Apple Business Manager

Basic Information

Field	Value
Category	Infrastructure
Owner	Artem Ryzhkov
Deputy	Tomáš Pohorelý
SLA	8x5
Deployment	Cloud (SaaS)
URL	https://business.apple.com

Description

Apple Business Manager (ABM) is Apple's web portal for managing corporate devices and apps. Etnetera manages approximately 80 corporate Macs through ABM.

Key features:

• DEP (Device Enrollment Program): Automatic Mac enrollment into Hexnode MDM on first boot
• VPP (Volume Purchase Program): Bulk purchase and distribution of App Store apps without user Apple IDs
• Managed Apple IDs: Corporate Apple IDs for iCloud and Apple services
• MDM server assignment management (Hexnode)

Access and Login

• URL: business.apple.com
• Login: Managed Apple ID (firstname.lastname@etnetera.cz) with Administrator or Device Enrollment Manager role
• MFA is mandatory (Trusted Device or phone)
• Admin credentials stored in Passbolt

Warning

The ABM account is tied to DEP. If you lose access to ABM, new devices cannot be automatically enrolled into MDM. Always maintain at least 2 active admin accounts.

Procedure — Assign New Device to MDM

A new Mac purchased from an authorized reseller (or via Apple Store Business) appears automatically in ABM after activation.

1. Log in to ABM → Devices
2. Search for the device by serial number
3. Click the device → Edit MDM Server
4. Select Hexnode MDM as the target server
5. The device will automatically register in Hexnode during first setup

Tip

Devices purchased through other channels (without ABM) must be added manually via Apple Configurator or Hexnode enrollment URL.

Procedure — App Distribution via VPP

1. Log in to ABM → Apps and Books
2. Search for the app and purchase the required number of licenses
3. In Hexnode MDM, go to Apps → VPP and sync the token
4. Assign the app to devices or groups in Hexnode

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
New Mac doesn't appear in ABM	Verify it was purchased through an authorized channel; wait 24–48h (Apple activation delay)
DEP enrollment fails	Check MDM server token in ABM → Servers; refresh token in Hexnode
VPP app not assigned	Check available license count in ABM → Apps; sync VPP token in Hexnode

Related Guides

• Hexnode MDM — management of enrolled devices
• Onboarding — macOS MDM Enrollment — procedure for new employees

Contact

• Owner: Artem Ryzhkov — Slack @artem / artem.ryzhkov@etnetera.cz
• Deputy: Tomáš Pohorelý — Slack @tomas
• Enrollment issues: Slack #it-help