An enrollment profile is the specific configuration file that establishes the management relationship between an Apple device and a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. This profile contains the MDM server's URL, security certificates, and other settings necessary for the device to trust and communicate with the server. During Automated Device Enrollment (formerly DEP), this profile is automatically assigned to the device through Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager and installed during the initial device setup, creating the foundational link for all subsequent management actions.

A. APNs: APNs is the transport mechanism used by the MDM server to send "wake-up" notifications to an already-enrolled device; it does not create the initial enrollment link.

B. A firewall: A firewall is a network security system that must be configured to allow communication between the device and MDM server, but it does not establish the management link itself.

C. A restriction: A restriction is a configuration payload delivered by the MDM solution to a device after it has been successfully linked and enrolled to limit its functionality.

1. Apple Inc.

"Apple Platform Deployment

" Apple Support

2024. In the section "Intro to mobile device management

" it states

"Enrollment in MDM involves installing an enrollment profile... This profile contains a payload that enrolls the device in MDM."

2. Apple Inc.

"Device Management

" Apple Developer Documentation

2024. The overview states

"To manage a device

an organization first enrolls it in an MDM solution using an enrollment profile. A user can install an enrollment profile on their device manually

or the organization can automate the enrollment using Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager."

3. Stanford University IT

"Mobile Device Management (MDM) for iOS and iPadOS

" University IT Service Catalog

2023. The documentation explains the process: "Enrolling your device installs a configuration profile that allows Stanford to manage your device and provides access to Stanford resources." This illustrates the profile's role in linking the device to the management solution.