Manage iOS and Microsoft devices in your organisation

In the past the IT manager could apply restrictions to devices are using within your organisation. Nowadays employees want and demand the convenience of being able to work with any device they want. At home, at work, on the road. Private and business side-by-side.

That sometimes seems like a challenge to manage, especially for large organisations. But when you properly organise the mobile device management (MDM) you can manage software management, device maintenance and security all from one central point. Even a when you are using a combination of iOS and Microsoft devices within your business.

Mobile device management

For many IT managers, MDM takes up a large part of their work. There is a constant requirement to install, maintain, repair and deliver devices. Any device needs to be managed during its lifecycle. You can do this within your organisation but this requires a lot of times and resources. Alternatively you can use DaaS (device-as-a-service) and outsource this process.

Managing iOS and Microsoft devices

Employees want to be able to be flexible what sort of devices they use. This means that there will be a variety of operating systems within your organisation. This can seem tricky because iOS works differently from Microsoft. This can cause issues when you have to manage these devices with different operating systems. However this does not have to be the case.

With any new device, it is necessary to consider which tools are needed for each employee. The device must then be set up and delivered ready for use. Besides the fact that this takes a lot of time, the way of working also differs per operating system. You can simplify this by using Microsoft Autopilot or Apple Business Manager, but you can also opt for a zero touch deployment via DaaS from an external provider. With the latter solution, the employee receives the device fully equipped and ready for use at any location. This enables your employee to get started using the new device quickly and efficiently.

Clear and efficient device management

The first step you have to take is to create an overview. Which devices are being used within your organisation? Which systems are used and which tooling is available? You can then implement solutions to make iOS and Microsoft visible in the same environment. Useful tools for this are Microsoft Endpoint Manager (formerly known as Intune) and Jamf, an MDM tooling to enable the interplay between iOS and Microsoft that is well implementable in a Windows environment. This way you can also add iOS devices within the same policies that you now have for Windows.

Whether you choose iOS or Windows is a personal preference. It makes no difference to the IT manager as long as he uses the correct MDM tooling. The choice does matter for the employee. Because working on a device you are not used to affects your productivity and job satisfaction.

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