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Apple Business

Apple's new all-in-one platform for business

Built-in MDM, zero-touch deployment with Blueprints, integrated email and calendar. Apple unified Business Manager, Essentials and Connect into a single free platform. Hilo Tech guides you through adoption and migration.

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Overview

Apple Business: everything an SMB needs, free

Launched on April 14, 2026, Apple Business merges Apple Business Manager, Apple Business Essentials and Apple Business Connect into a single free platform. It includes built-in MDM, zero-touch deployment with the new Blueprints, user and group management, an Admin API, plus professional email, calendar and directory services, with your own custom domain. Hilo Tech is your deployment partner to plan migration, configure Blueprints, and integrate Apple Business with your existing environment (Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID).

What we deliver

Built-in MDM, free

Full management of iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV directly from Apple Business, free in 200+ countries.

Blueprints, zero-touch deployment

Preconfigure apps, settings and policies. Employees unbox devices and they're immediately ready to use.

Professional email, calendar and directory

Email addresses on your domain, shared calendars and company directory, included at no extra cost.

Admin API

Automate large deployments: device enrollment, user management, audit and integration with your tools.

Apple Intelligence controls

Granularly restrict AI features (Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground) according to your privacy policies.

MDM Migration (macOS 26 / iOS 26)

Switch MDM servers, e.g. from Jamf to Apple Business, without factory-resetting devices.

Private AI on your servers

Looking for a private AI alternative?

These services rely on public AI providers (OpenAI, Gemini, etc.). For private AI hosted on your own servers, with no data sharing and trained on your company's content, discover Hilo Intelligence, our AI platform built for Quebec SMBs.

Alternative to

Apple Intelligence

Discover Hilo Intelligence →

What changed on April 14, 2026

Before

3 separate portals: Apple Business Manager, Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Connect
Apple Business Essentials was paid per device (approximately $3-$13 USD/month)
MDM fragmented, third-party tools (Jamf, Mosyle, Kandji) often needed
No official admin API for large deployments

After

Single Apple Business platform unifying all three previous services
Built-in MDM free in 200+ countries including Canada
Blueprints for zero-touch deployment with full preconfiguration
Admin API to automate device enrollment and user management
Business email, calendar and directory included with your domain

Our approach

Our Apple Business journey

Inventory & context

Catalog existing iPhones, iPads and Macs, identify your current MDM (Jamf, Intune, none), and understand compliance constraints.

Migration plan

Assess Apple Business benefits vs current MDM, plan MDM migration (macOS 26 / iOS 26) without factory reset, design Blueprints per role.

Pilot & rollout

Test on a pilot group (5-10 devices), refine Blueprints, then progressive rollout with user training and documentation.

Integrations & support

SSO with Google Workspace or Microsoft Entra ID, Apple Intelligence policies, Apple Business email/calendar, then daily bilingual support.

Why Hilo Tech

Why Hilo Tech for Apple Business

We've tracked the platform since its April 2026 launch, up-to-date expertise on Blueprints, Admin API and MDM migrations.

Integration with your current environment: SSO via Google Workspace or Microsoft Entra ID, Apple Intelligence policy configuration.

End-to-end support: device inventory, planning, pilot deployment, training and support.

Bilingual support and Quebec-based team to help your users with Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Hilo Tech by the numbers

Years serving Quebec businesses

180+

SMBs supported

< 15 min

Critical incident response

Employees

Frequently asked questions

What is Apple Business and when did it launch?

Apple Business is Apple's new unified platform for businesses, launched on April 14, 2026. It replaces Apple Business Manager, Apple Business Essentials and Apple Business Connect with a single free portal offering built-in MDM, zero-touch deployment via Blueprints, and communication services.

Does Apple Business replace our current MDM (Jamf, Intune, etc.)?

For SMBs with standard needs, yes, the built-in MDM is sufficient and free. For organizations with advanced requirements (custom scripts, specific compliance, deep integrations), tools like Jamf Pro remain relevant. We evaluate your case before recommending an approach.

How much does Apple Business cost?

The platform and built-in MDM are free in 200+ countries, including Canada. Only optional paid services (iCloud+ for business, some integrations) are billed. It's a major shift for SMBs that previously paid for Apple Business Essentials.

Can you migrate our existing Apple environment to the new platform?

Yes. We plan the migration of devices, users and policies, using MDM Migration (macOS 26 / iOS 26) to avoid factory resets. We also coordinate with your team to minimize disruption.

Does Apple Business work with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?

Yes. Apple Business integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID for automated user provisioning, SSO and identity sync. We configure these integrations during deployment.

What about Apple Intelligence controls?

Since February 2025, MDM solutions allow granular restrictions of Apple Intelligence features (Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji) on enrolled devices. We configure these policies to match your privacy requirements.

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