Jamf Blog
jamf.com · Company blog · on HN since 2016
Official blog of Jamf, a company that makes Apple device management software, covering Mac in the enterprise and Apple security.
What HN saysHN links it for Jamf's IBM Mac-versus-PC cost claims and calls Jamf the de facto standard Apple MDM tool, though one commenter likens the IBM claims to old press releases.
47HN people shared it
28linked it in comments
22stories submitted
103story points
4 months agolast shared
2016people per year2026
Most-shared posts
- 1Total cost of ownership: Mac versus PC in the enterprise4 people · 10 points · first shared 2020 · 12 comments on HN
- 2Debate over: IBM confirms that Macs are $535 less expensive than PCs4 people · 9 points · first shared 2016 · discussion on HN
- 3IBMs 200K Macs have made the workforce happier and more productive3 people · 48 points · first shared 2019 · 42 comments on HN
- 4Jamf now3 people · first shared 2018
- 5Homepage3 people · first shared 2018
- 6macOS: Zero-Day TCC bypass discovered in XCSSET malware2 people · 4 points · first shared 2021 · discussion on HN
- 7Predator spyware defeats iOS recording indicators2 people · 2 points · first shared 2026 · discussion on HN
- 8Deployment2 people · first shared 2019
- 9Jamf protect2 people · first shared 2020
- 10Jamf pro2 people · first shared 2016
- 11Analyzing an iOS vulnerability that could expose sensitive data to attackers1 people · 8 points · first shared 2024 · discussion on HN
- 12Threat Actors Expand Abuse of Microsoft Visual Studio Code1 people · 3 points · first shared 2026 · discussion on HN
- 13MacSync Stealer Evolves: From ClickFix to Code-Signed Swift Malware1 people · 3 points · first shared 2025 · discussion on HN
- 14Apt Actors Embed Malware Within macOS Flutter Apps1 people · 2 points · first shared 2024 · discussion on HN
- 15Apple iOS Fake Lockdown Mode PoC (2023)1 people · 2 points · first shared 2024 · discussion on HN
What HN people wrote when they linked it
daydream · 2023-05-16
In addition to Google Workspace I believe Office 365 offers device management capabilities too. I know you said you’re on GW, and it’s basically the default choice for small companies at this point, but office 365 is worth a look especially if you’re hesitant about GW.
Since you’re using Macs (and presumably iPhones) then Apple Business Essentials[1] is worth a look. It’s device management specially targeted for small business, and seems pretty cheap. I think the max is 300 users but don’t quote me on that.
A step up from there is JAMF[2]. They’ve been doing Apple device management for years and companies both huge and small use them. They are probably more expensive than GW, O365, or apple business essentials though.
(No affiliation with any of the companies mentioned above.)
Good luck!
1 - https://www.apple.com/business/essentials/
2 - https://www.jamf.com/
SamuelAdams · 2026-03-24
So do enterprises still need Jamf [1]? For context, Jamf is one of the most common MDM tools for organizations.
[1]: https://www.jamf.com/
giobox · 2026-03-03
Given one can only run Apple's software on their own machines, whether we talk about OS sales or hardware sales, we are talking about the same thing. Are you really prepared to argue 25 percent of the corporate computer market userbase are sabotaging their careers? I'd argue thats absurd, personally.
I'm not responding to the Samba critique because millions of people share files at work between virtually any OS and Macs, every day, just fine. Would I like Apple's Samba implementation to be better? Sure.
There are many studies that prove the opposite of your point, including one from IBM, and find the modern Mac significantly cheaper to support than Windows machines in business environments with less helpdesk tickets to boot:
https://www.jamf.com/resources/press-releases/ibm-announces-research-s…
rsj_hn · 2021-03-03
This reminds me of the old school press releases from IBM research. But now look how far they have fallen:
https://www.jamf.com/resources/press-releases/ibm-announces-research-s…
josefdlange · 2018-06-04
As far as I know, JAMF is the de-facto standard.
https://www.jamf.com
scarface_74 · 2025-01-16
> Now the Mac market share is above 20%, because eventually the people using it in schools start using it somewhere else
Absolutely no kid says “I love these shitty Chrome OS laptops that I have to use in schools. Can I have one at home!” When they get to choose a computer for college at least in the US, they overwhelmingly choose Macs.
And Dell overtook Apple in schools in 1999.
Even back in 2010, 70% of students were choosing to buy Macs for college
https://www.asymco.com/2010/08/04/70-percent-of-college-freshman-are-e…
That trend has continued at least through 2020.
https://www.jamf.com/resources/press-releases/new-research-finds-71-of…
And saying that Linux grew from 1% to 5% in 10 years means it’s going to grow to 25% reads like every startup pitch. “We doubled from 1% to 2% in a year. At this rate we will have almost 70% of the market in 6 years!”
The “Year of the Desktop Linux” has been a meme for over 25 years.
https://www.howtogeek.com/676963/why-desktop-linux-still-matters/?utm_…
alwillis · 2020-12-08
Maya, 3DS, Premiere, etc., and running these on Windows is a quarter of the cost, or less, of running the same software on Mac.
I'd love to see a study on this; the total cost of ownership has always been far less for the Mac than Windows, especially when you factor in the amount of support Windows requires compared to the Mac.
Casual googling confirms this:
https://www.jamf.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-mac-versus-pc-in-the…
https://www.endpointprotector.com/blog/why-macs-have-a-lower-tco-than-…
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3452847/ibm-mac-users-are-happie…
An M1 Mac mini starts at $699, so there's no excessive cost. As usual, Adobe doesn't have it apps ready for Apple's latest and greatest… but other vendors are on the case and it'll be just a matter of time before all major video apps are running natively on the M1.
Of course, FinalCut Pro (and the rest of Apple's suite) is good to go; DaVinci Resolve (editing 4k, 6k and 8k RAW video) is also looking pretty great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxH3RabNWfE
cryptophreak · 2026-05-27
The point is that one operating system has all the wiring exposed for all applications, and the others do not. And in some cases, they deliberately went the other way:
https://www.jamf.com/blog/synthetic-reality/
samch · 2024-09-25
For those looking at using this at home with their family, I think it’s possible with a little effort. Jamfnow is free for three devices, and you can use Apple Configurator to setup the iPad in supervised mode. I haven’t tried multiple profiles myself, though.
Edited to add a link (no affiliation with Jamf, just a user): https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-now/
runjake · 2024-05-14
Jamf Now is free for 3 devices. I've been using it with my family for several years.
https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-now/
shortcake27 · 2023-09-30
Just because someone has a different opinion to you, it doesn’t mean they’re fanboying. Your anecdotal evidence is irrelevant; it’s well known that average Mac ownership costs are lower than the average PC. Straight from the horses mouth: “IBM confirms that Macs are $535 less expensive than PCs”
https://www.jamf.com/blog/debate-over-ibm-confirms-that-macs-are-535-l…
nomel · 2023-08-25
> they care nothing for what's better for you for productivity
What is your perspective based on? I'm not sure it's accurate, especially for productivity/professionals [1]. This matches my personal experience.
[1] https://www.jamf.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-mac-versus-pc-in-the…
unclekev · 2023-01-04
There's commercial/enterprise software available which hooks into XProtect to provide more advanced reporting capabilities.
https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-protect/
Doesn't help for the average user, but the software does exist.
trap_goes_hot · 2022-12-14
Technology to have managed iOS devices is called MDM. Its mature technology that is already used for things like work-issued devices. What you want already exists. You're setting up a false choice.
https://www.kandji.io/mdm/start/product/?nis=8
https://www.jamf.com/lp/apple-mobile-device-management-mdm-jamf/?nis=8
https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/macos-device-manageme…
selimnairb · 2022-07-16
A few years ago IBM reported lower TCO [1].
I also have plenty of anecdotes from family & friends keeping entry-level Macs for 5+ years, while those who cheap out and buy PCs barely get 2 years out of them.
[1] https://www.jamf.com/blog/debate-over-ibm-confirms-that-macs-are-535-l…
notpachet · 2022-01-31
Welcome my son, to the machine: https://www.jamf.com/solutions/compliance/
throwaway201103 · 2020-11-15
Typically they will use Caspar, now called Jamf Pro.
https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-pro/
fredfjohnsen · 2020-05-07
ThePowerOfFuet · 2020-05-06
FWIW, jki275 was right.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208020
https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-pro/deployment/
auslander · 2019-09-06
but is a pretty good guideline :) If Windows got ransomed every time and MacOS is never, that is interesting, right?
Windows holds perceived monopoly on company-wide identity control. There are Mac solutions: https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-pro/deployment/
vesak · 2018-10-01
Working URL for Jamfcloud: https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-cloud/
sirn · 2018-09-17
I believe Chrome itself do invoke Keystone when visiting chrome://chrome to manually check for updates, as it looks like from a forum post[1] (Chrome unable to check for updates after chmod 000'ing GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent)
[1]: https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/14162/google-chrome-auto-…
__jal · 2018-03-21
Google around - 'iphone mobile device management'. There's a service that's free for a couple devices[1]. Apple also makes a (terrible) app called Configurator. There are a bunch of others, but most of them are designed for (and priced for) corporate use.
You need to learn a little about what you're doing if you want to go this route, and there is some setup. But basically, you're taking on the role of a corporate IT department, pre-configuring and possibly locking down the phone.
I set up a profile in Configurator a few years ago and am a little afraid of touching it - that application makes iTunes look thoughtfully designed and stable.
[1] https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-now/
et-al · 2018-03-13
I've been casually keeping an eye out for a 15" mid-2015 MBP and someone had mentioned in their ad that Apple still made them, and sure enough. If you're looking at 15", B&H has slightly cheaper offerings and they won't charge you tax.
Unfortunately I haven't seen anyone retailing the 13" 2015 MBP. If you're in the Bay Area, there's a fully loaded (3.1GHz i7 / 16GB / 1TB) 13" early-2015 covered by AppleCare until 2019.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/sys/d/2015-macbook-pro-13-i7-31ghz/65…
If you happen to go the second-hand route, I highly advise you to check if the machine is still under some device management (MDM) by running:
sudo /usr/libexec/mdmclient dep nag
More info: https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/24774/dep-nagging
mi100hael · 2017-06-07
Nope, you can install additional certificate authorities in the system keychain on Mac, which Safari and Chrome both use. Commonly done on managed installs.
https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/11830/deploying-certifica…
Other applications on mac/linux that use their own keystore like OpenSSL or Java will throw cert errors if you don't also install the CA in their keystores, but that could be scripted as well if it causes too much friction for users.
If you're in such an environment, the options are either install the CA or don't use anything that requires HTTPS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
johnward · 2016-11-30
We get updates through a corporate AppStore and they function like normal Apple updates. I can choose when to install, etc. I found the software underneath (https://www.jamf.com/solutions/technologies/mac-management/). Sounds like a better UX than what you got stuck with.
The spyware on my personal phone so that I can read corporate email is pretty asinine though.
Twisell · 2016-11-14
I guess as always it will mostly depend on your use case.
However this recent announcement from IBM might emphasis the need to reconsider theses year old arguments to take accounts of new facts : https://www.jamf.com/blog/debate-over-ibm-confirms-that-macs-are-535-l…
ben1040 · 2016-11-07
Everywhere I've worked that deployed Macs in any large capacity also used this management suite from Jamf.
https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-pro/