managing iPads

[JoeBloggs]

Hello!

 

Total newbie question - what does everyone use to manage their iPads?

 

(I do not work in a School)

 

I've been tasked with ordering 25 iPad's for our mobile users. They will be using an App which is linked to our database so it will hold a small amount of data. Some of this data will include personal information like names and addresses.

 

What is the best software to I can remotely wipe if lost / stolen? Do I need to encrypt them or does iOS have encryption at standard these days?

 

Any help much appreciated.

 

Thanks

[JordanT91]

You need an MDM (mobile device management) solution like Meraki or Lightspeed. I believe iPads are automatically encrypted once they have the passcode/fingerprint active.

[Brimstone]

If this is in a B2B environment then Liughtspeed woud not apply it this is only for education.

 

I would look at an MDM that also has MAM (mobile app management), most of these are enterprise level solutions, one that is used in both education and BDB is JamfPro.. This is being used by IBM for all their Apple devices.

 

jamf.com

[nathan3388]

if you have a mac server then you can always use profile manager to manage the iPads. if the iPads are lost then you could remote wipe them with the iCloud feature and iCloud lock them so that nobody can you use it again that is what i would do.

[GrumbleDook]

Declaration of interest ... I now work for an MDM provider.

 

THIS IS NOT A PITCH

 

To have the remote wipe feature you are looking at a mangling of Profile Manager (password protect the configuration profiles to prevent removal) combined with iCloud remote wipe tools (remembering that this is based on AppleIDs, which are personal accounts) or purchasing the devices on a business account and get them enrolled in the Apple Device Enrolment Program (DEP for short), as this allows for your MDM to flag that profiles cannot be removed.

 

The configuration payloads you are looking to make use of are around password policy enforcement, including having complex pass codes (alphanumeric) and wipe after x number of failed attempts to access.

 

To ensure that remote wipe is available, the devices would need to have cellular connectivity in them, as there is no guarantee that they will be connected to a wireless network.

 

All of the above applies in education as well for where staff are using iOS devices ... so it is not just relevant to business.

[enjay]

Meraki free MDM should do what you need. You can tell it to install any apps, so it would add the ones you need, add wifi settings, etc. plus remote lock, remote wipe and PIN code reset. I believe iPads automatically the data when they're locked.

[XiJ]

Meraki free MDM should do what you need. You can tell it to install any apps, so it would add the ones you need, add wifi settings, etc. plus remote lock, remote wipe and PIN code reset. I believe iPads automatically the data when they're locked.

 

Meraki is no longer free

 

I've been looking at by paying for Meraki and also Zuludesk after a recommendation on here.

 

Not sure if google apps (suite) has some mdm features ?

[enjay]

Meraki is no longer free

 

Oh yeah, I wonder if that means we'll get charged at some point.

 

Not sure if google apps (suite) has some mdm features ?

 

Yes, but only for Android devices I think. No idea what functionality is available though, I've not had cause to look at it.

[Bev]

Meraki is free if you have under 100 iPads, and I am currently using it, but I have to admit looking at their website now it's not clear if you can still sign up to the free option.

 

We have recently bought a larger number of iPads so have moved to Lightspeed for these but it costs £5 per ipad per year.

[XiJ]

I understand those already signed up for meraki will continue with the free version. Weather they start limiting / not adding new features or not we'll have to see. I know I've added new devices to the free versions that are already exist ok.

 

As for google, a colleague sent me a link that involved Apple push certificates etc. I haven't fully checked it out yet though.

[XiJ]

Meraki is free if you have under 100 iPads, and I am currently using it, but I have to admit looking at their website now it's not clear if you can still sign up to the free option.

 

We have recently bought a larger number of iPads so have moved to Lightspeed for these but it costs £5 per ipad per year.

 

It was changed just in the last couple of weeks. I have a dozen or so schools using free but new sign up are cost options

[Bev]

Google Apps Suite has MDM options for Chromebooks which works really well.

 

It looks like it has some very limited features for iPads. I can see it has picked up some of my iPads which have logged in using email addresses from that domain, but it only looks like you can remotely wipe them, or set calendars and email accounts on them.

I wouldn't say it would take the place of a proper MDM solution.

[XiJ]

Google Apps Suite has MDM options for Chromebooks which works really well.

 

It looks like it has some very limited features for iPads. I can see it has picked up some of my iPads which have logged in using email addresses from that domain, but it only looks like you can remotely wipe them, or set calendars and email accounts on them.

I wouldn't say it would take the place of a proper MDM solution.

 

Yeah that's what I'd read but hadn't looked in detail. Thanks.

[Wave9_Lee]

Meraki MDM is good, not free any longer, but it's still good value. Let me know if you need a quote/demo,

 

regards

 

Lee

[rlculver]

I have 5 iPads for a Special Needs School.

 

I would like to use a MDM. What is best / cheapest way forward.

 

Sorry to hear Meraki is no longer free

 

Thanks

[snagrat]

Best would be ZuluDesk is my eyes.

But it'll cost £7 per device per year

[RLR]

I have 5 iPads for a Special Needs School.

 

I would like to use a MDM. What is best / cheapest way forward.

 

Sorry to hear Meraki is no longer free

 

Thanks

For just 5 ipads I would use Profile Manager which is the free one that Apple Create.