Apple Business Manager (ABM)

Apple Business Manager is the central hub for enterprise Apple device management. It allows organizations to automatically enroll devices in MDM via Automated Device Enrollment, purchase apps and books in volume, and create Managed Apple IDs for employees.

What to Know

Apple Business Manager is the foundational platform for zero-touch deployment and streamlined device lifecycle management. Without ABM, organizations lose the ability to automatically supervise devices, enforce MDM enrollment at setup, and centrally manage app licenses. ABM integration with an MDM like Addigy transforms manual enrollment workflows into automated, scalable deployments that prevent users from bypassing management controls.

ABM also provides financial accountability by consolidating all Apple purchases under a single organization account, enabling volume discounts and simplified billing. For regulated industries, ABM is essential for maintaining an auditable chain of custody and ensuring devices remain under organizational control from factory shipment through decommissioning.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT uses ABM to assign newly purchased devices to the MDM before they ship, ensuring zero-touch enrollment when employees first power them on. IT can push VPP apps and books to managed devices silently, eliminating manual App Store logins. ABM also allows IT to create Managed Apple IDs for employees who need iCloud collaboration features while maintaining corporate control over data.

MSP: MSPs managing multiple clients should create a separate ABM instance for each client organization to maintain proper license segregation and billing boundaries. Some MSPs use their own ABM for small clients without dedicated IT staff, though this creates shared licensing pools that require careful tracking. ABM integration is a key onboarding step for any new client with Apple devices.

Education: Schools use Apple School Manager (ASM), the education-specific equivalent of ABM, to manage student devices and deploy classroom apps. ASM includes additional features like Shared iPad support and integration with Student Information Systems for automatic roster syncing. ASM is required for education-specific features like Managed Apple IDs for students under 13.

In Addigy

Addigy integrates directly with Apple Business Manager to enable Automated Device Enrollment and VPP app distribution. During initial setup, admins upload Addigy’s MDM server token to ABM and assign devices to the Addigy MDM server. Once connected, devices purchased through ABM-enrolled resellers automatically appear in Addigy’s device list and enroll when powered on. Addigy syncs VPP app licenses from ABM, allowing admins to deploy apps to devices without requiring user Apple IDs.

Addigy’s ABM integration supports multiple ABM instances, allowing MSPs to manage separate client accounts from a single Addigy tenant. Addigy displays each device’s ABM assignment status and provides alerts when MDM server tokens need renewal, preventing enrollment disruptions.