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Is there a multi-tenant Mac® management solution for MSPs (managed service providers)? As more Macs enter the workplace, the demand among MSPs for such a solution grows. Since no two client organizations are exactly the same, it would be beneficial for MSPs to have an identity management solution that can manage all of their clients listed together on one screen. An ideal option would also do so no matter the clients’ choice of system, platform, or provider.
The Nature of Modern MSPs
MSPs are being called on to manage a more diverse set of IT resources than ever before. With more innovative IT solutions being introduced every day, the homogenous Microsoft®</sup Windows®</sup infrastructure is largely a thing of the past. Due to this, Windows-based identity management solutions, namely Active Directory®</sup (AD), have fallen out of favor in light of solutions that can manage more than just Windows resources.
Clients are asking MSPs to manage and secure networks made up of on-prem endpoints, WiFi, cloud infrastructure, web applications, and remote employees. All of these disparate options are putting a great deal of pressure on the ability of MSPs to efficiently manage their clients. This consternation is even more prevalent for organizations leveraging legacy on-prem identity management such as AD or OpenLDAP™, as they are limited by their position on-prem.
MSPs and Mac Management from the Cloud
These arising issues regarding cloud identity management are especially true for MSPs seeking to manage Mac systems and their users for clients. Traditionally, Macs have required separate software from mainstream solutions, such as Microsoft Active Directory and SCCM. Most popular among these was Apple®</sup’s own Open Directory solution. Other options include using Active Directory add-ons designed specifically for Mac management, often called directory extensions or identity bridges. Regardless, either choice of solution cannot deliver the capability of a full-fledged directory service. Also, to the chagrin of MSPs seeking to adopt the cloud, both options further cement client organizations on-prem.
Luckily, a next generation user and system management platform is helping MSPs manage their clients from one, web-based multi-tenant console. This cloud directory service combines the overall directory service efficacy once touted by AD with modern Mac management and cloud connectivity. The turnkey directory service, called JumpCloud®</sup Directory-as-a-Service®</sup, is taking the MSP identity and system (Windows, Mac, and Linux®</sup) management space by storm.
Multi-Tenant Mac Management from JumpCloud®</sup
JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service reimagines Active Directory for the cloud era. For any organization, JumpCloud can offer sleek identity and access management for resources such as systems, applications, networks, file servers, and more. What’s more, as a third-party directory service, it can do so regardless of the provider, platform, protocol, or location. With Directory-as-a-Service, admins can parse out commands to Mac (or Windows or Linux®</sup) fleets with cross-platform, GPO-like Policies to enact org-wide capabilities like full disk encryption (FDE) and more.
Tailored specifically to MSPs, Directory-as-a-Service also features a Multi-Tenant Portal, designed to provide functionality to high volumes of client organizations from a single pane of glass. With the Multi-Tenant Portal, MSPs can manage the disparate needs of their clientele without running disparate tooling or multiple instances of the platform. Central management across the board is fast and simple with point and click access to each sub-organization.
About the JumpCloud Partner Program
If multi-tenant Mac management seems pertinent to your managed services organization, or any other part of Directory-as-a-Service for that matter, consider dropping us a line to learn more. You can also look into the JumpCloud Partner Program, a service designed to facilitate MSPs directly. By applying to be a Partner, your organization can benefit from competitive margins, sales support and implementation training, and an overall enhanced cloud security offering.
