Apple Higher Education IT
News and Updates — Florida
May 11, 2026
⚠️ Important Notice
Prepare Your Network for Stricter Security Requirements
Upcoming Apple OS releases will introduce stricter TLS network security requirements — devices may refuse connections to servers with outdated or non-compliant configurations, including those involved in MDM, enrollment, and software updates. Audit your environment now; remediation can take significant time, especially for third-party-managed servers.
Read more📍 You're Invited
Apple Platform Readiness Workshop — Orlando
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 · In-Person
Join your Apple Field Engineering team for a hands-on in-person workshop exploring the new features announced at WWDC26. This is a great opportunity to connect directly with Apple Systems Engineers, test the latest software on your own devices, and walk away with practical guidance you can apply right away.
Attendees will get hands-on time with AppleSeed for IT, the Mac Evaluation Utility (MEU), and Feedback Assistant — plus guidance on Apple platform fundamentals, best practices for IT workflows, and tips for filing feedback. Bring both production and beta test devices; test devices should have the latest beta software installed and be enrolled in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.
Note: All registrants will be added to a waitlist. Official confirmation will follow. If you have any questions about your registration, please don't hesitate to reach out to Tim David.
Featured Topic
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is built with privacy at its core — processing requests on-device whenever possible, and using Private Cloud Compute only when greater computational power is needed. These three resources cover the features, fleet management options, and the underlying privacy architecture:
- 📖 Apple Intelligence Features Overview — What's included and how it works across devices
- ⚙️ Device Management Restrictions for Apple Intelligence — What you can control or restrict via MDM
- 🔐 Private Cloud Compute Security Guide — The authoritative resource on how Apple protects data processed in the cloud
Release
macOS & iPadOS 26.5
macOS 26.5 is here. The latest release brings a range of updates for IT teams and end users. Check the release notes for full details — and don't miss the new ability to configure Mac mini, Mac Studio, and iMac to power on automatically when connected to power, which is especially useful for labs and spaces where physical access to the power button isn't always practical.
- 🍎 macOS 26.5 Release Notes
- 📱 iPadOS 26.5 Release Notes
- 💡 Turn on a desktop Mac without pressing the power button
In the News
Microsoft Company Portal Now Supports Platform SSO
Microsoft Company Portal 5.2604.0 now officially supports Apple Platform SSO with Simplified Setup for Microsoft Entra, bringing native macOS login with M365 credentials, Secure Enclave-based passwordless authentication, and automatic device registration — all built directly into the platform. For institutions already on Intune and Entra, this is a meaningful step toward streamlined Mac onboarding without additional third-party tooling.
MacBook Neo — New Apple Education Deployment Series
Apple Education has launched a new MacBook Neo article series exploring what it means to use, deploy, and own the device in an education context — starting with a look at how Apple Silicon powers local AI experiences that keep student and institutional data on-device.
Read the series | First article
FileVault Recovery Key Issue on macOS Tahoe
If you use the fdesetup command-line tool to enable FileVault, be aware that the personal recovery key may not be displayed on macOS Tahoe. Worth reviewing if this is part of your provisioning workflow.
Announcements
Education Store — UNiDAYS Verification Now Required
Apple's Education Store now requires UNiDAYS verification to access education pricing — online and in-store. Students, faculty, staff, and parents can verify their eligibility through UNiDAYS, and signing in with an Apple Account keeps you verified for a full year. Your campus community may encounter this when making personal education purchases.
Visit the Education Store | UNiDAYS FAQ
End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messaging Now in Beta
Apple and Google have rolled out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta, beginning with iOS 26.5 and the latest Google Messages. For campuses with mixed iPhone and Android populations, this brings a meaningful security upgrade to cross-platform messaging — encryption is on by default and indicated by a new lock icon in RCS conversations.
ASBMUtil — Open-Source Tool for Apple School & Business Manager API
ASBMUtil is a new open-source Swift app and command-line tool that taps into the Apple School & Business Manager API, letting admins query device info, assign or unassign MDM servers, and resolve device-to-server assignments across their fleet. Worth a look for anyone managing large device deployments in ASM. (Community-developed — evaluate before deploying in production.)
View on GitHub Back to top🌟 Accessibility Spotlight
Global Accessibility Awareness Day — May 21
May 21st is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) — a worldwide moment to focus on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. It's a fitting backdrop for Apple's Mac and Accessibility in Higher Education webinar, happening the same day.
Ulster University student Rory Goss maintained top grades by using Apple accessibility features to unlock new ways of learning — a compelling real-world example of how built-in tools can make a genuine difference for students.
Learn more about GAAD | Read Rory's story | Register for the webinar
Upcoming Events
Higher Education Webinars
View all Higher Education events
| Date | Webinar | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Simplifying Device Management with Jamf | Register |
| May 19 | Platform Single Sign-On for macOS | Register |
| May 21 | Mac and Accessibility in Higher Education · GAAD | Register |
| May 27 | Supercharge AI Research with Mac | Register |
Academic Health Webinars
View all Academic Health events
| Date | Webinar | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| May 19 | Reimagining Medical Education at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine | Register |
| May 20 | Apple Financial Services for Academic Health Institutions | Register |
| May 26 | Mac in Healthcare | Register |
In-Person & Major Events
| Date | Event | Links |
|---|---|---|
| June 8–12 |
WWDC 2026
Online + In-Person at Apple Park on June 8
|
Info |
| June 16 |
Apple Platform Readiness Workshop — Orlando, FL
In-person · Bring production and beta test devices enrolled in ABM/ASM
|
Info Register |
| July 7–10 |
MacAdmins Conference
Penn State University
|
Info |
| Sept 23–25 |
JNUC 2026
Jamf Nation User Conference
|
Info |
Note: Registrants for the Orlando Readiness Workshop are added to a waitlist — official confirmation will follow.
Back to topTraining & Resources
Video Series
- Get Started with Deploying Apple in Education — A structured curriculum covering the full deployment lifecycle: Apple School Manager, Managed Apple Accounts, device enrollment, device management, apps, and post-deployment.
- Education IT and Security Video Hub — Advanced coverage of Apple Intelligence, student assessments, and enterprise security and privacy across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
- Apple Support on YouTube — Short, polished how-to videos for end users. A great resource to share with help desk staff, faculty, and anyone new to Apple devices.
IT Training
- Apple Professional Training for IT — Self-paced online training and certification for IT professionals, on your schedule.
- Introduction to Supporting macOS — A three-part instructor-led virtual workshop on Mac hardware, macOS, and help desk essentials for staff new to the platform.
- Apple Readiness Workshops — Free, interactive sessions on ASM, new features, beta testing, and best practices, led by Apple Systems Engineers. Have your test equipment ready.
- Get to Know Your Mac — Free live virtual training for PC-to-Mac switchers and new-to-Mac beginners. Share with your end users.
- CDW Apple IT Training — Five training courses for IT teams supporting Apple endpoints.
- Jamf Training — Self-paced and instructor-led training for Jamf administrators.
Community & Reference
- IT Deployment and Management — Education Community Forum — Connect with Apple and peers on deployment tips, software updates, and best practices.
- Apple Education Store Help — Video guides covering proposals, orders, invoices, and returns in the Apple Education Store.
Apple Platform Guides
- Apple Platform Deployment
- Apple Platform Support
- Apple Platform Security
- Apple Platform Certifications