Airwatch

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Airwatch

hsvhel

1273 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 596

ID Verified

#148811 1-Jul-2014 15:36

Hi all

Any of you admin types out there have experience with or know the integrity of the Airwatch app?
We are using it currently, with the location services enabled it lunches the battery life of those out on the road a lot. Interested in peoples thoughts/experiences with it.

Referral Link Quic

Free Setup use R502152EQH6OK on check out

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1078013 1-Jul-2014 15:47

Work has it installed on a range of Apple and android devices. I refuse to use it (another story) but haven't heard any issues chewing battery as you describe from anybody at all. To be honest other that some connectivity and accreditation issues once up and running seems it is almost invisible.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

billgates

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#1078033 1-Jul-2014 16:01

Have it installed on 200+ iOS devices. Most of them are WiFi only iPad's so have location services disabled on this. On the iPhpne's, it seems to be fine in regards to battery usage but then again I am not pinging for their location every second. The whole MDM integration with iOS device is a complete fail anyway. That's another story.

Do whatever you want to do man.

myopinion

939 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 112

#1078034 1-Jul-2014 16:02

Tried it and trashed it. Used standard Exchange security requirements which at the end of the day was enough for us.

hsvhel

1273 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 596

ID Verified

#1078484 2-Jul-2014 10:33

Cheers for the above, I noticed that the location services were on by default and it was pinging. After disabling there was a marked improvement. not sure why it would need to be so frequent, the profile turned off all icloud functionality also.

I'm interested in why you are not using it scuwp? PM if you prefer.

Cheers

Referral Link Quic

Free Setup use R502152EQH6OK on check out

billgates

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#1078503 2-Jul-2014 10:52

If you can via your company's management approval, I strongly recommend iCloud set to be turned OFF on all iOS devices via MDM. If you leave iCloud turned ON, and a user signs into their iOS device with their personal Apple ID and they leave the company/fired etc, that iOS is then a sitting brick. The ex-employee will need you to provide you with their Apple ID credentials in order to have it unlocked. I have 4 iPad's sitting as bricks here due to this.

Do whatever you want to do man.

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1078591 2-Jul-2014 13:11

hsvhel: Cheers for the above, I noticed that the location services were on by default and it was pinging. After disabling there was a marked improvement. not sure why it would need to be so frequent, the profile turned off all icloud functionality also.

I'm interested in why you are not using it scuwp? PM if you prefer.

Cheers

Its probably an overreaction, and I do have to subscribe to the 'tin hat' brigade just for a moment...

I accept the reasons behind the need for MDM software which are reasonable and logical.

Airwatch however like other MDM software to the best of my understanding can be quite invasive (happy to stand corrected). Just about everything I do/have on the phone can be open to someone else to monitor, in addition to the tracking capability. That means any personal emails, calendar events, photos, texts, browsing history, and my location can be viewed by someone else. I understand some solutions allow calls to be listened in on, the speaker and camera to be activated all without the users knowledge.

I know the alternative arguments, that it is a work device etc etc, but all the so-called touted benefits are already on the phone. The ability to track, lock, and erase the phone is already in iOS, passwords (or fingerprints) are needed to access everything anyway. If I need to be located my significant other can check up on me in an emergency.

While it is a 'work' device, personal use (reasonable use) is permitted and most have integrated their personal telephony into the work device to avoid having to carry 2 handsets.

The worst part is that it has been rolled out with little information (install this on your phone or else!) and absolutely no policy around it's use (or misuse)...a topic even Airwatch appear to heavily promote as a critical component in any MDM service.

I accept the inevitable, and hopefully in time we will have a clear policy around its use and purpose. At that point I will probably go back to a private device. Sadly the work phone will in all likelihood stay in my desk turned off after hours, so no more dealing with after hours customer inquiries and issues, no more responding to critical emails during weekends, no more call-outs to assist business partners, and no more loading my own app's to assist my productivity etc.

I am not normally an objector, but this for some strange reason just gets my hackles up. And I am not the only one. A conscientious objector of sorts I suppose.

Sorry for the kind of rant...but you did ask.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation