Apple DEP-2025 - Apple Deployment and Management Certification Exam

To deploy custom apps (e.g., in-house apps developed for an organization), an Apple Developer account is required to create and sign the app using an Enterprise Developer Program or standard Developer Program account. Once signed, the app can be distributed via MDM using Managed Distribution, but the account is the prerequisite for app creation. Managed Distribution (option B) facilitates deployment but assumes the app exists, requiring the developer account first. User acceptance (option C) may be needed for installation on non-supervised devices but isn’t the core requirement. A VPN configuration (option D) is unrelated. TheApple Platform Deployment Guidespecifies the need for an Apple Developer account for custom apps.

Configuration profiles enable IT administrators to manage VPN settings on a device, specifying details like server address, protocol (e.g., IKEv2, L2TP), and authentication methods (e.g., certificates, credentials). These profiles are deployed via MDM or manually, ensuring secure network access. Find My (option B) and iCloud (option C) are unrelated to VPN management. MDM (option D) is the system that delivers profiles, but the profiles themselves contain the VPN settings. TheApple Platform Deployment Guidedetails VPN configuration via profiles.

Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), used with Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM), supports Activation Lock management by allowing administrators to enable, disable, or bypass Activation Lock on supervised devices via MDM. This is critical for organization-owned devices to ensure they can be reactivated after a wipe without user Apple IDs. Device Enrollment (option B) can manage Activation Lock if the device is supervised, but it’s not inherent without ADE. User Enrollment (option C) doesn’t support full Activation Lock management, as it’s for BYOD with limited control. The Apple Platform Deployment Guide ties Activation Lock management to ADE.

A key feature to consider in an MDM solution is its ability to integrate with an organization’s existing identity provider (IdP) or directory service (e.g., Active Directory, Azure AD, or Google Workspace). This ensures seamless user authentication, leveraging single sign-on (SSO) and existing credentials, which enhances security and user experience. Support for future OS versions (option B) is important for compatibility but not specifically an authentication feature. Support for BYOD (option C) is a deployment consideration, not an authentication feature. TheApple Platform Deployment Guidehighlights IdP integration as critical for authentication in MDM deployments.

Apple Configurator is the tool for manually adding devices to ABM or ASM, especially for devices not purchased directly from Apple. TheApple Configurator User Guidestates, "Use Apple Configurator to add devices to Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager by connecting them to a Mac via USB. This process supervises the devices and assigns them to your organization’s MDM server." Options A, B, and C serve other purposes and cannot perform this task.