I work at a private school where we have around 40 iPads that need to be managed with an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution. We're fully using Apple products, and since the iPads will remain on campus, we don't require remote management features. These devices are mainly for our grade school students to utilize educational apps, so there's no corporate data involved.
However, we're facing a major hurdle: we're not eligible for the Apple School Manager program since it only serves K-12 institutions and we are just an after-school program. We've tried reaching out multiple times for clarification, but have been denied.
Additionally, we find that professional MDM solutions like Jamf or Addigy are too costly for our needs, charging around $300 a month indefinitely, which is hard to justify to our parents just for nightly updates. The free options don't work for us either since they typically cap device management at 25.
Given that we have full physical access to the iPads at all times, I'm looking for solutions or guidance on MDM options that could work effectively for us. I am somewhat tech-savvy but lack dedicated experience in network or systems administration. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Mosyle is a good shout! Their first 30 devices are free, which can be a perfect start for your situation. You don't really need to use ASM/ABM, but utilizing those can simplify things if you later decide to sync with your student info system.
You might want to reach out to Apple directly. They've been quite helpful for us with various initiatives. They may have suggestions or programs that could suit your situation.
Have you looked into Mosyle? It's not as robust as Jamf, but it's a lot cheaper. It offers plenty of features, even if you don't plan to utilize them all. I recommend considering remote management, though—having that capability might be beneficial down the road.
Have you checked out any open-source options like FleetMDM? It might provide a cost-effective way to manage your devices without the heavy fees associated with commercial MDM solutions.
What about using a solution like Intune with Azure AD? It should be compatible with what you're trying to achieve for device management without breaking the bank.
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