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Device management in business: why an MDM starts to make sense at around ten devices

What an MDM changes for staff, for IT and for management, what it costs, who Intune, Mosyle, Jamf and Iru are built for, and how a switch realistically runs.

As soon as several laptops and smartphones are in use in a company, the same organisational questions come up: who sets up new devices, who keeps them current, and what happens if one is lost or someone leaves? Central device management (MDM) answers exactly those questions. Here is what it changes, what it costs and which system is meant for whom.

73%
of companies bought more Apple devices than in the previous year
76%
name staff preference as the most important reason
€20.01
is the net cost of Business Premium per user per month, Intune included

Sources: Kandji, Apple in the Enterprise 2024; Microsoft partner price list, as of September 2026, one-year term paid monthly.

Without an MDM: every device is its own special case

A new employee starts, someone spends half a day setting up the laptop by hand. Three months later nobody knows whether the disk is encrypted. When they leave, the laptop comes back or it does not, and the personal iPhone with the company email stays where it is. That is not a criticism, it is the normal state of affairs between ten and a hundred devices without full-time IT.

What changes with an MDM

For staff

The new device arrives in its original packaging, is connected to Wi-Fi and sets itself up. Apps, email, printers and VPN are there, with no waiting on IT.

For IT

Encryption is enforced, keys are held centrally, updates are controlled rather than hoped for. One glance shows which device is on which version.

For management

„Is our data protected on those devices?“ can be answered with yes, and evidenced. Cyber insurers and larger clients now expect that.

An MDM does not monitor people. It makes sure devices are in a defined state: on Apple through Apple Business Manager, on Windows through Autopilot.

What it costs

  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Intune. €20.01 net per user per month on a one-year term paid monthly; slightly less paid annually in advance, around a fifth more with no commitment. Many companies already pay this without using the device management.
  • Mosyle offers a free tier up to 30 devices, though without antivirus, the Mac app catalogue and temporary admin rights. The full Fuse version costs $3 per Mac and $1.50 per iPhone or iPad per month, billed annually, minimum 30 licences. So even 15 Macs come to around $90 a month.
  • Jamf and Iru quote on request. For Jamf Now, resellers quote around $4 per device per month.

Four systems, four audiences

Microsoft Intune
Mostly Windows, Microsoft 365 already in use

One console for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, closely tied to Entra ID and the access rules of Microsoft 365. Macs are managed properly, but not with the depth of the Apple specialists.

Per user · included in Business Premium
Mosyle
Apple-centred companies on a tight budget

A pure Apple MDM with very good automation, usually supporting new Apple features on release day. First choice for agencies, law firms and studios.

Per device · free up to 30 devices, Fuse from $3 (min. 30)
Jamf
Lots of Macs, in-house IT, particular requirements

The heavyweight of Apple management with the greatest depth for macOS, an active community and security products of its own. It only pays off with someone who has the time for it.

Per device · on request, Jamf Now for under 25 staff
Iru, formerly Kandji
Growing Apple teams bringing management and security together

Since October 2025 a platform combining device management, endpoint protection, vulnerability management and compliance, and now covering Windows and Android too.

Per device · on request, annual contract

Four questions that decide the choice

  1. Which devices do you actually have? Mostly Windows with a few Macs: Intune. Almost entirely Apple: Mosyle, Jamf or Iru.
  2. What is already paid for? With Business Premium, Intune is already in the house. A second MDM needs a good reason.
  3. Who looks after it? Jamf Pro takes time. Mosyle and Intune can be run cleanly with less effort.
  4. Should security be part of it? Endpoint protection and compliance in the same tool: Iru, or Intune with Microsoft Defender.

The tool is the smaller part. Which devices belong to the company, which to the staff? What is mandatory, what is a recommendation? Without those answers even the best system stays half-configured.

Switching is a project, not a click

Apple allows only one MDM per device. When switching, every device is removed from the old system and enrolled in the new one. Devices assigned through Apple Business Manager move across automatically once reassigned and restarted; manually enrolled ones have to be picked up by hand. Profiles, apps and recovery keys are rebuilt.

Sources