Schools and universities widely opt for Mac machines to facilitate education for their students. The surging popularity of Mac around the world is very well-known. With more than 18 million Mac computers sold alone in the year 2018, it is needless to say that schools and universities are inclined to use the Mac for education.
Mac machines are famous for their robust hardware, operational usability, dependability and an array of features that extend excellent means to improve the learning experience of students across various age groups.
Why Mac?
From an educational and learning point of view, Mac is loaded with capabilities to provide aid to education as well as learning to students with special learning. Mac offers functionalities such as text-to-speech, the ability to create multimedia projects, an offline dictionary app for improving language proficiency, word completion for students with print disabilities, and dictation for students with dyslexia. This, coupled with a colossal collection of books and applications that can be distributed centrally, makes for a perfect package for educational enabling.
From an operational point of view, less maintenance cost, robust hardware that doesn’t need frequent troubleshooting, and a longer life cycle are some of the top reasons why Mac is the most preferred laptop at schools. Mac offers a variety of inbuilt software that facilitates various operations to support education without the need for any external software that comes at an additional cost. Apple offers special pricing for schools and educational institutes, reducing the cost per device, drastically. Apple Care, a dedicated IT support makes purchasing mac for schools an easier choice to make since most schools do not have an around-the-clock IT support team.
For a usability point of view, Mac is reputed to be one of the most user-friendly computers in the market. The familiarity that Mac machines bring to the table makes it easier for adoption by students, especially younger kids.
Deploying Mac at schools-The challenges
The biggest challenge although is in deploying and securing the mac machines at a school’s infrastructure level. Most schools do not have a dedicated IT team to configure the mac devices with school’s policies, before handing them over to the students. A large scale deployment of mac machines, is hence a matter of concern to schools.
Apple School Manager assists in large scale deployments of school-owned mac machines, but applying the school’s policies, restricting the devices from unauthorized usage and securing the device in case of loss or theft remains at the discretion of the school. Post the deployment, schools also need to establish constant support to resolve device issues, distribute books and apps and monitor compliance issues on the devices. Without a dedicated IT team, executing these diverse tasks is a huge challenge that impedes schools from deploying mac machines.
Scalefusion to the rescue!
Scalefusion simplifies the deployment of Mac machines across schools through its straightforward device management solution. Using Scalefusion, deployment, configuration and maintenance of mac machines is simplified, without having a dedicated IT support. Bulk-enrollment, customizable security policies that can be implemented on school-owned mac machines and streamlined app and book distribution are just a few reasons why schools should choose Scalefusion to manage their Mac devices.
Top reasons to choose Scalefusion for deploying Mac at schools:
1. Quick and easy deployment with Apple School Manager
Scalefusion Mac Management software supports Apple School Manager and multiple devices can be configured and deployed with the same. Schools do not need to invest in a large IT team to deploy these devices.
2. Comprehensive policy application
Scalefusion allows schools to configure system preferences in their Mac machines. The school’s IT admin can choose the preferred system panes, allow or disallow Game Center and App Store, restrict media sharing and use of external media as well as restrict system functionalities like camera and music. Administrators can also push the School’s network settings on the Mac devices.
3. Application control
With Scalefusion’s Veltar, IT administrators can enforce strict application management policies on managed macOS devices. Admins can allow or block applications as needed, ensuring students only use permitted apps. Moreover, access can be regulated based on predefined conditions such as time, location, and network settings. This prevents the installation of unnecessary applications that could disrupt learning.
4. Browser configuration
Online distractions pose a significant challenge in maintaining student productivity. With Scalefusion, IT admins can configure browser settings to allow only educational websites while blocking non-educational or inappropriate content. Additionally, Parental Controls help enforce screen time limits, ensuring students use their devices responsibly during school hours.
5. Content filtering
Veltar’s web filtering capabilities provide IT administrators with robust content control. Schools can block unwanted websites, restrict access to non-educational domains, and deploy filtering policies across multiple devices using a CSV upload. This helps maintain a safe and distraction-free learning environment.
6. I/O Device access control
To strengthen data security, I/O Device Access Control helps schools regulate the use of external devices on managed macOS computers and tablets. By restricting unauthorized USB drives and external storage, institutions can prevent data leaks and unauthorized file transfers. Approved storage devices can still be used for academic purposes, ensuring a secure yet functional learning environment.
6. Remote lock and wipe
In case a Mac device used by a student gets lost or stolen, the IT administrator can track the live location of the device. The data on the device can be completely wiped and the device can be locked remotely for further device and data protection. Moreover, this helps prevent unauthorized access and misuse for non-educational purposes.
7. Automated compliance checks
Using Scalefusion Workflows, the school’s IT admins can automate periodic compliance checks for security violations and device activity and upkeep the device performance ensuring no disruptions during ongoing lectures.
Mac deployment at achools with Scalefusion
Scalefusion simplifies the deployment of Mac machines at schools. Here’s how you can successfully deploy mac devices with Scalefusion:
1. Enroll into Apple School Manager
Apple School Manager is Apple’s web-based portal that helps IT administrators and technicians to deploy Apple devices at school with policies and settings configured at the time of the unboxing. By coordinating with Student Information Systems (SISs) and SFTP, Apple School Manager helps in creating school roasters and classes. Schools previously enrolled into Apple’s legacy DEP portal can quickly upgrade to the Apple School Manager.
If your school hasn’t deployed Apple devices previously, they can get started on the same by following the Apple School Manager account creation process. Note that only the devices purchased from Apple or its authorized resellers and carriers can be enrolled directly into the Apple School Manager. After your Apple School Manager account is set up, you can integrate your Student Information System (SIS) into the Apple School Manager and define roles for students, staff and teachers.
2. Add Scalefusion MDM server to your Apple School Manager account
Once your Apple School Manager account is set up, you can add the Scalefusion MDM server to your account. To do so, follow the below-given steps
- Create an account on Scalefusion.com. Make sure to use a non-GSuite-enabled account for the same.
- Create an APNS (Apple Push Notifications) certificate on the Scalefusion dashboard. Validate your certificate through identity.apple.com. Upload the newly created APNS certificate.
- Link your legacy DEP account or your Apple School Manager account to Scalefusion.
- Link your VPP account on Scalefusion dashboard.
- Add devices to your Apple School Manager account.
You can now start enrolling these mac devices into Scalefusion MDM.
3. Configure policies for your Mac machines
On Scalefusion, you can configure diverse security policies and applications to make your Mac more useful for education. You can create multiple device profiles, curate a set of policies to each profile, and apply them on a different set of devices. Using this dynamic policy application feature, you can quickly configure multiple devices with a different set of policies and restrictions. You can configure system preferences, and media sharing restrictions, allow or disallow websites, apply content filters, and exercise parental controls and curfews on Mac machines.
4. Distribute apps and books using VPP
Through Scalefusion Utilities, purchase any application or book from the App Store and publish it onto enrolled devices through Scalefusion.
5. Roll out the devices
Now that your device is equipped with your School’s policies, and restrictions as well as applications and content for education, you can start distributing the devices to your students. These devices can be used in classrooms for learning straight out of the box.
Infographic case ctudy: How Scalefusion can impact the education industry
Discover how Doctor’s Own Prep Academy (DOPA) leveraged Scalefusion’s MDM solutions to gain complete control over student tablets and secure digital learning resulting in improved 70% of students’ productivity.
Mac devices have elevated the process of learning and educational exchange across the globe. While mac devices continue to be popular with knowledge-givers and students, securing them with Scalefusion makes it exemplary for the future of digital learning.
