Apple Configurator: Managing each and every business device within an organization.

Volume licensing customers, such as businesses and schools that rely on Apple devices and products, need to manage large numbers of devices, and deploy different applications on each of them, with granular control. The Apple Configurator App does just that, and provides different deployment options, depending on the type of organization.

While the app is powerful enough to manage and supervise every iOS device within a company or other infrastructure, the interface is very simple to use, and intuitive.

What devices are supported

According to the Apple Configurator support page, organizations can manage iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV 2nd generation or later. To manage devices using Apple Configurator, OS X Mavericks v10.9, and iTunes 11.4 or later are required.

Adding devices

Adding each device requires a wired connection, via USB, regardless of whether it’s issued by the company, or is a personal device that falls into the BYOD category.

Devices will be able to connect just fine when using powered hubs designed to plug in multiple devices at once.

When a device is plugged into a Mac computer running Apple Configurator, the iOS device will show within a list, ready to be configured.

Preparing devices

Devices are required to be prepared for use within the organization. Each device will be assigned a name, or a sequential number, and the default behavior for that device, each time it’s connected to Apple Configurator.

Use cases in which serialization is a better option can be for devices in racks or carts, to be distributed temporarily to a number of users, within the scope of a presentation, seminar or other type of event.

iPads, iPhones or Apple TVs can be configured with a number of restrictions and rules to ensure they work according to the policies set within the company, including whether or not certain devices are allowed to sync and connect to other Macs.

When a device is added to Apple Configurator, a feature called “Supervision” can be set to On, which automatically updates the target device to the latest version of iOS, which is useful for devices issued by the organization. On the other hand, when adding BYOD devices, devices can be set with the Supervision setting Off, to allow devices to update according to their individual settings. In this mode, devices can still be updated, pending a number of scenarios. For instance when the device is in Recovery Mode, Restore Mode, or in Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode.

With Supervision set to On, all data on the devices to be updated, will be erased. Additionally, to ensure a clean installation, there is also an “Erase before installing” option available.

Apps

Within a managed environment, installing paid apps is restricted to those devices with the Supervision option set to Off.

Another useful apps-related option is “Lock to App”, which prevents the user of a managed device to switch to another app, by modifying the behavior of the home button. This is useful in situations where iPad devices are used as information displays to customers.

Grouping and Users

Devices with similar functionality or purpose, for instance within a public library or other infrastructure where patrons have access to them, can be grouped, for easy identification and management.

When a device is added with the Supervisor option On, it can be assigned to one particular user. Each user will have a profile that lists apps and data for which access is required. These profiles can be assigned to more than one device, and each device will automatically receive identical data and apps, according the the assigned user profile.

For instance, is an employee needs access to three iPads and one iPhone, all devices under that employee’s name will automatically receive the same apps and files.

Use cases

The Apple Configurator allows for unlimited scenarios where granular customization of different devices and groups of devices need to be deployed, replicated and managed, quickly and efficiently.

Aside from the typical “public library” example, the ability to track and manage iOS devices becomes crucial, not only within an office or retail setting, but also on the go. For instance, companies that need to manage large numbers of fleet vehicle drivers, such as limousine or delivery services, need to be able to rapidly deploy, manage and restore hundreds of devices that can be misplaced, lost or stolen while on the go.

Another example is public events, such as sports games or other venues requiring participants to access the same information on a multitude of devices available for the event. iPads are commonly seen during sports games, in which players and coaches access custom apps designed to replay actions from the game for review.