Apple @ Work: A glance again on the launch of Apple Configurator 1.0, and why the app continues to be necessary at the moment

Apple @ Work is dropped at you by , the ONLY real-time Apple machine administration platform that mixes MDM with stay agent capabilities to handle and safe your Apple ecosystem — no matter your Mac-spertise. Go to for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you handle your Apple gadgets in real-time.

Apple Configurator 1.0, launched again in 2012, did away with the necessity for hundreds of iTunes accounts, however it additionally revolutionized the machine administration capabilities of supervised iOS gadgets. Beforehand, machine deployments have been restricted to guide configuration and supervision by somebody on-site, however Apple Configurator introduced a brand new imaginative and prescient for mass deployment to educators and companies.

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT community from 2009 to 2021. By means of his expertise deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a cellular machine administration system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 100s of Macs, and 100s of iPads, Bradley will spotlight methods by which Apple IT managers deploy Apple gadgets, construct networks to help them, practice customers, tales from the trenches of IT administration, and methods Apple may enhance its merchandise for IT departments.

Apple Configurator 1.0

Apple Configurator 1.0, launched to the general public again in 2012, did away with the necessity for hundreds of iTunes accounts, however it additionally revolutionized the machine administration capabilities of supervised iOS gadgets. The concept behind Apple Configurator is to simplify machine administration by assembling all of the settings you need on an iPad or iPhone in a single place after which deploying them with ease. It additionally introduced the concept of the Quantity Buy Program to life the place customers may buy apps in bulk, and deploy them to a number of iOS gadgets directly. Beforehand, IT directors would sync apps over iTunes. Sure, you’d sync apps to a number of iOS gadgets directly over… iTunes. In case you’re questioning, sure, it was gradual. Once more, previous to Apple Configurator 1.0, the concept of deploying iOS gadgets was a relentless battle of workarounds.

Over the subsequent ten years, cellular machine administration options would take over a lot of what Apple Configurator did, and in a way more scalable means. As an alternative of syncing over a wire, IT directors would push the whole lot out over the air. I nonetheless consider Apple Configurator is necessary software program to know find out how to use, although.

Why Apple Configurator nonetheless issues

Beforehand, machine deployments have been restricted to guide configuration and supervision by somebody on-site. This could possibly be a time-consuming course of, particularly when deploying tons of or hundreds of gadgets directly. Apple Configurator introduced a brand new imaginative and prescient for mass deployment; the power to automate and simplify the method of configuring a lot of gadgets, all from one centralized location.

Apple Configurator isn’t an entire MDM answer. You need to join Apple Configurator on to a tool so as to handle it – it lacks key options that might provide the means to handle gadgets remotely, assign customers, and use different superior choices that companies and colleges want.

Nonetheless, you should use Apple Configurator to oversee gadgets that aren’t related to a wi-fi community; for instance, kiosk or reference gadgets. It’s a useful gizmo for superior customers and directors who need to handle their gadgets straight, moderately than by way of an MDM answer. It may additionally complement an present MDM implementation by permitting you to entry your group’s infrastructure when wanted. For those who don’t desire a totally zero-touch deployment, it may be helpful for kickstarting the enrollment course of for brand new gadgets and mechanically embody a Wi-Fi profile configuration.

One space I nonetheless discover Apple Configurator to be extremely helpful is in mass updating gadgets to the most recent model of iOS. For those who’re in a spot with restricted or metered bandwidth, it may be way more manageable to gather the gadgets you’re liable for and replace them utilizing the identical iOS obtain. I’ve talked with IT directors in rising markets, and so they simply don’t have the bandwidth to replace all of their gadgets individually, and it’s a lot quicker to gather and replace over a USB cable with Apple Configurator.

Wrap-up

Apple Configurator is a vital a part of the historical past of managing iOS gadgets at work. It was one of many first instruments to be particularly designed for managing and deploying massive numbers of iOS gadgets, and it paved the best way for most of the highly effective and versatile administration instruments which are obtainable at the moment over cellular machine administration options.