Can you force an Apple device to go through MDM on deployment?

[RNHurt]

Some of our new users are not following the deployment process which means their new Apple laptops don't get the JC agent installed and their computer configured properly.  I believe it's because when you first turn on your new device there is no way to force the system to connect to WiFi, and if it doesn't connect to the network then the device doesn't know it's bound to a directory.

Is it possible to FORCE your new users to go through the Apple MDM workflow?  Is there a setting somewhere, maybe in ABM, that says you can’t proceed without connecting to a network somewhere first?

[urvashi]

Hello hello 🙂 

I believe there's a conversation about this going on in the Slack Lounge. Could you confirm that this is the same question and that it's been discussed with Tom Bridge? 

[RNHurt · Accepted solution]

Yes, you are correct.  Tom Bridge answered the question as follows:

"Beginning with macOS 14 Sonoma, due this Fall, there's no escape from the ABM process, and it will trigger even after the user has logged in for the first time.

Until then, if your users do not follow instructions to join the Wi-Fi -- or their device does not properly trigger MDM enrollment when connected to Wi-Fi -- you can use Commands to prompt the user to enroll with:

profiles renew -type enrollment

" - Tom Bridge

[urvashi]

Super! Thanks for reposting the solution here. Much appreciated 🙂