Jamf improves Mac app lifecycle management for IT

App Installers is a new feature in the Jamf App Catalog

Jamf has introduced App Installers, a solution to help IT with Mac Application Lifecycle Management. The new feature is being made available as part of the Jamf App Catalog and gives IT the power to install and update apps in a simple, straightforward way. The company also announced new management and security tools for SMBs this week.

App Installers help IT stay on top of updates

App Installers helps IT keep apps updated across all their seats, including Mac apps from outside of the Mac App Store. Today if an organization is using an application, the process of keeping that app updated on everyone’s systems can become time consuming.

That’s not just the time spent installing the software. It’s also the time taken to monitor for new versions, checking installers and making updates available via corporate distribution points and updating any relevant policies. With most apps updated monthly and some seeing more frequent updates, this can become a time-consuming task for IT.

App Installers aims to simplify this.

It links to the Jamf App Catalog  of over 1,000 application titles as well as the Jamf patch definition feed, which lists the latest versions of app titles in the catalog, Title Editor for custom apps and custom app definitions, and now, App Installers.

The offering gives IT a useful overview of app updates and lets them automate much of the installation and updating process.

How it works

Jamf checks every software title for new updates approximately 8 times per day. Once a new version is detected it goes through Jamf’s App Installers build and validation steps before it is published and deployed. Most updates are published within 24 hours, and the system provides secure, validated application packages, starting with a thorough legal review.

Security is also maintained as media is downloaded directly from trusted vendors, and only includes titles that are code signed by that vendor. Downloads are also scanned for viruses and malware.

“For years, Jamf has offered install and patch policy workflows to support app lifecycle management, and while we will continue to support this functionality, Jamf Nation has been asking for a workflow that mirrors the simplicity of the Mac App Store for all of the titles organizations need to source from vendors directly today,” said Nick Amundsen, senior vice president of strategy at Jamf. “

The introduction comes on what seems to be becoming a busy week for Apple in the enterprise. Apple this week announced plans to support Managed Apple IDs and Google Workspace while Cisco introduced AirPlay support for Webex devices.

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