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The technology sector has been fixated on the cloud for the past decade, assuming that the future of AI hinged on expansive data centers, unlimited GPUs, and a persistent internet connection. However, Apple took a divergent path. With the introduction of Apple Silicon, the company emphasized that pivotal processing would take place on the Neural Engine locally. This decision, I believe, marks a significant turning point for Apple.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. With extensive experience in deploying and managing firewalls, switches, mobile device management systems, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, and thousands of Macs and iPads, Bradley will share insights on how Apple IT managers deploy devices, build supportive networks, train users, recount real-world IT management stories, and highlight ways Apple could enhance its offerings for IT departments.
A report by 1Password supports Apple’s vision, suggesting that “local agents will prevail.” It contends that the most crucial agents will run locally, leveraging your context, data, and credentials, rather than residing on vendor servers. While this is advantageous for Apple’s hardware team, it could pose significant challenges for device managers. The report underscores that 75% of CISOs feel they require tools beyond basic device management to tackle this issue.
Credential Risk
To grasp why traditional management tools may falter in this new era, we must explore the evolution of AI. We’re transitioning from “Chatbots” that predict text to “Agents” that execute actions. A chatbot can draft an email, but an agent actually sends it. This shift is evident in tools like OpenClaw.
Nancy Wang, SVP of Engineering at 1Password, asserts that we are entering an era where “the credential is the new compute.” In this landscape, the bottleneck lies not in processing capabilities but in permissions. Every significant AI function hinges on API keys, OAuth tokens, and service accounts.
This transformation alters the landscape for Mac administrators. We’re not just securing a human user with their Macs and iPhones anymore; we must now protect a fleet of digital AI agents acting on the user’s behalf. If a local agent on a Mac accesses a user’s email and calendar to streamline their schedule, how can we ensure it doesn’t inadvertently share that information with unauthorized parties? While the agent requires credentials to function, that credential has now become a prime target for hackers.
Limitations of Device Management
Herein lies the emergence of the “Access-Trust Gap.” For years, we’ve established management workflows based on device management systems, which essentially serve as configuration and monitoring tools. They handle app installations, enforce encryption, and set up Wi-Fi. These tools are proficient at establishing a baseline, yet they are seldom equipped to evaluate real-time risks.
As local AI agents become the future of macOS, our management approach must shift from mere “configuration” to prioritizing “trust.” We require solutions that not only verify if FileVault is active but also assess the identity of the agent trying to access data. The 1Password team suggests adopting an “Extended Access Management” strategy that confirms the device’s security posture in real time before allowing access to sensitive resources.
Conclusion
For Apple administrators, the time of “set it and forget it” has passed. We must gain visibility into the actions of these local AI models. Monitoring browser extensions that read screen content will become essential. It is crucial to connect our identity providers with endpoint management systems to guarantee that a “managed” device is subsequently a “trusted” one.
Apple correctly anticipated that the future of AI would thrive on its silicon, rather than solely on cloud infrastructures. This bold choice has yielded devices uniquely capable of running robust local agents.
Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only comprehensive Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle integrates all the necessary solutions to efficiently deploy, manage, and safeguard Apple devices in a professional setting. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to effortlessly prepare millions of Apple devices at an affordable price.Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and find out why Mosyle is indispensable for your Apple operations.
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