Mac Customization: How to Personalize Enterprise Macs using Hexnode

Imagine this scenario – A new employee unboxes a Mac on their first day. To their surprise, the device is already configured, tailored to the job role. It is preset with required apps, network settings, wallpaper, location-based access, and other essential settings. This is what personalization can do. Personalizing company devices helps employees work more effectively, be more productive, and feel a stronger connection to the brand.

Now imagine doing this for hundreds of Mac devices from a single platform with a few simple pre-configuring steps. Unlike a traditional device management system, a Unified Endpoint Management solution like Hexnode enables IT and security teams to customize Macs at scale. Read more to understand the relevance of personalizing enterprise Mac devices and how to customize them using Hexnode.

The Growing Relevance of Mac Customization

The core purpose of customization is to deliver a seamless user experience where end-users get to work with ready-to-go, frictionless, and personalized devices, specifically designed to meet their roles’ requirements. To meet this purpose, Macs for work have gained popularity among employees due to their reliability, performance, and compact design. UEM solutions drive this shift by facilitating high-end endpoint device management as well as core system personalization.

The growing trend of shifting to Mac devices stems from the following reasons –

• “Mac as a Choice”

  Most companies today let employees use Mac as their preferred work device. Here, choice drives motivation, and as a result, employees are seen to be more productive. This, in turn, enhances employee satisfaction. Personalized Macs empower employees and make them feel seen and valued.

Why your business should embrace ‘Mac as a Choice’ and how a UEM can help

• Easy Personalization with Security

  Modern UEM solutions come equipped with extensive security and management capabilities, such as the Zero Trust security mechanism, creating a scope for personalizing enterprise macOS without compromising its security.

• Hybrid Setup Resonates with Individual Needs

  As the hybrid work culture continues to impact the corporate sector, it can become challenging for the IT and security teams to set up custom settings that reflect individual roles and workflows. Therefore, a common fit-for-all approach will no longer make ends meet. UEM enables security teams to build relevant device experiences such as brand-oriented settings, apps, and security policies, meeting individual requirements.

• Enhanced User Experience

  Beyond providing the right resources to the right users, personalization is fundamental in facilitating a superior customer experience. Customized Mac devices are pre-configured to align with the specific needs of the user role or profile. This reduces operational friction and boosts productivity from the moment the user starts working.

• Brand Consistency and Professionalism

  Mac customization is not only about facilitating a seamless user experience with personalized apps. It is also how organizations promote a unified brand identity. UEM solutions like Hexnode empower companies to configure and push settings that resonate with brand identity. It drives a sense of professionalism and uniformity in all devices.

• Compliance

  In highly regulated industries, personalization also strengthens compliance. UEM solutions ensure compliance in device management, configuring every Mac device to specific standards. For example, data encryption for FileVault, a strong password policy, timely security patches, etc. This automated setup allows businesses to be strictly compliant and avoid legal complications.

Practical Application of Enterprise Mac Personalization

Let’s look at two different use cases to understand the practical applications of Mac customization in an enterprise setting.

Use Case 1 – Streamline Onboarding Process for Global Tech Company

Challenge: A large tech-based company will have a high volume of new hires. The IT team must configure and provision multiple Macs every year. The conventional process included setting devices manually, which was time-consuming, error-prone, and created a mediocre impression.

Mac Customization in Action: To make the onboarding process efficient and seamless, the company invests in a UEM solution that is integrated with Apple Business Manager. The IT and Security team can configure –

• Zero Touch Deployment – Using UEM, the device no longer requires an elaborate manual setup when a new employee is onboard. The settings are configured remotely.
• Role-based Profiles – The devices automatically get enrolled in the UEM platform when it is switched on and connected to the internet. The device identifies the user’s role and initiates the pre-defined configuration profile.
• Automated App Delivery – Once the profile is configured, all the core applications required for the role are automatically installed.
• Custom Settings – Custom settings like Wi-Fi networks, VPN, etc., are also pre-configured.

Outcome: The Mac devices in the company are provisioned and ready based on the new employee’s role and team. This significantly reduces the workload on the IT team and reduces the onboarding time. Moreover, it offers a seamless and pleasant experience to the new hires.

Use Case 2 – Secure Retail Operations for an Enterprise Company

Challenge: A retail company will use Mac devices for various purposes with custom settings. These devices can be used in the corporate office, for inventory management, and even in their flagship stores. For these use cases, the company must ensure that every Mac device reflects the brand’s identity while it securely guards access to sensitive data from different locations.

Mac customization in Action: The company uses a UEM solution like Hexnode to configure these custom settings beforehand. Using this platform, the IT team can configure the following –

• Brand Consistency – Through a custom configuration profile, login screens can be branded with company wallpaper. This can be configured across all the Mac devices, reinforcing brand identity.
• Location-based Security – Mac devices being used at different locations, such as the inventory room, are set up with policies that regulate access to certain apps or websites. An employee who frequently travels will have completely different location-based configurations, like always-on VPN, security checks for public Wi-Fi, etc.
• Dynamic Access – Dynamic Access lets a company’s app catalog change automatically for each employee. Based on their job role, users only see and can install the apps approved for them, ensuring they get the right tools without a cluttered list of unneeded software.

Outcome: A UEM solution enables the retail company to configure settings that reflect the brand image. The security measures are configured dynamically to adapt based on user profile and environment, without interfering with the employees’ work.

Hexnode’s Key Mac Customization Features

Hexnode is a comprehensive AI-assisted endpoint management suite, aiding in the configuration and management of all endpoints from one single console. Hexnode UEM comes with extensive solutions for macOS management, enabling the security team to exercise control over all Mac devices operating within the office environment as well as remotely.

With advanced personalization features for enterprise Mac, such as automation, granular control, and user-centric provisioning, Hexnode is one of the leading providers that balances Mac customization features on par with security. The key Mac customization features are –

• Zero-Touch Enrollment via Apple Business Manager

  The Zero-Touch device enrollment process automatically enrolls devices in bulk. Security teams can pre-set user-specific device configurations, eliminating the need for any manual intervention at the user’s end.

• Role-based Policy Assignment

  Policies can be configured based on the roles of the end-users. It can be pushed to all user devices or reflected to a particular group device only.

• Custom App Catalog and UI Configuration

  Hexnode provides provisions to build custom app catalogs, allowing or restricting access to certain apps. Additionally, Hexnode App UI can be custom-configured across Mac devices.

• Remote Configuration and Scripting

  Parameters like Finder preferences, login items, and dock settings can be customized using remote configurations and scripting. This offers deep customization ability, which can be monitored and controlled remotely.

Ways to Personalize Enterprise Macs using Hexnode

Hexnode comes with a wide range of personalization options. Here is a list of customizations that can be set on enterprise macOS devices.

Dock Customization

IT admins can remotely set up the Dock (A panel where users can quickly access frequently used applications, files, and other instant icons) in all the enterprise Mac devices. Using macOS dock preferences, Hexnode quickly lets users design and align the dock the way they prefer.

• Choose how the application icons appear on the dock
• Change the size of the dock
• Change the dock orientation
• Lock dock orientation
• Animate how the applications open
• Automatically hide and show the dock
• Minimize windows into application icons
• Enable magnification of app icons

Login Screen Customization

The IT team can set customized configurations that facilitate the personalization of the macOS device login window. From System Preferences, users can access this setting to configure parameters like the login window appearance, list of users, usernames and passwords, and control buttons to meet specific requirements.

• Show or hide the Shut Down button
• Show or hide the Restart button
• Show or hide the Sleep button
• Disable login items bypass
• Disable console access from the Login Screen
• Show Password hints
• Enable automatic login
• Add custom text to display in the Login Window

Wallpaper Customization

Customizing enterprise Mac wallpapers with a simple configuration promotes and strengthens branding. Wallpaper customization allows the device management team to selectively push brand or role-based wallpaper that may hold the business trademark. The team can add a single image or a file containing multiple images and set it to run as a slideshow.

• Can set the company logo
• Set the image position
• Enable the wallpaper for all users
• Configure the slideshow time
• Enable/disable shuffling of the images

Custom System Configuration via Configuration Profiles

Users can configure each macOS endpoint’s system settings from the Hexnode console. This brings uniformity with the restrictions enabled in Macs across the company.

• Preconfigure network settings like Wi-Fi, VPN, and Proxy settings
• Set energy saver settings by setting sleep timers, displaying battery usage
• Configure firewall and Gatekeeper permissions
• Set Finder preferences by customizing sidebars, folder views, etc.
• Set custom settings that will launch the app or scripts at startup
• Gain access to system power settings and battery optimization

Pre-installed Apps and Scripts

Automatically provision all essential apps using Hexnode UEM. It enables the IT team to configure and push the required apps and custom scripts to the endpoints, customizing them based on the utility. This allows the team to acquire restrictive control over the devices.

• Push role-specific apps automatically
• Deploy store apps purchased via Volume Purchase Program (VPP), enterprise apps, and bundle apps
• Control app updates and security patches silently
• Execute custom scripts for complex third-party integration

Custom Fields and Dynamic Groups

Hexnode’s smart policy assignment allows you to customize policy deployment by targeting devices or Dynamic Groups. Users can assign policies based on various factors, including the end-user group, device ownership, and location. Granular control ensures the right policies are applied to the right devices, based on your specific organizational needs. Using Custom Fields, the security department can tag Macs with relevant Dynamic Groups.

• User Groups – Based on an end-user’s profile, administrators can configure and deploy policies to devices. For example, they can set different policies for interns and executives, ensuring they apply the right clauses to the right user.
• Device Ownership – Companies that facilitate BYOD can configure custom policies that will reflect differently in a BYOD system than in a company-owned device. Hexnode brings this flexibility into managing multiple devices from different sources.
• Location-based Policies – Administrators can configure personalization based on location, pushing custom settings to a certain location to simplify the management and monitoring of the security framework.

Wrapping Up!

Your office devices no longer have to be just a work asset. With Hexnode, explore a new phase of personalization that makes the workspace more reflective of end-users’ roles, teams, workflows, location, etc. Businesses can customize Mac devices based on their policy profiles and brands, which provides a seamless experience for endpoint users.

Hexnode enables personalizing Macs at scale with simple configurations. So, it is no longer a preference but rather a strategic security setup that also prioritizes user experience. Get your hands on extensive Mac customization that empowers the team.