Apple has announced a new service dubbed Apple Business Essentials, which packages device management, Apple Support, and iCloud into a single flexible subscription plan for enterprise users.
Credit: Apple
The service, which is currently in beta, is described as a "complete solution" for small businesses with up to 500 employees. It includes the ability for companies to easily onboard new users, including configuring, deploying, and managing Apple products remotely.
Apple Business Essentials also has strong security mechanisms for IT personnel, including the ability to set settings such as FileVault and Activation Lock. Business employees that use personal devices at work can separate their business data from their personal data with a new cryptographically powered User Enrollment feature.
Additionally, the service provides a dedicated iCloud account for simple backup and collaboration.
Alongside the software and device management features, Apple Business Essentials also includes prioritized Apple Support with the option to add AppleCare+ to a plan.
The AppleCare+ option adds 24/7 phone support, training for IT staffers and employees, and up to two device repairs each month. Once an employee initiates a repair, an Apple-trained technician can arrive onsite to fix a device in as little as four hours, the company says.
Apple is offering three separate and customizable Apple Business Essentials plans. That includes a $2.99-per-month single device plan, a multi-device plan that costs $6.99 per user monthly, and a a multi-device plan with more storage for $12.99 per user, per month.
Apple Business Essentials launches on Wednesday in beta in the U.S.. It will launch publicly in the spring of 2022.