Jamf Now is a powerful mobile device management (MDM) solution designed specifically for Apple devices. It allows businesses to manage their Apple devices easily, ensuring security and efficiency. This blog post will guide you through the essential steps to get started with Jamf Now.
Step 1: Setting Up Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) Certificate
The Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) certificate is crucial for Jamf Now to communicate with your Apple devices.
Steps to Set Up APNs:
- Log in to Jamf Now:
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- Visit Jamf Now and sign in with your administrator credentials.
- Navigate to APNs Setup:
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- Go to the APNs Certificates section in the dashboard.
- Download CSR:
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- Download the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from Jamf Now.
- Sign in to Apple Push Certificates Portal:
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- Visit the Apple Push Certificates Portal and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Upload CSR:
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- Upload the CSR file to generate a new APNs certificate.
- Download APNs Certificate:
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- Download the certificate from the Apple Push Certificates Portal.
- Upload to Jamf Now:
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- Return to Jamf Now and upload the APNs certificate.
Tip: Ensure the Apple ID used for APNs remains accessible, as you’ll need it for renewals.
Step 2: Set Up Automated Device Enrollment
Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) simplifies the setup process for new devices by automatically enrolling them into Jamf Now when they are first turned on. Here’s how to set it up:
Steps to Configure Automated Device Enrollment:
- Access Automated Device Enrollment:
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- In Jamf Now, go to Automated Device Enrollment under settings.
- Obtain Apple Business Manager Account:
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- Ensure you have an Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager account. If not, enroll here.
- Generate a Server Token:
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- In Apple Business Manager, navigate to Settings > MDM Servers and create a new server.
- Download Server Token:
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- Download the server token file from Apple Business Manager.
- Upload Token to Jamf Now:
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- In Jamf Now, upload the server token to link the two platforms.
- Assign Devices:
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- In Apple Business Manager, assign devices to your Jamf Now server.
- Sync Devices:
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- Return to Jamf Now and sync devices to ensure they appear in the dashboard.
Step 3: Set Up Volume Purchasing
Setting up Volume Purchasing allows you to buy apps in bulk for your organization and deploy them seamlessly through Jamf Now. Here’s how to set it up:
Steps to Configure Volume Purchasing:
- Prepare Your Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager Account:
- Create an Account: Ensure you have an Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager account. If you don’t have one, sign up at business.apple.com or school.apple.com. Note that the approval process may take several days.
- Log In: Once your account is set up, log into your Jamf Now account.
- Access Volume Purchasing in Jamf Now:
- Navigate to Volume Purchasing: Click on Volume Purchasing in your Jamf Now dashboard.
- Get Started: Click Get Started to begin the setup.
- Create a Volume Purchasing Token:
- Select Deployment Program: Choose either Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager and click Next.
- Download the Server Token:
- Log in to your deployment program.
- Go to Preferences > Payments and Billing, and download the server token.
- Upload the Token to Jamf Now:
- Return to Jamf Now, click Next, then upload the downloaded server token.
- Enter your Apple ID used for creating the token and click Save.
Wrapping Up
With APNs, Automated Device Enrollment, and Volume Purchasing set up, you’re ready to manage your Apple devices seamlessly using Jamf Now. For detailed guidance, refer to Jamf’s official documentation:
