SSL/TLS

SSL/TLS are cryptographic protocols designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. In MDM environments, TLS is absolutely critical. All MDM server communications use HTTPS (HTTP over TLS). Device enrollment, command execution, and inventory reporting all depend on TLS.

What to Know

TLS (SSL’s successor) is the foundation of all secure internet communication, encrypting data in transit to prevent eavesdropping and tampering. For MDM, TLS protects sensitive device commands, user credentials, inventory data, and configuration profiles transmitted between devices and servers. TLS also provides server authentication through certificates, ensuring devices connect to legitimate MDM servers rather than impersonators. Modern TLS versions (1.2 and 1.3) provide strong encryption that resists known attacks, while older versions (SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0) are deprecated due to security vulnerabilities.

TLS configuration directly impacts both security and compatibility. Weak cipher suites enable attacks, while overly restrictive configurations prevent older devices from connecting. Certificate validation failures (expired certificates, hostname mismatches, untrusted CAs) break MDM enrollment and check-ins entirely. Organizations must balance security (strong ciphers, current TLS versions) with compatibility (supporting devices that may lag behind current standards). TLS inspection by enterprise security tools can inadvertently break certificate validation by presenting substitute certificates devices don’t trust.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate MDM servers require valid TLS certificates from trusted CAs, with IT monitoring expiration dates and renewing certificates before they expire. Load balancers and reverse proxies terminating TLS connections must be configured with appropriate cipher suites and TLS versions that balance security with device compatibility. SSL/TLS inspection proxies deployed for security monitoring must be carefully configured to avoid breaking MDM traffic, often requiring MDM traffic bypass rules. Certificate validation failures are among the most common causes of enrollment and check-in issues.

MSP: MSPs managing hosted MDM infrastructure must maintain current TLS certificates across all client instances and configure TLS settings that support the oldest devices clients need to manage while maintaining reasonable security posture. Automated certificate renewal through services like Let’s Encrypt simplifies certificate lifecycle management. MSPs should monitor TLS handshake failures in MDM logs to detect devices with outdated TLS implementations that may require special handling or upgrade recommendations.

Education: Educational institutions must ensure MDM server TLS certificates are valid and trusted by all managed devices, including student BYOD devices that may not trust internal CAs. Public CA certificates simplify deployment but require tracking renewal schedules and coordinating certificate updates across potentially complex infrastructure (load balancers, proxies, firewalls). School network security tools performing TLS inspection must exclude MDM traffic to prevent certificate validation failures that break device management.

In Addigy

Addigy’s cloud-hosted infrastructure handles all TLS certificate management automatically, using industry-standard certificates trusted by all Apple devices. Addigy implements current TLS best practices, supporting TLS 1.2 and 1.3 with strong cipher suites while maintaining compatibility with Apple’s supported device range. Administrators don’t need to manage certificates, configure TLS settings, or monitor for certificate expiration — Addigy’s infrastructure team handles these operations transparently.

For organizations with TLS inspection proxies or other security infrastructure that may interact with MDM traffic, Addigy support can provide guidance on configuring bypass rules to prevent TLS inspection from breaking device-to-Addigy communication. Addigy’s HTTPS endpoints follow Apple’s security recommendations, ensuring encrypted communication for all device management operations. When troubleshooting enrollment or connectivity issues, Addigy support can analyze TLS handshake logs to identify certificate validation problems or TLS configuration issues in customer network environments.