Managed Apple ID

Organization-owned Apple IDs created in ABM/ASM. They provide access to iCloud and collaboration features but are controlled by the organization and support federated authentication.

What to Know

Managed Apple IDs solve the fundamental data governance problem of personal Apple IDs on corporate devices by providing organization-owned accounts that grant access to iCloud services while maintaining institutional control. Unlike personal Apple IDs, Managed Apple IDs can be created, managed, and revoked by the organization, ensuring that data stored in iCloud Drive, Keychain, or other services remains under organizational ownership. When employees leave, the organization retains access to data stored under Managed Apple IDs and can reassign accounts or delete data as needed.

Managed Apple IDs support federated authentication, allowing users to sign in with their existing corporate credentials rather than remembering separate passwords. This integration with enterprise identity providers enables SSO, MFA, and automated account lifecycle management—when a user is deprovisioned from Azure AD or Okta, their Managed Apple ID access is automatically revoked.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT deploys Managed Apple IDs to employees who need iCloud features like Keychain for password management, iCloud Drive for file collaboration, or Notes for cross-device note syncing. Managed Apple IDs provide these capabilities while maintaining data governance and security controls. IT configures federated authentication to integrate Managed Apple IDs with Azure AD, eliminating password management overhead and ensuring automatic access revocation during offboarding.

MSP: MSPs create Managed Apple IDs for clients who want to provide iCloud functionality without the security risks of personal Apple IDs. Setting up Managed Apple IDs requires ABM access and coordination with the client’s identity provider if using federated authentication. MSPs should establish clear Managed Apple ID lifecycle processes—who creates accounts, how they’re provisioned, and what happens to data when employees leave.

Education: Schools create Managed Apple IDs for students and teachers through Apple School Manager, providing access to iCloud, collaboration tools, and educational apps while maintaining school control. For students under 13, Managed Apple IDs are the only COPPA-compliant way to provide Apple ID functionality. Schools configure federated authentication to integrate Managed Apple IDs with student information systems, automating account creation and deprovisioning based on enrollment data.

In Addigy

Addigy supports deploying Managed Apple ID credentials through configuration profiles, allowing silent iCloud sign-in during device setup without requiring users to manually enter credentials. Addigy provides reporting on which devices have Managed Apple IDs signed in versus personal Apple IDs, helping admins enforce Managed Apple ID policies. Addigy documentation includes comprehensive guides for configuring federated authentication in ABM/ASM and deploying Managed Apple ID credentials to devices.