Setting a default browser
While it took time to be convinced, Apple is beginning to allow people to use more browsers than before, potentially opening up competition in the browser industry. The thing is, not all browsers are created equal and it’s possible that some companies might require employees to use a specific browser on a managed device. This has now been made possible with an MDM tool that lets admins set a default browser and prevent users from modifying that browser, or choosing an alternative. (This should help companies maintain specified browser security policies, for example.)
What else is new?
These additions supplement an earlier wave of enterprise-focused admin enhancements introduced with iOS 18.1.
- Hardware-based MFA in Safari is now more reliable when used with security keys.
- You can disable RCS messages on managed devices — essential, given the standard doesn’t yet support encryption.
- It is possible to prevent users from deactivating VPN use on a per-app basis.
- Admins can prevent apps from being locked or hidden by users.
- Service discovery in enrollment can request well-known resources from alternative locations specified by MDM
Tell it from the rooftops
Each time Apple makes one of these iterative enhancements for enterprise deployments of its devices, it shows the extent to which it now deeply supports enterprise markets. If I’m honest, the company should try to make more out of this, particularly as its approach toward building an ecosystem for trusted AI marries so well and so deeply with its existing reputation around security, ease-of-use, customer satisfaction, employee loyalty and TCO advantages in contrast to other platforms.
