Zero-Touch Deployment

A deployment methodology where devices are automatically enrolled, configured, and provisioned without requiring manual IT intervention, leveraging Automated Device Enrollment.

What to Know

Zero-touch deployment represents the pinnacle of modern device management efficiency, enabling organizations to ship devices directly from Apple or resellers to end users without IT ever physically handling them. Using Automated Device Enrollment, pre-stage configurations, and automated policy deployment, devices arrive at users’ doorsteps, power on, and automatically configure themselves with all necessary apps, settings, and security policies. This eliminates the traditional staging and imaging processes that once required dedicated IT staff and physical device handling, dramatically reducing deployment costs and time-to-productivity.

Zero-touch deployment is especially critical for distributed workforces, rapid scaling scenarios, and organizations with limited IT resources. It enables true work-from-anywhere strategies by allowing employees anywhere in the world to receive and activate devices without visiting an office or waiting for IT support. The methodology also improves security by ensuring devices are managed from first boot, preventing the window of vulnerability that exists when devices are shipped unmanaged and manually enrolled later.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: A company hiring 500 remote employees orders MacBooks through Apple Business Manager, assigns serial numbers to Addigy, and configures pre-stage profiles. Devices ship directly to employees’ homes. New hires power on their MacBooks, complete minimal Setup Assistant steps, and find all corporate apps, VPN, and security policies pre-installed. IT never touches the hardware, and employees are productive within hours of receiving their devices.

MSP: An MSP onboards a new client requiring immediate device deployment across 20 locations. The MSP orders devices through their Apple reseller, assigns serial numbers to the client’s MDM instance, and configures location-specific pre-stages. Devices ship to each location, and local staff follow simple power-on instructions. The MSP monitors enrollment remotely, and all devices are fully configured without the MSP visiting any client sites.

Education: A school district deploys 10,000 iPads for a 1:1 student program. Devices are assigned to Apple School Manager, pre-configured with grade-level apps and restrictions, and shipped directly to students’ homes during summer break. Students unbox and activate iPads at home, and they’re immediately ready for remote learning. IT accomplishes in weeks what would have taken months of manual staging.

In Addigy

Addigy enables complete zero-touch deployment through its Automated Device Enrollment integration and priority deployment policies. You configure pre-stage profiles that skip Setup Assistant screens, define initial policies, and specify which apps install automatically during first boot. When devices power on and connect to the internet, they automatically enroll in Addigy, download assigned policies, and install required apps without user interaction.

Addigy’s await configuration option ensures devices don’t proceed past Setup Assistant until all priority policies and apps have installed, preventing users from accessing incompletely configured devices. You can monitor zero-touch deployment progress in real-time through Addigy’s enrollment dashboard, viewing which devices have completed enrollment, which are in progress, and troubleshooting any that encounter issues—all without physically accessing any hardware.