Apple @ Work is offered exclusively by Mosyle; it is the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that combines all the necessary tools to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and secure Apple devices in the workplace into a single professional platform. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to effortlessly and cost-effectively make millions of Apple devices operational. Request your extended trial today and understand that Mosyle has everything you need to work with Apple.

The use of iPhones has evolved over the years. Initially, I wanted to replicate everything my Mac could do on my iPhone, but over time, I started to see my Mac as a workhorse and my iPhone as a "cloud remote control" that I could quickly use to get work done. Apple device management is one of these aspects. I don’t want to manage my entire database on my iPhone. However, there are a few things I want to do. This is where tools like PocketMDM come into play.

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. With experience in firewalls, switches, mobile device management systems, enterprise Wi-Fi, deploying and managing thousands of Macs and thousands of iPads, Bradley will highlight how Apple IT administrators deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, share their experiences in IT management, and how Apple can improve its products for IT departments.

PocketMDM is a tool specifically designed for Apple IT administrators. Aiming to bridge the gap between your iPhone and your device management platforms, it brings core automation directly to Apple Shortcuts. The app currently supports Apple Business Manager, Apple School Manager, Jamf Pro, and Microsoft Intune. I would like to see more device management services in future releases.

Instead of writing complex scripts or relying on hosted third-party solutions, PocketMDM offers you native Apple Shortcut actions. You can quickly retrieve device information or assign devices directly from your iPhone.

API Token Storage

One of the biggest obstacles IT administrators face when creating their own mobile workflows is managing API tokens. Storing administrator credentials in plain text within a standard iOS Shortcut poses a significant security risk.

PocketMDM cleverly solves this. The app acts as a secure vault for your management environments. It securely stores all your credentials and API tokens in the local Apple Keychain. This ensures that your sensitive authentication information is protected by the device's hardware while providing quick and reliable access to your management fleet.

Use Cases

The real magic of PocketMDM emerges when you start creating custom Apple Shortcuts. You are unboxing a new batch of MacBook Neos. Instead of going back to your desk to make assignments in Apple Business Manager, you can create a Shortcut that asks you to scan the barcode, automatically communicates with the Apple Business Manager API via PocketMDM, and assigns the device to your preferred device management server. You can create similar workflows for checking device compliance or reviewing various information for Jamf Pro or Microsoft Intune.

Pricing

PocketMDM is free to download and includes a set of free actions to connect and authenticate with supported device management services. To unlock the full set of management and automation actions, PocketMDM Pro is available for $2.99 per month, $19.99 per year, or a one-time lifetime access fee of $49.99.

If you manage Apple devices, this is definitely an app you should download and try. This app brings the power of Apple Business Manager and some popular device management services to your fingertips, eliminating the burden of maintaining custom code.

Download PocketMDM for free from the App Store.

Apple @ Work is offered exclusively by Mosyle; it is the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that combines all the necessary tools to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and secure Apple devices in the workplace into a single professional platform. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to effortlessly and cost-effectively make millions of Apple devices operational. Request your extended trial today and understand that Mosyle has everything you need to work with Apple.