Later this year, the latest version of Apple's OS will be coming to a device near you. For businesses using Apple devices, getting the new features into the hands of users without disrupting workflows or slowing productivity can be a challenge, especially when factoring in the speed at which Apple users like to upgrade.
Contrary to other ecosystems, major new versions of Apple's operating systems - macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS - are released annually. A combination of the simple upgrade path and no cost helps to drive impressive adoption rates for consumers. This is in stark contrast to Windows, where Windows 7 still remains more popular than the newer Windows 10, or Android where the latest OS is slowly rolled out, resulting in just a minority of devices running the latest version.
There's a strong case to be made for allowing end users to update their devices on the day the new operating systems are released. Old versions of software are always less secure, and encouraging users to upgrade to the latest operating systems as soon as possible will help ensure your business doesn't fall prey to data breaches and system vulnerabilities.
So what's the best way to prepare for and implement an upgrade in your business?
Upgrading to the latest version of macOS
There are several ways to carry out upgrades on a Mac. The most common upgrade path for macOS is an in-place upgrade, which involves installing the operating system while keeping user data intact.
One method for conducting an in-place upgrade is to send an MDM command to Macs enrolled in Apple's Device Enrollment Program (DEP). Like iOS, this MDM command will trigger your Macs to download the new OS from Apple and automatically install it on devices. However, this will only work for Macs enrolled in DEP.
For Macs not enrolled in DEP, it is easier to carry out in-place upgrades by pre-packaging the macOS installer for the user, which is then installed automatically.
Imaging, which is a set of technologies that are used in a variety of deployment scenarios, is being replaced with native Apple technologies. Long-term, imaging options will continue to become less relevant when it comes to managing a Mac deployment.
The latest upgrades for macOS requires users to be connected to the internet when upgrading. This is due to firmware updates Apple installs on the Mac, further strengthening device security. Only the macOS installer can download and install these firmware updates, which validates Apple as the source of the critical firmware.
Upgrading to the latest version of iOS
Unlike macOS upgrades, there is only one workflow for iOS upgrades. They are made available by Apple and are then installed by the end user. While organisations can't block end users from upgrading, they can mass upgrade end users on supervised devices (running iOS 10.3 or later), leveraging the upgrade MDM command.
With iOS 11, organisations were able to manually enroll iOS devices regardless of how they were purchased, using the Apple Configurator to retroactively add devices into DEP.
During DEP enrollment, MDM is no longer optional and all iOS devices will now be supervised. While this may not impact your workflows, consider the potential impact to the end-user experience and setup process, and keep in mind that supervision and DEP now go hand in hand.
Communicate the plan to end users
When it comes to upgrades, it's better to err on the side of caution and overcommunicate than for people to miss out key details of the plan. Not every end user is aware of the time it takes to upgrade a Mac. It is wise to inform users in advance of the average upgrade time, and communicate the best time of day to upgrade.
It is also essential that your end users back up their device(s) before they update just in case there are any hitches with installation, regardless of whether their backup is localised or through iCloud.
