What MSPs Need To Know About the Apple-FBI Case

Where Apple enters the picture is on a unique and somewhat new topic in our country related to assisting law enforcement in breaking into a device which could have a greater impact beyond just this single device.

What FBI Wants From Apple

The FBI wants Apple to help them break into the terrorists phone by developing special technology to bypass the auto-wipe functionality if too many wrong password attempts are made. Now, this technology would presumably apply only to the San Bernardino iPhone but there is no guarantee. Apple has refused this request.

MDM & BYOD

Besides the issue of whether the FBI should receive such backdoor technology into every iPhone, there is the relevant issue of mobile device management (MDM). MSPs are well aware of MDM technology and have been using it for many years. Remember back to the days of Blackberry Enterprise Server?

MDM offers MSPs the ability to remotely monitor and manage mobile devices for customers, much the same way they have managed other network devices like servers and firewalls. MDM, however, has a much greater impact today with the advent of BYOD.

If San Bernardino county had implemented a BYOD or MDM strategy where they could remotely manage employee devices, it is possible the FBI's request to Apple would never even be necessary. If any government is going to be requesting the technology sector for access points into their technology it might be worth considering less intrusive options, such as requiring or encouraging MDM.

Consider for a moment if San Bernardino county had MDM capabilities. The FBI could approach them directly and ask them for assistance in access the terrorist's phone instead of having Apple do it.

Regardless of where you are on this topic the stakes are very high and MSPs need to be thinking about these relevant and important issues.