Forum Discussion
iOS updating via Intune management
Our scenario is that we have a number of iPads installed aboard aircraft for use with search and rescue operations. We want to deploy an iOS update policy that ensures they are all kept up to date bu...
Because of how varied your use case is, my suggestion is to deploy an update policy broken into 3 groups. Each group has a different time window for updates.
Step 1: Great 3 security groups in Intune. If you have 3 aircrafts per site with iPads, put each of those iPads into different groups. Make sure the iPads are clearly labeled for you and the aircraft operator.
Step 2: Create an update policy with different 2 hour windows for "update during scheduled time".
Step 3: Inform your staff of the update window times for each device/aircraft.
Step 4: Keep tabs on Apple's iOS/iPadOS update releases via AppleSeed or another notification platform.
Otherwise, I see no way other than manually going to each device to start the update, when you know it's out.
*iOS/iPadOS 17 will introduce more granular control for updates via MDM commands. You can set time windows, have updates download but not install until user check in.... a bunch of stuff.
However, I don't know when Microsoft will incorporate that into Intune. It might take a few months, or it could take over a year like the situation with the much anticipated Platform SSO for Mac.
Step 1: Great 3 security groups in Intune. If you have 3 aircrafts per site with iPads, put each of those iPads into different groups. Make sure the iPads are clearly labeled for you and the aircraft operator.
Step 2: Create an update policy with different 2 hour windows for "update during scheduled time".
Step 3: Inform your staff of the update window times for each device/aircraft.
Step 4: Keep tabs on Apple's iOS/iPadOS update releases via AppleSeed or another notification platform.
Otherwise, I see no way other than manually going to each device to start the update, when you know it's out.
*iOS/iPadOS 17 will introduce more granular control for updates via MDM commands. You can set time windows, have updates download but not install until user check in.... a bunch of stuff.
However, I don't know when Microsoft will incorporate that into Intune. It might take a few months, or it could take over a year like the situation with the much anticipated Platform SSO for Mac.
Nice answer.
I would add if a functional device is critical to flight operations you should consider having a backup device on all flights. Doubling your per aircraft device budget this would provide you with backup hardware and the ability to have offset update schedules.
If having two devices is a factor of weight then you could always keep 1 device at base and colour code the cases depending on the schedule. I.e red for days 7-17 and blue for 22-2 (giving you a gap between the updates)
I would add if a functional device is critical to flight operations you should consider having a backup device on all flights. Doubling your per aircraft device budget this would provide you with backup hardware and the ability to have offset update schedules.
If having two devices is a factor of weight then you could always keep 1 device at base and colour code the cases depending on the schedule. I.e red for days 7-17 and blue for 22-2 (giving you a gap between the updates)