Location services in MDM

[Sheridan]

Does anyone use an MDM that allows you to disable/enable/prevent changing Location services in iOS? We use Mosyle and there's no option, and AC2 doesn't show anything either?

[Guest Guest]

I've looked into this before (we use JAMF) and from what I've seen it's not possible

[Sheridan]

Thanks, I'd seen in some forums but it was from a few years ago, looks like Apple don't allow this

[GrumbleDook]

I think this is still the most relevant page covering what is restricted on MDMs.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mdm/mdm0f7dd3d8/web

[Sheridan]

Thanks, it looks like its not possible with an MDM. I'm sure I used to do this back in the days of iOS 9 or so using Meraki, but its obviously changed since then

[Brimstone]

Does anyone use an MDM that allows you to disable/enable/prevent changing Location services in iOS? We use Mosyle and there's no option, and AC2 doesn't show anything either?

 

When you use Lost Mode (most good MDM's have this) is sends a command to the device to lock the screen and track the GPS location.

 

Even if the end user has turned location services off, this command will turn this on again so you can track the device.

 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mdm/iorb0f639322/web

[Face-Man]

Apple is paranoid about privacy and ipads are not really meant to be shared devices or school owned therefore they have always had the approach the user is king. Over time they have realised organisation need to be able to manage devices but still never at the expense of the users ability to turn things off (though at least DEP means you can prevent profiles from being removed).

 

More details about location data and tracking are set out here

 

https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Location_Services_White_Paper_Nov_2019.pdf

 

the work around that used to work was setup restriction on each ipad and then set location service on so the user could not turn it off..... now it is only lost mode that allow the device to be tracked down provided it is online of course...