Apple @ Work is brought to you exclusively by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates into a single professional platform all the solutions needed to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage and protect Apple devices in the workplace. Over 45,000 companies trust Mosyle to get millions of Apple devices up and running effortlessly and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL Find out today why Mosyle has everything you need to work with Apple.
Apple has created a world for IT where zero-touch deployments are the de facto standard. Most devices are shipped sealed, unpacked by the end user, and automatically configured through device management services. For many IT teams, this is the dream scenario they have always wanted. It's still a common occurrence in education and retail where a convenient macOS app can be just as valuable for deployment. Apple Configurator for macOS continues to play a role here.
About Apple@Work: Bradley Chambers led an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a device management system, enterprise-class Wi-Fi, thousands of Macs, and thousands of iPads, Bradley will share ways Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, share stories from the trenches of IT management, and demonstrate ways in which Apple could improve its products for IT departments.
What is Apple Configurator for Mac?
Apple Configurator for macOS is a utility that has been around for a long time Years. It was originally the tool of choice for monitoring and preparing iOS devices while also deploying apps from Apple's Volume Purchase Program. Over time, most of this functionality shifted to device management services and Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager. However, the Apple Configurator has never gone away and Apple has continued to expand it in small but important ways.
Why it still matters in 2025
Zero-touch deployments are the standard, but not every workflow is zero-touch. Schools still have to clear carts of iPads between school years. Retailers still need to repurpose devices, reset them before redeploying them, or deal with edge cases where device management alone isn't enough. Apple Configurator combined with Shortcuts on macOS allows these situations to be automated. Instead of clicking through menus in the app, IT can create a shortcut that wipes dozens of iPads with a single click or on a set schedule. This makes it useful not only for IT workers, but also for non-technical employees who need to reset devices regularly, such as a teacher preparing devices for a class.
IT can create a shortcut with actions like “Find connected devices” and “Erase all content and settings.” Connect an iPad hub, run the shortcut, and Apple Configurator does the rest. If you add Apple School Manager auto-enrollment, devices can be managed again immediately after rebooting. This combination of physical automation and over-the-air management gives Apple Configurator the title of hidden superpower.
It's easy to think of Apple Configurator as a relic from the time before device management services were as powerful as they are today, but the truth is that it has never been more relevant. It gives IT teams the ability to automate tasks that would otherwise require many more steps through device management. This saves time, reduces errors and means that devices are ready for use again more quickly. In a K-12 environment where you're preparing hundreds of iPads for a new school year or recycling devices for new healthcare workers, Apple Configurator combined with Shortcuts is the simple tool that makes zero-touch deployments even better.
Wrap up
Apple Configurator doesn't make headlines when new updates come out, but it still deserves its place in an IT team's software toolkit. In the age of zero-touch deployments and declarative device management, it's a hidden superpower that bridges the gap between what can be done remotely and what can sometimes be done more quickly over a wire. Combine it with shortcuts and auto-enrollment, and IT gets automation that's just as powerful as remote control.
Apple @ Work is brought to you exclusively by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates into a single professional platform all the solutions needed to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage and protect Apple devices in the workplace. Over 45,000 companies trust Mosyle to get millions of Apple devices up and running effortlessly and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL Find out today why Mosyle has everything you need to work with Apple.
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