How can Hexnode UEM be used for remote work deployment of iOS devices?

The remote working model provides a flexible work environment for employees outside the traditional work environment. A shift of the workplace from corporate offices to remote working poses various challenges to both the enterprises and the employees. Devising a well-defined remote work strategy is ideal for the efficient functioning of the organization. Setting up the devices and preparing them for remote work deployment becomes a principal concern for administrators. With Hexnode UEM, both corporate-owned and personal devices can be managed seamlessly to meet the organization’s remote workflow requirements.

1. Set up the device for remote working

Before deploying the devices for remote working, the organization needs to have a strategy to determine how the devices are to be deployed. Based on the ownership of the devices – corporate or personal, the management strategy varies. Hexnode provides a multitude of mobility management features to configure iOS devices for remote work deployment.

2. Device Provisioning

The process of adding the device to the MDM console for remote management is called device enrollment. Hexnode supports different methods to enroll iOS devices.

Zero-touch deployment for Corporate-owned devices

Zero-touch deployment is used for enrolling corporate devices. This automated enrollment technique using Apple DEP makes it easy to enroll iOS devices in Hexnode and configure settings to be applied to the device right out-of-box. It enables organizations to administer the device from the moment the user turns it on.

Authenticated enrollment for personal devices

Authenticated enrollment techniques validate the authenticity of the remote workforce as they enroll their own devices for provisioning. The administrators can send enrollment requests to the users facilitating user authentication during enrollment. The users may also enroll the devices with their directory credentials to provision devices in the MDM console. Since the users enroll the devices after validating themselves legitimate, it enables secure access to the corporate network and resources.

3. Configure policies to meet the organizational need

The enterprise settings and configurations necessary for effective device functioning can be configured with the help of policies. A device deployed for remote working should be deployed with corporate resources, compliance settings, and device configurations.

1. Set-up network settings: The organizations determine how the devices connect with the internet by configuring the network settings. It includes revising network-based restrictions, modifying Wi-Fi network configurations, creating VPN, etc.
   • Remote working necessitates extended connections beyond the organizational network infrastructure. Network restrictions that mandate connections only to corporate networks should not limit the devices from establishing connections with home networks. Organizations can enforce the restrictions at a desirable level remotely from the Hexnode MDM console.
   • Configuring VPN settings helps the device to establish a secure internet connection. VPN acts as a tunnel between the device and the company network where all the network traffic is routed to prevent security breaches or other malicious activities while accessing corporate resources.
2. Configure Accounts: Configuring Mail, Calendar, Exchange ActiveSync, CalDAV, CardDAV, and Google Accounts on the devices set up the corporate account services on the devices. It eliminates the need for the user to configure various account settings on the devices manually.
3. Create security configurations to suit your organization: Security threats are continuously evolving in complexity. Businesses enforce every security consideration to guarantee that the confidential data stored within the device is safe. Distributing security certificates, creating business containers, configuring restrictions are straightforward approaches to protect the devices from security risks.
   • Security certificates installed on the devices streamline certificate-based authentication for various purposes such as VPN, Wi-Fi, ActiveSync account, etc. Certificate distribution is no more a hassle, and it can be performed by the administrator even when the device is not in hand.
   • Enforcing delayed security OS updates on the devices enables organizations to check the feasibility of newer system updates in their test environments before implementing them on the business premises. It offers additional time to IT facilitators to test the bugs and issues associated with the latest OS releases to work with enterprise workflow. It ensures the compatibility of enrolled devices and applications with organizational needs.
   • Creating business containers on the devices regulates the flow of personal and corporate data between apps. While guaranteeing corporate compliance, it prevents managed data from being used in unmanaged destinations.
   • Corporate-owned devices can be restricted to access only specific websites with web content filtering. It devises a focused work environment while ensuring internet security.
   • Configure restrictions or security policies to ensure corporate data security and device efficiency.

4. Distribute apps

With more organizations adopting a mobile-based workforce, it is vital to ensure that the device is equipped with the necessary applications. The IT administrators can distribute tailor-made in-house applications and apps from the App Store across the enrolled devices to ensure streamlined workplace productivity. Integration with Apple VPP allows Hexnode to simplify the process of app deployment across the devices.

With Hexnode UEM, you cannot just deploy iOS apps but specify in-app configurations as well. Admins can pre-configure in-app settings like logins and accounts thus eliminating the need for users to set up apps for first-time use.