Apple @ Work: Ought to companies undertake third-party iOS app shops when obtainable?

Apple @ Work is solely dropped at you by Mosyle, the one Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the one answer that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all of the options essential to seamlessly and mechanically deploy, handle & shield Apple gadgets at work. Over 45,000 organizations belief Mosyle to make thousands and thousands of Apple gadgets work-ready with no effort and at an reasonably priced price. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL in the present day and perceive why Mosyle is every part you must work with Apple.

One of many information tales that has dominated the 2024 information cycle is Apple, the EU, and third-party app shops. We lately revealed a hands-on with Setapp Cell, and it’s a pattern that I see shifting to the remainder of the world within the coming years. How will companies reply?

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT community from 2009 to 2021. Via his expertise deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a cell gadget administration system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will spotlight methods wherein Apple IT managers deploy Apple gadgets, construct networks to assist them, practice customers, tales from the trenches of IT administration, and methods Apple may enhance its merchandise for IT departments.

Why the App Retailer mannequin is sensible for enterprise clients

For companies utilizing iPhones and iPads, the App Retailer has been unbelievable. Many app builders complain about in-app purchases and the replace mannequin not being relevant to companies. Most companies are shopping for their app licenses as a SaaS mannequin. The quantity buy program has by no means supported in-app purchases, so it’s not been a consideration both. If a enterprise goes to buy an app license, they’re going to contact the developer straight, pay straight, after which tie it to their id supplier or manually create logins.

Even when in-app purchases got here to the amount buy program, it could be a logistical nightmare for deployment and administration. It’s not scalable for enterprise deployments, and it’s not how companies purchase software program.

From a safety perspective, it’s one other layer of safety for organizations deploying apps. They will load iOS apps in self-service which can be vetted by the group, however exterior of that, the App Retailer is a reliable expertise for companies. Sure, rogue apps often make it by App Overview, however for essentially the most half, I belief the App Retailer as a spot to seek out apps.

It’s additionally a seamless deployment expertise as every part with quantity licensing and app project to gadgets is tied in along with your gadget administration vendor and Apple Enterprise Supervisor.

Safety considerations about third-party app shops

My massive concern with third-party app shops is that companies have one more assault vector for rogue apps on a tool. App Overview isn’t excellent, however we all know that Apple is targeted on making the App Retailer the most secure place to get apps because it helps them promote gadgets.

If I have been an Apple IT supervisor, I might take a look at third-party app shops and see a number of danger and little return on funding. Would app updates come sooner? Presumably, however at what danger? Who’s reviewed the code? Will it crash a tool with a foul replace? Why do I would like a third-party app retailer? How will I deploy it to all my gadgets? These are just some of the questions I’ve come throughout to this point. Apple hasn’t detailed how companies may work together with third-party app shops on managed iPads and iPhones, however I think we are going to find yourself with a path ahead on deployment. I additionally suspect there shall be coverage choices to disable them as properly so workers can’t aspect load their very own apps, and so forth.

Wrap up

To sum up my ideas right here, third-party app shops are an attention-grabbing mannequin for shoppers, and I don’t have the choice to have selection on the best way to pay for apps, however for enterprise clients, till one thing modifications, Apple’s App Retailer is the most secure method to deploy apps for iPhone and iPad. Even when Apple builds out a mechanism for managed/supervised gadgets to make use of third-party app shops, I see little cause for companies to contemplate it.

Apple @ Work is solely dropped at you by Mosyle, the one Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the one answer that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all of the options essential to seamlessly and mechanically deploy, handle & shield Apple gadgets at work. Over 45,000 organizations belief Mosyle to make thousands and thousands of Apple gadgets work-ready with no effort and at an reasonably priced price. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL in the present day and perceive why Mosyle is every part you must work with Apple.