What is automatic device enrollment (ADE)?

Automatic Device Enrollment (ADE) refers to a streamlined process that allows devices to be enrolled directly into Jamf Pro during their initial setup, effectively at the first boot. This process is part of Apple's Device Enrollment Program (DEP), which helps organizations manage devices securely and efficiently right from the outset.

When a device is turned on for the first time, it can automatically connect to the organization's mobile device management (MDM) system without requiring manual configuration by the end user. This reduces setup time, enhances security policies, and ensures compliance with organizational standards from the moment the device is activated. By enrolling devices automatically, IT departments can prepare them with the appropriate profiles, apps, and settings, thereby eliminating the need for user intervention during the setup process.

The other choices highlight methods that are less efficient or more cumbersome than ADE. For example, requiring user consent for each device complicates the enrollment process, while manual setup means that devices will not be properly managed until the user configures them, which may lead to inconsistencies and security risks. Enrolling devices after a reboot is not as practical since the key advantage of ADE is its operation right from the first boot, ensuring that enrollment happens immediately.