The Iru Blog

Mike Boylan

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5 min read

Secure Token, Bootstrap Token, and Mac Security: How They Fit Together

It’s been more than five years since Apple introduced the concept of secure token in macOS. But for many Mac admins, that technology can still be a source of some confusion. It doesn’t help that, in the intervening years, Apple has evolved the technology significantly. Things have definitely come a long way since that initial launch of secure token.

Educational August 4, 2023

Iru Team

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6 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Zero-Touch Deployment for Mac

As an Apple admin, setting up new devices for end users became trickier in the last couple of years. With so many employees suddenly working outside the office, the workflows for equipping them with Apple devices needed to adapt. Personally handing a Mac to each new team member on their first day was no longer always feasible. That's why zero-touch deployments have become more important than ever.

Educational July 27, 2023

Sid Roper

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13 min read

Mac Endpoint Security: What Apple Admins Need to Know

Mac administration is always evolving. One example of that evolution: Many Mac admins these days are being asked to at least help manage the security of their Mac fleets. That, in turn, means they need to understand the four basic components of Mac security:

Educational June 29, 2023

David Larrea

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10 min read

macOS Security Features: A Guide for Apple IT

Apple uses a layered approach system to protect Mac users against malware. The three layers are: Prevent the launch or execution of malware; Block malware from running on customer systems; and Remediate malware that has executed.

Educational June 2, 2023

Alexandre Morin

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10 min read

App Distribution Guide: Deploying Apps on Apple Devices

Deploying apps to Apple devices is a fundamental job for any admin, but it isn’t a trivial one. That’s because there are several pathways to acquiring those apps, and you need to figure out which one makes the most sense for your use case and your users.

Educational May 25, 2023

Arek Dreyer

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7 min read

How-To Guide: Changing and Resetting Mac Passwords

When was the last time you or someone in your organization needed their Mac password to be something different than what it previously was? There are two ways to do that: change or reset. But although those two words might seem similar, their difference is significant.

Educational May 18, 2023

Iru Team

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8 min read

Mac Shell Scripts: Tips for Apple Admins

Shell scripts are indispensable for managing Mac computers. That makes shell scripting a vital skill for Mac admins. If you're one of them, chances are you already know at least the rudiments of scripting. But for many admins, it doesn’t go much beyond that: They might know enough to copy and paste someone else’s script from StackOverflow, make a few tweaks to it, then cross their fingers and hope it works. But no matter their level of scripting expertise, they can always learn more.

Educational May 11, 2023

Matt Wilson

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9 min read

Git, Github, and Version Control: What Apple Admins Need to Know

Chances are your IT team has a library of shared files that you all use and, more importantly, that you all edit. That library might include shell scripts you deploy to new Mac computers that enter the organization. It might contain a .logrc file your team shares to standardize log output. Maybe there’s a text document outlining your ever-evolving ticket escalation workflow.

Educational May 5, 2023

Iru Team

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7 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Mac malware has been around as long as the Mac itself. But historically, the problem received little attention from Apple and its customers. That neglect was largely benign because, while Mac malware did exist, it remained relatively rare. The examples that did proliferate tended not to carry the same risks as their Windows counterparts; more often, they were proofs of concept rather than genuine dangers.

Educational April 27, 2023

Iru Team

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5 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Leveraging MDM to Enable Remote Work

When more companies began letting their employees work from home a few years ago, device security and productivity became more important than ever for IT. Beyond just figuring out how to make sure remote team members could get their work done, admins needed to guard company data against the unique security risks posed by this new work environment.

Educational April 4, 2023

Iru Team

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6 min read

Device Management Solutions Explained: MDM vs EMM vs UEM

The IT world loves its three-letter acronyms. As part of that world, Apple device management is no different. If you deploy and manage fleets of Mac computers and iPhone or iPad devices for an organization, you’ve no doubt heard plenty of them. In particular, if you’ve spent any time researching ways to manage devices in your organization, you may have seen references to:

Educational March 31, 2023

Alexandre Morin

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8 min read

How to Troubleshoot APNs

Not long ago, an Iru i customer reached out because they’d received a notification that they needed to renew their certificate for the Apple Push Notification Service (APNs). But when they tried to do so, they found they couldn’t. The problem: The admin who’d originally set up the certificate was no longer with the company. Without his Apple ID, they couldn’t renew.

Educational March 16, 2023

Matt Wilson

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9 min read

APIs and Apple Device Management: A Guide for Mac Admins (Part 2)

A while back, we offered up an introductory tutorial on APIs and how they’re used in the context of managing Apple devices. Apple admins use APIs all the time, whether they know it or not. Knowing the basics of how those APIs work and how they can be manipulated is essential knowledge for any Apple admin.

Educational March 9, 2023

Iru Team

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11 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Apple Business Manager

Apple Business Manager is a critical tool for anyone who manages Apple devices. It provides a critical link between your Apple device management solution and your devices, enabling things like Automated Device Enrollment (ADE). Add in its utility in distributing apps and other content at scale and other content and its ability to federate with user directories, and Apple Business Manager clearly becomes essential for any Mac admin.

Educational February 14, 2023

Iru Team

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7 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Managed Apple Accounts

Managed Apple Accounts are Apple Accounts (formerly Apple IDs) that your organization owns, controls, and assigns to users. Like any Apple Account, Managed Apple Accounts can be used to sign in to devices and services.

Educational February 10, 2023