RESTful API

REST is an architectural style for designing networked applications. In MDM environments, RESTful APIs are ubiquitous for programmatic management of devices, users, policies, and configurations. Modern MDM servers expose REST APIs to allow for automation and integration with third-party tools.

What to Know

RESTful APIs enable programmatic access to MDM functionality, allowing organizations to automate device provisioning, generate custom reports, integrate with external systems, and build custom workflows that extend platform capabilities. REST’s simplicity (standard HTTP methods GET/POST/PUT/DELETE) and stateless nature make it easier to understand and implement than complex protocols like SOAP. Modern IT automation relies heavily on REST APIs for orchestrating actions across multiple systems — provisioning devices when users are hired, synchronizing device assignments from HR systems, or triggering alerts based on compliance events.

REST APIs also enable ecosystem integration, allowing MDM platforms to communicate with ticketing systems, asset management databases, identity providers, and security tools. API-driven management supports infrastructure-as-code practices where device policies and configurations are defined in version-controlled code repositories rather than manually configured through web interfaces. This improves consistency, enables peer review of changes, and supports disaster recovery through automated rebuilds.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: IT teams leverage MDM REST APIs to automate device provisioning triggered by HR onboarding workflows, generate compliance reports for auditors, and synchronize device assignments with Active Directory group memberships. Custom scripts query device inventories for security analysis, identifying devices with outdated OS versions or missing security configurations. API integrations with ITSM platforms enable automated ticket creation when devices fall out of compliance or require administrative attention. IT must secure API credentials and implement rate limiting to prevent abuse.

MSP: MSPs build multi-tenant management dashboards that aggregate device data across client accounts via REST APIs, providing unified visibility and standardized reporting. API-driven automation enables MSPs to implement consistent onboarding workflows, automated patch management, and compliance monitoring across diverse client environments. MSPs should implement error handling and retry logic in API integrations to handle transient failures gracefully. API usage tracking helps MSPs understand which clients consume most platform resources and inform capacity planning.

Education: School districts use REST APIs to synchronize student rosters from SIS to MDM, automating device assignments at the start of each school year and updating assignments when students change schools or graduate. API integrations enable education IT to generate asset reports for budget planning and automate device decommissioning workflows. Custom reporting scripts query API endpoints to generate board reports showing technology utilization metrics and device inventory status.

In Addigy

Addigy provides comprehensive REST APIs that enable programmatic access to all platform functionality, from device management and policy deployment to user provisioning and reporting. The API follows REST conventions with JSON payloads, standard HTTP status codes, and clear endpoint documentation. Administrators generate API credentials through the Addigy console and use them to authenticate requests, with role-based permissions controlling what API actions each credential can perform.

Addigy’s API documentation includes interactive examples, sample code in multiple languages, and detailed descriptions of request/response formats for every endpoint. Addigy supports webhook notifications that push event data to external systems, complementing the pull-based REST API with real-time push notifications. Organizations building custom integrations can leverage Addigy’s API to create tailored workflows, reporting dashboards, and automation that extends platform capabilities beyond the standard web interface.