An Overview of Apple’s Automated Device Enrollment (ADE)

What is Automated Device Enrollment?

Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) is Apple’s device provisioning tool that gives businesses the ability to enroll and deploy corporate-owned Apple devices. Apple ADE streamlines the process of large-scale device deployments and management by allowing you to pre-configure devices prior to their distribution.

Users receive their devices fully-configured and out-of-the-box ready, while data remains private and the system secure. All pre-configured settings are controlled by administrators from a remote location, and compliance is maintained wirelessly so that no hands-on management is ever necessary.

Which devices can be enrolled in ADE?

Any Mac computers, iOS devices or Apple TV purchased either directly from Apple or from a participating Apple Authorized Reseller on or after 1 March 2011, can be enrolled into Apple ADE. Devices must be running macOS 10.9+, iOS 7+ or tvOS 10.2+. You can add iOS and tvOS devices to Apple ADE using Apple Configurator, regardless of where the devices were purchased. When you set up a device that has been enrolled manually, it behaves like any other enrolled device with mandatory supervision and mobile device management (MDM) enrollment. For devices that were not purchased directly, the user has a 30-day provisional period to remove the device from enrollment, supervision, and MDM.

How does Hexnode integrate with Automated Device Enrollment?

Integration with Automated Device Enrollment makes it easy to assign Apple devices to the Hexnode server. Through our server, you can assign profiles, automate enrollment, and wirelessly supervise all the devices tied to your network, all the while skipping basic, and often tedious, setup steps. This hands-off approach to IT management saves time, so it can be spent elsewhere.

Can I add multiple ADE accounts in Hexnode?

Organizations can add multiple ADE accounts in the Hexnode portal. So that they can manage devices enrolled in different ADE accounts from the same portal.

What are the advantages of enrolling with Apple ADE?

The biggest advantage of Apple ADE is the ease you get with the automated enrollment process. This process ensures that all devices are configured according to your organization’s requirements and it also guarantees that all users have the same apps, settings, restrictions, and privileges on their devices before it is even issued to them.

Other advantages include:

• Install non-removable MDM profiles
• Prevent users from manually removing MDM configuration that would leave a device unmanaged
• Ability to wirelessly turn on supervision
• Preconfigure an initial setup that eliminates time-consuming hassles for end-users
• Silent app installation capabilities

Does ADE only work with newly purchased devices?

Not necessarily. Apple devices purchased on or after March 1, 2011 can be enrolled into ADE after it is factory reset. The only other restriction is that the device must be enrolled into Apple ADE within three years from its purchase date.

Can I remove devices from ADE?

You can remove devices from the ADE at any time. Damaged, lost, or stolen devices can and should be removed from your ADE as soon as possible. Once a device is removed from ADE, it can never be added back into the program.

Will ADE work for devices purchased from Apple resellers?

Yes. Apple ADE works with Apple devices that support ADE if they have been purchased from authorized resellers and carriers. Be sure to check with your reseller before making purchases. In order to register for ADE with Apple, you will be required to enter an Apple Customer Number or a Reseller ID. If a reseller doesn’t have this number, then you will not be able to gain access to ADE.