Intro to Apple Business Manager

Apple Business Manager is a simple, web-based portal for IT administrators that works with your third-party mobile device management (MDM) solution so that you can easily buy content in volume, whether your organization uses iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

To learn whether Apple Business Manager is available in your country or region, see the Apple Support article Availability of Apple programs and payment methods for education and business.

Below are some of the main features of Apple Business Manager.

Automated Device Enrollment

With Apple Business Manager, you can automate MDM enrollment and simplify initial device setup without having to physically touch or prepare the devices before users get them. You can automatically enroll devices into your MDM solution of choice, as long as the device has been added to your organization at the time of purchase—from Apple or from a participating Apple Authorized Reseller or cellular carrier, or through Apple Configurator.

Apps and Books

Apple Business Manager works with your MDM solution, letting your organization buy content (such as apps and books) in volume, assign it to devices or users, and then install and update that content wirelessly, even if the App Store is disabled. You retain full ownership and control of apps you’ve purchased. You can even revoke and reassign apps to different devices and users—in any country where that app is available from the App Store.

Managed Apple IDs

Apple Business Manager makes it easy to create a unique Managed Apple ID for each user in your organization. Managed Apple IDs are unique to your organization, and separate from personal Apple IDs you can create for yourself. A benefit is that IT administrators manage the services that a Managed Apple ID can access. Also, because Apple Business Manager integrates with your existing environment, you can provide Managed Apple IDs to employees using their existing organization credentials—for example, Google Workspace or Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). You can integrate with Azure AD using either federated authentication or System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM), enabling users to sign in to Apple services with their existing Azure AD credentials. See Intro to federated authentication.

Apple Business Essentials

Apple Business Essentials includes all the features of Apple Business Manager and more. It is one complete subscription that seamlessly brings together device management, 24/7 support, and iCloud storage. In this way, your small business can easily manage every employee’s iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV (that your organization owns)—every step of the way. Apple Business Essentials is currently available only in the United States. To learn more, see the Apple Business Essentials User Guide.

Published Date: April 27, 2022