch with our experts and book a free demo. Start your 14-day free trial now.
References
1. Statista
2. DemandSage
