Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated. As a result, it’s more critical than ever for organizations to stay ahead of potential attacks by implementing robust security solutions and practices. And, for organizations that run on Apple, Jamf makes this implementation process simpler, faster and more secure than manual security protocols.
Jamf helps organizations succeed with Apple. By enabling IT to empower end users, they bring deep Apple expertise to support businesses, schools and government organizations. In addition, their Apple Enterprise Management is the only platform that connects, manages and protects Apple users, devices and services with same-day Apple OS support for every macOS, iOS, iPadOS and tvOS release.
Apple has invested a great deal in its security features and established itself as a leader in device and data protection. However, no operating system is exempt from security challenges, and IT administrators face pressures to respond rapidly to breaches and proactively guard against future risks.
Whether you've depended on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV devices for years or are just beginning to integrate them, Jamf helps you secure them with endpoint protection, Apple encryption, automated patching and more.
Many factors work together to defend your organization's hardware and data against cyberthreats. In the following overview of Jamf security solutions for Apple devices, we’ll dive deep into six key building blocks of cybersecurity and explore how they safeguard your organization.
Building block #1: Apple-native security
Extensive security features are built into Apple macOS (the operating system for Mac), iOS (the operating system for iPad and iPhone) and tvOS (the operating system for Apple TV). These capabilities help users make the most of their device management.
Apple's native security benefits include:
- Operating systems based on a UNIX foundation
- Powerful OS security framework
- Device security with locking capabilities and device finders
- Ability to implement and configure security controls via Mobile Device Management (MDM)
The Jamf MDM solution can deploy and enforce your security configurations on a large group of devices, enabling simultaneous secure setup of not just one Mac but thousands. And, you’ll gain even more expansive control with an MDM tool that can remotely lock and wipe lost or stolen devices.
Building block #2: Securing devices
Tracking and securing both devices and their users is critical for your organization, as one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to jeopardize your security framework and end-user safety is through access to a single device.
But, accidents happen, and devices may be lost or stolen. A misplaced iPad, iPhone or Mac is not only a financial loss but an enormous security risk. If a cybercriminal gets their hands on a misplaced device, they can access your entire database from it. With an MDM solution from Jamf, you can restrict devices and lock any missing device from a central system.
Building block #3: Encrypting data
Data encryption is no longer an option for your organization, it's essential across all data and all devices. There are two main types of data you’ll need to secure:
- Data at rest: information hosted on devices or in databases
- Data in transit: information moving wirelessly from one location to another
For seamless encryption, host your MDM in the cloud. With a reputable product such as Jamf Cloud, you’ll rest easy knowing that your server is secure and your data is safe. And, any updates or patches are available immediately.
Building block #4: Compliance monitoring
Your security system is only as strong as its weakest point. To ensure that protocols and controls are in place on all your devices, administrators must confirm that each is up to date, equipped with the most recent patches and enabled with the correct encryption options.
Monitoring compliance manually requires constant vigilance — you would need to audit your devices regularly — but when you monitor compliance with Jamf, you can use the inventory feature to streamline the process to just two simple steps:
- View real-time information on all devices simultaneously.
- Deploy updates and security configurations on any device that’s not properly secured.
With deeper, up-to-date visibility into device status, administrators can more easily determine which updates they need to send and which security features they need to configure on which devices in your fleet.
Building block #5: Application security and patching
Keeping patches up to date shores up the safety of your applications, defending them against malware and other hostile code. If you can’t trust your application sources, you'll put your security at risk.
Secure and easy to download, Apple apps leverage three key features.
First, the sandbox model: Each app lives in its own space and can't interact with other applications. Allowing apps to read or write to others' shared data requires approval from the user or administrator.
Secondly, App Store offerings — the only way to get apps on iOS and Mac devices — are vetted to alleviate security risks, bolstering device protection.
And finally, Gatekeeper for macOS comes with three options that allow apps to be downloaded from:
- App Store
- App Store and identified developers
- Anywhere
Users can select Gatekeeper for themselves, or administrators can configure it across all devices using an MDM such as Jamf.
Any application is at risk of bugs, which makes it urgent for you to have a strategy that treats bug fixes with urgency, as software challenges can lead to increased security vulnerabilities.
Building block #6: Secure deployments
Apple's free Device Enrollment Program (DEP) is the a foundational step in deploying your device fleet securely.
When you enroll in DEP, you’ll inform Apple of all the devices your organization owns and indicate that you want them to be managed via your organization's MDM. After that, your devices will automatically enroll into your MDM, enabling tighter security controls, swifter updates and more effective configuration profiles. As a result, you’ll save time, boost your cyber defense and eliminate guesswork.
With Jamf solutions for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV, you’ll unlock:
- Zero-touch enrollment
- Scalable deployment
- Secure configurations
These key features help you stay ahead of an evolving threatscape more effectively than manual protocols while simplifying your device and data security.
Security experts on your side
With a technology partner like Insight, you get a team of committed security experts protecting your business from sophisticated cyberthreats with advanced monitoring, data security and total endpoint protection. Our deep catalog of trusted security solutions will safeguard your organization’s most sensitive information against malicious activity.