On February 2, 2024, Apple launched Apple Vision Pro, ushering in a new era of “spatial computing.” The release of Apple Vision Pro was a landmark moment in computing, with Apple delivering their significant app ecosystem on what could be considered the most advanced standalone computing device to date.
This new device could have important implications for organizations and their employees, with an exciting new computing paradigm aimed at productivity, collaboration, and learning.
Apple has introduced mobile device management (MDM) support in the visionOS 1.1 beta — an important first step in helping organizations securely adopt Apple Vision Pro for work. We are excited to help enable Apple Vision Pro for customers using our market-leading digital workspace solution: Workspace ONE.
We have worked closely with Apple over many years to support their products in the enterprise. Today, we have extensive support for managing Apple hardware and operating systems at scale via Workspace ONE.
Workspace ONE has also been at the forefront of supporting augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality devices for almost a decade. We are now excited to announce our plans for extending this support to spatial computing with Apple Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro for work
Apple Vision Pro is a device aimed at both consumer and professional use cases. Consumers will enjoy immersive media viewing and entertainment experiences, as well as an extensive ecosystem of Vision Pro–compatible iPad apps. Apple Vision Pro delivers an unparalleled personal theater experience, with the ability to capture and watch “spatial video” in 3D and experience high-fidelity virtual environments.
Apple Vision Pro enables business use cases such as immersive productivity and design, remote collaboration, and immersive simulation, training, and learning. Its infinite canvas allows users to work productively while staying present in the world around them. Zoom, Webex, Teams, and FaceTime capabilities enable remote collaboration, while Mac Virtual Display allows users to see a 4K resolution MacBook screen in the Apple Vision Pro. New spatial apps will enhance design and visualization workflows. Fully immersive apps will provide effective training and learning experiences.
As organizations adopt Apple Vision Pro, IT administrators need to be sure that the device can be deployed, managed, and secured while keeping users productive. Here are four key areas to consider for deployment.
Device management
For deploying and managing Apple Vision Pro, organizations will want to manage the device in the same way they do for their existing fleet of devices. Organizations will need to integrate Apple Vision Pro into their existing IT systems and security processes without the pain of separate point- or platform-specific solutions. Managing all traditional devices and spatial computing devices in one place saves IT organizations time and money. Device management is critical here, but device management alone is not enough for successful deployment of spatial computing devices.
App access
Providing users with access to all their apps securely is critical to ensuring organizations get maximum value from Apple Vision Pro and users are productive. The Apple ecosystem is significant with more than 1,000 native Apple Vision Pro apps available at launch, and more than 1 million compatible iPad apps. This allows users to enhance their existing workflows with the immersive capabilities of Apple Vision Pro. However, organizations will want to make sure that users can access not only native apps but also web, SaaS, internal web services, and, likely, Microsoft Windows apps that may not run on the device today.
Security
For security reasons, organizations will need to secure communications to and from the device, as well as protect users from phishing and malware attacks. Users will want to access content and apps from outside the corporate network. In addition, content will need to be efficiently and securely distributed and stored on the device. Organizations will also want to make sure that they can secure common user workflows, such as browsing the web and using email.
Productivity
With a new device such as Apple Vision Pro, organizations will want to make sure that users have access to the resources they need without having to take off the device. Having quick access to corporate apps, corporate notifications, colleague contact information, and self-service device support is critical to employee productivity.
Workspace ONE, spatial computing, and Apple Vision Pro
Workspace ONE has supported “spatial computing” devices for nearly 10 years, allowing customers to deploy, manage, and secure these devices at scale. By offering customers the broadest support for these devices, Workspace ONE allows them to choose the right device for the right use case.
Workspace ONE also has comprehensive support for Apple devices including a full suite of productivity apps, device management, security features, and unique capabilities, such as seamless access to remote Windows apps on Apple devices.
Workspace ONE will provide key functionality in support of Apple Vision Pro encompassing management, security, and productivity.
We are extending the Workspace ONE digital experience, productivity apps, and VMware Horizon to Apple Vision Pro in the following ways:
- Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub will provide a unified app catalog, people search, notifications, and self-service device support on Apple Vision Pro.
- Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub can provide protection against malware and phishing attacks via Workspace ONE Mobile Threat Defense.
- Workspace ONE Web secures web browsing on Apple Vision Pro.
- Workspace ONE Content enables customers to securely distribute content to Apple Vision Pro.
- Workspace ONE Tunnel provides per-app secure communications between applications on the device and corporate network resources and services.
- Workspace ONE Boxer provides a secure email client on Apple Vision Pro.
- VMware Horizon helps organizations “close the app gap” by providing access to Microsoft Windows applications on Apple Vision Pro.
Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management and Apple Vision Pro
One of the benefits of using our productivity apps is that they can be centrally managed using Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management (UEM).
Our apps are available today on the App Store for Apple Vision Pro as a tech preview. Once visionOS 1.1 is generally available, we plan on supporting device management and the full functionality of Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub on Apple Vision Pro including, but not limited to:
- Enrolling Apple Vision Pro devices into Workspace ONE UEM and managing them alongside existing device fleets.
- Remotely managing and securing Apple Vision Pro devices.
- Managing Wi-Fi connectivity on Apple Vision Pro devices.
- Pushing certificates to Apple Vision Pro devices.
- Managing apps on Apple Vision Pro devices.
- Installing and accessing native apps from Intelligent Hub
We are excited to add Apple Vision Pro in the future to the list of spatial computing devices we currently support — and to offer the broadest and most comprehensive support by any UEM solution!
Resources
To learn more, visit this page about Workspace ONE UEM, check out the Digital Workspace Tech Zone, or contact your sales representative. We are ready to discuss strategies for how we can help you with your unique spatial computing use case — and more — today!
Image courtesy of Apple.
