So I created an Apple business account thinking that would be the ticket for managing employee iPad's and user ID's. From what I'm gathering, it turns out you need to have a separate device management software that sits over the top of the Apple business manager. Apple business manager can manage users, devices, and what apps you can purchase. The MDM software manages which device gets to use what app. There appears to be a bunch of 3rd party software applications and maybe "Apple Configurator"? I don't have a Macbook handy to download Apple Configurator to test.

Does anyone have any recommendation on whats the best way to manage 10-15 iPads? I thought about just creating a random account or two to manage the devices but I didn't like that. However, after digging into this MDM thing, that may be the approach we take. I don't like the idea of me having to purchase and decide which apps they can use.

My bosses solution to the best way of managing 10-15 iPads was to buy 10-15 Surfaces and never looked back.

Smart boss!

Sounds great but half of these iPads are for electricians who are simply reviewing plan and entering their times daily.

There's some people at the office who love their Apple devices so we had to get an old Macbook on the network to run any of the software they needed.

Makes sense. Might pick up an old MacMini.

Yes that will do.

Another way to run the software is to setup a virtual machine on the office network running the mac iOS. A buddy setup a VM on his offfice's print server because it's always on and connected to the network. He can hop on it remotely and make changes as needed.

I'm sure there's other ways but a MacMini would probably be the fastest path to the solution you're looking for.

OT...

Is there a way to configure one iPad with settings & apps then clone/image it to other iPads? So that you don't have to configure each one individually and so if someone "breaks" something we can just reload it?

Apple historically believes its devices are best managed by the individual therefore even Apple's own Management software isn't as granular as Active Directory/Group Policy for Windows.

Some good solutions are:

[Link: jamf.com]

[Link: filewave.com]

If your not familiar with them, cost, setup etc leads to boss's descision!

Smart boss!

Can't you just back up and restoring that backup in the new device? That's not a timely process but I think that's the only way to do it without a business account. For whatever reason, you need a D-U-N-S number so an individual can't setup a business account easily.

Thanks for the recommendations!