Leading Apple Unified Platforms, such as Mosyle Fuse, integrate in a single solution, a complete and automated Apple Device Management, a Mac-specific Next-Generation Antivirus, Mac-specific Hardening and Compliance, Mac-specific Privilege Management, Mac Identity Management, Apple-specific Application and Patch Managements, and an Encrypted Online Privacy & Security solution. What if we told you that by using a leading Apple Unified Platform solution, on-demand macOS privilege escalation becomes not only possible but extremely easy to implement on work Macs, allowing companies to reach a perfect balance between security and convenience without any extra work for IT teams?įirst, let’s start with what is an Apple Unified Platform.Īpple Unified Platform is the result of the integration, on a single Apple-specific endpoint product, of all the features and solutions that the IT and Security teams will need to manage and protect the Apple devices used at work. So how do you address this dilemma? How can you ensure users can have admin privileges only when they need them and for the period they actually need them? No, not per hour, not per day – PER MONTH.Īnd because of these exceptional five minutes per month, users are granted admin privileges permanently, creating a material security risk that is disproportional to the real business needs. After in-depth research, Mosyle determined that the average Mac user needs administrator-level privileges for around five minutes per month. However, in specific cases, the user may have a justified need for admin-level privileges to address a potential issue, change permissions of applications, have better control over software updates and more. Let’s be honest, how many new apps are you manually installing monthly? Admin requirements are even more unnecessary in the business environment, considering apps and configurations are normally automatically deployed through an Apple-specific MDM solution, eliminating any need for manual actions by the end-user. The user may need to install an application on their Mac that requires administrator privileges or make file system changes, but those needs are few and far between. In a perfect world, users should always stay running as the least privileged user option on the device. Additionally, fewer permissions to the user ensure less potential for undesired changes and misconfigurations. Therefore, running as a Standard User helps keep your Mac safe from severe damages if infected by malware. The immediate reaction to understanding this reality is to simply force users to use a standard account with limited access to the system. You’re simply asking for trouble.Īs you can see, there’s a lot of responsibility when choosing to run as a user with administrative privileges. It’s equivalent to carrying your entire savings account in cash in your pocket if you only need to spend $10. Ultimately, a local administrator can change any setting, install anything, and do just about whatever they want to.īased on that, admin accounts are the pie-in-the-sky targets for hackers because once a Mac is compromised while the user is running as admin, the malware (and the hacker) will inherit the same ability to perform all actions available to an admin. I’m not there to help them if they run into a situation where they need an administrator account.” You may be right, but this mindset also creates potential security consequences.Īdministrators can create and manage other user accounts, install software, change system settings, disable critical security features, access all files on the Mac and much more. You might think, “well, of course, my employees need administrator-level access on their local machine. Instead of focusing on the corporate network’s security, the Mac is now essential to your overall security strategy. The new model of working means that security best practices must evolve. Especially in a remote and hybrid work environment, IT administrators might not have control over the local network like in a traditional office setting. Here’s the bottom line: There’s no need for Mac users to have administrative powers 24/7.įrom a macOS IT perspective, getting this part of your deployment and ongoing management correct can be a massive part of keeping your Macs secure. If they are, they should ask the team if it’s necessary compared to the critical risks elevated privileges can create. Every CISO or even the CEO should ask their IT teams if employees are running as local administrators on their Macs. What doesn’t get brought up enough is user privileges. Most of the security discussion on macOS revolves around software updates, endpoint security software, and other high-level topics. Security is no longer a technology concern. While very secure, Macs are still vulnerable to threats, including phishing attacks and malware. In 2023, security is a top priority for every organization, including businesses using Macs.
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