What is a Supervised device - Enterprise Owned devices

Supervised Devices on iOS and iPadOS provide organizations with elevated management control over corporate-owned Apple hardware. Supervision is a special device management mode that unlocks advanced restrictions and configuration options not available on unsupervised devices. With supervision enabled, IT administrators can enforce stricter policies—such as disabling iMessage, AirDrop, manual profile removal, or app installations—and implement features like always-on VPN, web content filtering, and silent app installation.

This management mode ensures that corporate devices remain secure, compliant, and aligned with organizational standards, especially in environments that require strong oversight—such as healthcare, education, finance, or government.

As a shortcut you can remember that "Supervision = Company Device"

Short History on Supervised Mode

Apple introduced supervision with the release of iOS 5 in 2011, initially requiring the use of Apple Configurator to manually enable it via a USB connection. Supervision was designed to differentiate between personal and corporate-owned devices by allowing tighter restrictions and advanced controls for the latter.

The landscape changed significantly in 2014 with the introduction of the Device Enrollment Program (DEP), which allowed devices to be supervised automatically during activation. Later, with the launch of Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) in 2018, supervision became a default option for any device enrolled through these programs—eliminating the need for manual setup and enabling zero-touch deployments.

Capabilities of Supervised Devices

Supervised devices allow organizations to:

• Enforce advanced restrictions (e.g., disable iCloud backup, iTunes, AirDrop).
• Prevent the removal of MDM profiles by end users.
• Configure always-on VPN or web content filters.
• Silently install or remove apps without user interaction.
• Restrict app installation to only those provided by the organization.
• Customize the device experience (e.g., single app mode, custom Home Screen layout).

Supervision is typically enabled during the initial device setup when enrolling through ABM or ASM as part of Automated Device Enrollment (ADE). It can also be enabled manually using Apple Configurator, although this method is less scalable and suited for smaller deployments.

Supervised status marks a device as "corporate-owned" and fully manageable by the organization. This allows IT to maintain tighter security and compliance while still respecting user privacy—especially on devices using User Enrollment or work profiles for personal/corporate separation.

Conclusion

Supervision is an essential capability in managing Apple devices at scale. By enabling advanced restrictions and remote configuration, it allows organizations to enforce policies that protect data, maintain compliance, and deliver a consistent user experience across all devices. Combined with ABM and MDM integration, supervision ensures that Apple devices used in the enterprise or education environments are secure, fully managed, and fit for purpose from day one.

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