Apple Business Manager: A Complete Setup Guide for IT Admins

If you manage Apple devices for a business and haven't set up Apple Business Manager (ABM), you're making your job significantly harder than it needs to be. ABM is Apple's free web-based portal that gives IT teams centralised control over device enrollment, app purchasing, and managed Apple IDs — and it's the backbone of any proper Jamf deployment.

This guide walks you through what ABM is, how to get it, and how to connect it to your MDM.

What is Apple Business Manager?

Apple Business Manager is a web portal (business.apple.com) that allows organisations to:

• Enroll devices automatically into MDM the moment they're turned on (zero-touch deployment)
• Purchase and distribute apps in bulk without requiring personal Apple IDs
• Create Managed Apple IDs for staff with your company domain
• Link your MDM (Jamf, Mosyle, etc.) so enrolled devices are automatically supervised

It's free — but you need a DUNS number to register, which can take a few days to verify if your company doesn't already have one.

Step 1: Register for ABM

Go to business.apple.com and click Get Started. You'll need:

• Your company's DUNS number (look yours up at dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html)
• A work email address (not a personal Apple ID)
• Basic company details

Apple typically approves the account within 2–5 business days.

Step 2: Verify Your Domain

Once approved, you'll want to verify your company's email domain inside ABM. This allows you to create Managed Apple IDs using your company domain (e.g. john@yourcompany.com) instead of personal Apple ID addresses.

Navigate to Settings → Managed Apple ID and follow the domain verification steps.

Step 3: Add Your MDM Server (Jamf)

This is where ABM and Jamf come together.

1. In Jamf Pro, go to Settings → Device Enrollment Program
2. Download the public key certificate from Jamf
3. In ABM, go to Settings → MDM Servers and click the + to add a new server
4. Upload the Jamf public key, name the server, and save
5. Back in Jamf, upload the token ABM provides

Once linked, any device purchased or assigned to that MDM server will automatically enroll into Jamf when activated — without any manual configuration.

Step 4: Assign Devices to Your MDM Server

New devices from Apple Authorised Resellers or Apple directly are added to ABM automatically if your Apple Customer Number is on the order. For existing devices, you can add them manually using Apple Configurator 2.

Once devices are in ABM:

1. Go to Devices in ABM
2. Select the devices you want to manage
3. Choose Edit MDM Server and assign them to your Jamf instance

Step 5: Configure the Enrollment Experience in Jamf

Now that devices are linked, you control what happens when a user first turns one on. In Jamf Pro, go to Devices → PreStage Enrollments and create a new PreStage. Here you can:

• Skip setup assistant screens (Language, Region, Terms, etc.)
• Require the device to be supervised
• Set a default user or department
• Assign a configuration profile immediately on enrollment

A well-configured PreStage means a new hire can open a box, sign in, and have a work-ready MacBook — without IT ever touching it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not supervising devices — Supervision unlocks advanced management capabilities. Always enable it in PreStage.
• Missing the reseller link — Ask your Apple reseller to link your Apple Customer Number to ABM before placing device orders.
• Creating personal Apple IDs on company devices — Use Managed Apple IDs to keep personal and professional accounts separate.

Summary

ABM + Jamf is the standard combination for professional Apple device management. Once set up correctly, onboarding a new device takes minutes, not hours — and your devices are secure and managed from day one.

If you need help setting this up for your organisation, contact Mactaba IT. We handle ABM registration, MDM linking, and enrollment configuration for businesses across the Gulf region and Ireland.