Give Apple Devices a Single Sign-On With Azure AD and Apple Business Manager Federation
TL;DR
- Federating a Microsoft Azure AD domain to Apple Business Manager lets users authenticate with their existing Azure AD credentials instead of separate Apple IDs.
- Federation automatically creates Managed Apple IDs, removing the manual account-by-account setup that usually slows Apple rollouts.
- The benefit is greatest alongside Intune, where federated identity lets you control the full iOS and macOS device lifecycle.
- As of May 2021, this works for both pure cloud deployments and hybrid environments running AD Connect.
Apple hardware lands in nearly every customer environment now, and the friction point is rarely the device. It is the identity. Without federation, every iOS and macOS user needs a separate Apple ID to provision and a separate password to reset, which turns an Apple rollout into account-by-account busywork that competes with the Azure AD identity you already manage. Federating Azure AD to Apple Business Manager closes that gap.
When you federate a Microsoft Azure Active Directory domain to Apple Business Manager, two things happen. Managed Apple IDs get created automatically, and users authenticate with their existing Azure AD credentials rather than a standalone Apple account. The payoff is largest alongside Intune, where federated identity lets you control the full device lifecycle for iOS and macOS. As of May 2021, this works for both pure cloud deployments and hybrid environments running AD Connect.
Watch the federation walkthrough
We walk through the entire federation, from configuring the Azure AD domain in Apple Business Manager to verifying that users can sign in with their organizational credentials, in this video: watch the Apple Business Manager federation tutorial on YouTube (opens in new tab).
Where this fits in an Apple device strategy
Federation is the identity layer underneath an Apple device program. Once it is in place, the management story comes together: Automated Device Enrollment hands new Apple hardware to Intune without touching it, and the user signs in with the same Azure AD credentials they use for everything else in Microsoft 365. That single identity is what makes the whole iOS and macOS lifecycle, from zero-touch enrollment to retirement, something you can run centrally rather than device by device.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Managed Apple ID, and why federate to create them?
A Managed Apple ID is an organization-owned Apple account used for business services and device enrollment. Federating Azure AD to Apple Business Manager creates these automatically and lets users sign in with their Azure AD credentials, so there is no separate Apple password to provision or reset.
Does Apple Business Manager federation work in a hybrid environment?
Yes. As of May 2021 the federation works for both pure cloud Azure AD deployments and hybrid environments synced with AD Connect.
Why pair this with Intune?
Federated identity is most useful alongside Intune because it lets you control the full device lifecycle for iOS and macOS, from automated enrollment through to retirement, all tied to the user's Azure AD identity.
One identity to manage. One place to verify it.
Federation ties Apple devices to Azure AD, which makes your identity configuration the thing that matters most. CloudCapsule checks 250+ Microsoft 365 controls per tenant, including identity and Conditional Access, in about 60 seconds.
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Written by
Nick Ross
CEO · Microsoft MVP · Founder, T-Minus 365
Nick is not just a CEO, he's a respected thought leader and influencer in the MSP space. Tens of thousands of MSPs learn through his YouTube channel, T-Minus365. Nick has been honored as a three-time Microsoft MVP for his educational content; his expertise and influence are the backbone of our mission, ensuring that you are in the best hands when it comes to security.
Nick joined Pax8 in 2017, where he would ultimately oversee product management for PSA and Microsoft integrations. Following his tenure at Pax8, Nick has continued to demonstrate his leadership prowess as an executive at various MSPs, culminating in his most recent role at Sourcepass.
Nick holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Florida State University, as well as a Minor Degree in Entrepreneurship. In his free time, Nick is an avid hiker, reader, and fitness-junkie.
