In today's world, many organisations use a mix of devices, including both Microsoft and Apple products. One of the challenges that IT departments face is ensuring that users can access company resources seamlessly across all of their devices. Microsoft has recently released an Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices that aims to simplify the sign-in process for users.
What is the Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices?
The Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices is a software solution that allows users to sign in to Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) using their Apple ID. This means that users can access company resources, such as Office 365, without needing to remember separate usernames and passwords.
The plug-in works by using a secure authentication mechanism that relies on public and private keys. When a user signs in to their Apple device, the device generates a public key that is sent to Azure AD. Azure AD then uses the public key to encrypt a token that is sent back to the device. The device uses its private key to decrypt the token, and the user is signed in automatically.
What are the benefits of the Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices?
The Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices offers several benefits for both users and IT departments:
Simplified sign-in process: With the plug-in, users can sign in to company resources with just their Apple ID, without needing to remember separate usernames and passwords.
Improved security: The plug-in uses a secure authentication mechanism that relies on public and private keys. This makes it more difficult for unauthorised users to access company resources.
Reduced IT workload: IT departments can deploy the plug-in across all Apple devices in the organisation, which can help reduce the workload associated with managing user credentials.
Greater user satisfaction: By simplifying the sign-in process, users are more likely to be satisfied with their experience when accessing company resources.
How can I get started with the Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices?
To get started with the Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices, you'll need to ensure that your organisation has an Azure AD subscription. You'll also need to ensure that your Apple devices are running :
iOS/iPadOS 13.0 or later
macOS 10.15 or later
Once you've met these requirements, you can download and install the plug-in from the Apple App Store. After installing the plug-in, you'll need to configure it to work with your organisation's Azure AD subscription.
Supported Applications
The Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices provides flexible support for single sign-on (SSO) across multiple apps. iOS and iPadOS enable SSO for any app that uses the NSURLConnection or NSURLSession class to manage network connections and authentication. These high-level frameworks provided by Apple allow developers to easily integrate network connections within their apps.
Similarly, any Mac app that supports Kerberos authentication is compatible with SSO. This includes native macOS apps like Safari, Mail, and Calendar, as well as services such as file sharing, screen sharing, and secure shell (SSH). Additionally, many third-party apps like Microsoft Outlook also support Kerberos authentication and can be used with SSO.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Enterprise SSO plug-in for Apple devices is a useful tool for organisations that use a mix of Microsoft and Apple products. By simplifying the sign-in process and improving security, the plug-in can help both users and IT departments. If you're interested in trying the plug-in, be sure to check out the resources available on the Microsoft website.
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