Apple released its new macOS Sequoia 15.0 on Sept. 16, and we at ManageEngine are excited to announce our support from the day of its release. Before we get into the details, let’s look at which devices are eligible for the facelift.
Source: Apple
Endpoint Central users will be able to roll out macOS Sequoia for all of the above devices running macOS 10.13 and above.
Sequoia was unveiled at WWDC 2024 with a range of features around privacy, security, and its much-awaited Apple Intelligence. With respect to enterprise IT, declarative device management took center stage with enhancements in software management and granular control over browser extensions. Let’s run through a few noteworthy features that will probably come in handy for Mac admins.
Farewell to profile-based user enrollment
macOS Sequoia makes profile-based user enrollment a thing of the past. To onboard employees, admins have to sign in to a Managed Apple account in Settings. The update will also allow admins to map and manage Apple IDs used by end users under a company domain, enabling the devices to move under the scope of supervision.
Managing Safari extensions
To make Safari more enterprise-friendly, Apple brings mindful improvements to its browsers. Apple admins can now extend better control over Safari browsers—from allowlisting extensions to choosing what websites end users can access.
Granular software management
macOS Sequoia introduces a more efficient and secure approach to device management by allowing declarative device management to handle software updates entirely, replacing traditional MDM profiles for managing update restrictions, settings, and commands.
Tamper-proofing critical system components
Apple administrators can now use MDM to install executables, scripts, and configuration files, which are stored in a secure, tamper-resistant location, enhancing system integrity and preventing unauthorized changes to critical system components. This way, essential services with the necessary launch configurations cannot be altered or tampered with.
Deploying or deferring macOS Sequoia with Endpoint Central
Endpoint Central supports macOS Sequoia 15.0 on the day of release starting with product build 11.3.2438.01. Before initiating the OS upgrade, it’s recommended you read the official documentation and create a backup of your Apple machines (preferably using Time Machine). Once completed, you can upgrade Mac devices to macOS Sequoia by deploying the patch with ID 608674. Refer to this document to deploy the update.
If you’d like to postpone the update from being automatically applied, you can either deploy a block configuration, block the OS upgrade, or use scripts to turn off automatic updates. Refer to this document to defer the update.
To learn more about how Endpoint Central can manage and secure your endpoint fleet, request a personalized demo or sign up for a free, 30-day trial. If you’re looking for a dedicated MDM tool, check out ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus.
