Android?!

[jescala]

What's this that I found in the release notes for 9.4?

Personal Device Management—Users can now enroll personally owned iOS and *Android* devices with the JSS via user-initiated enrollment. This allows users to securely access institutional email, contacts, calendar, Wi-Fi, and VPN connections. In addition, managed apps can be distributed to personal iOS devices. You can also enforce device encryption and passcode settings on personal devices, and send remote commands to lock a device or wipe institutional data and settings from a device.

[donmontalvo · Accepted solution]

I haven't checked the Casper Suite Administrator's Guide 9.4 manual yet, maybe some useful info in there?

Casper Suite - Product Documentation
http://www.jamfsoftware.com/resources/resources-casper-suite/product-documentation/

Maybe vote this Feature Request up while you're at it:

Link to Product Documentation off the "More..." menu in JAMF Nation. :)
https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/featureRequest.html?id=1612

[m_entholzner]

hell freeze over ;)

[donmontalvo]

If you want to play with the big boys (enterprise), you've got to get into that magic quadrant.

[jescala]

@donmontalvo No kidding! I didn't think JAMF would ever do it. I'd like to know more about it but Information is scarce right now. Has anyone tried it yet?

[donmontalvo]

@jescala I think JAMF has proven itself as the industry standard, this is the perfect time to widen their offering. JAMF is coming to this gun fight with a bazooka. ;)

Gartner Shifts from MDM with their 2014 Magic Quadrant for EMM
http://solutions-review.com/mobile-device-management/2014-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-emm-mobility-ma...

[mm2270]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I thought "wow, tectonic shift at JAMF!" I never thought I'd see that, but @donmontalvo is correct. While Apple is still the leader in mindshare and still pretty big in enterprise, its undeniable that Android has a big chunk of the overall marketshare. It can't be ignored forever.
Anyway, my understanding from JAMF wasn't so much that they were dead against managing Android. More that they didn't previously have the people with the skill set to do it. With their growth and acquisition of talent. I guess they have the chops now to do it (and it doesn't hurt that Android management has matured)

I'm also interested to learn more. While I don't think it will change anything where I am (our mobile team is pretty entrenched in their current product) it will certainly make some of the management people here sit up and take notice.

[jescala]

It is certainly a welcome move. Our Casper skills suddenly became a bit more valuable! The wording from the release notes makes it seem pretty limited at this time. Sounds like they're only offering a basic level of BYOD MDM for Android devices, not the "supervised device" level of control possible with iOS devices. Nonetheless, It's a good start!

[jescala]

I just got this link with some info about Android support in my inbox from an employee at JAMF:

http://www.jamfsoftware.com/products/casper-suite/whats-new

More info here...

http://www.jamfsoftware.com/solutions/business/bring-your-own-device-byod

[donmontalvo · Accepted solution]

I haven't checked the Casper Suite Administrator's Guide 9.4 manual yet, maybe some useful info in there?

Casper Suite - Product Documentation
http://www.jamfsoftware.com/resources/resources-casper-suite/product-documentation/

Maybe vote this Feature Request up while you're at it:

Link to Product Documentation off the "More..." menu in JAMF Nation. :)
https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/featureRequest.html?id=1612

[jescala · Accepted solution]

Thanks @donmontalvo! Don't know why I didn't see this sooner but the Admin Guide does answer a lot of questions:

http://resources.jamfsoftware.com/documents/products/documentation/Casper-Suite-9.4-Administrators-G...

And I voted that feature request up... good idea!

[mpittcasd]

This is actually perfect timing. I just got 20 or 30 Galaxy tablets to use (at my school with the 1:1 iPad distribution) and we weren't sure what to do about managing this. I'll update my JSS and read through the new documents and give it a shot.

[donmontalvo]

@mm2270 Yep, with $30M in the bank, JAMF can start kicking the door down in more enterprise environments.

JAMF have already proven they can design quality solutions, with a strong Engineering team to support it.

Versus when my employer isn't watching me / when my wife and family are asleep / if I don't have to wax my BMW this Saturday / if I and my hacker croanies like you, non-support. ;)

I might pick up an Android device so I can start playing with 9.4 but I worry that my iPhone may explode in my pocket in protest.

[barnesaw]

It is important to note that I was told during beta that institutionally-owned devices weren't targeted and weren't in the plans at that time - This was strictly for BYOD deployments.

If it is, indeed, not on the horizon, this is merely checkmark bait in the feature comparison charts.

[Kaltsas]

@barnesaw This may change come Android L's general release. I expect the Android for Work features would give JAMF a better framework to implement institutional Android controls (in a way that matches their iOS/Mac OS philosophy).

[donmontalvo]

SPAMer Alert. Flagged.