Jamf's Apple device management platform is being upgraded with Google Cloud Identity support, letting corporate and educational users quickly access their Mac apps.
Users can log into a Mac with either Cloud Identity or G Suite credentials, Jamf said. Administrators can meanwhile create local accounts based on Cloud Identity users, and where permitted sync passwords with a directory. The technology also supports multi-factor authentication at the macOS login screen.
The upgrade is aimed mainly at schools, Jamf said, since Google Cloud is the primary identity provider in education. Google not only offers many multi-platform services, but has established a strong beachfront in educational hardware since Chromebooks are frequently cheaper than Macs, iPads, or Windows PCs, as well as being easier to administrate.
Cloud Identity authentication is said to be so seamless that people can immediately go from unboxing a Mac to login and app access.
In September last year Jamf jumped into identity authentication by acquiring NoMAD, suppliers of another Mac-focused option. NoMAD is available in both a free open-source version and in commercial deployments via Jamf Connect.