Training Deployment and Management Exam Prep User Guide

About the Exam
The Apple Deployment and Management Exam is designed for technical professionals who deploy and manage Apple devices in their organization. Passing the exam earns you the Apple Certified IT Professional digital badge.

Preparing for the Exam
To prepare for the exam, study multiple Apple resources and gain direct experience deploying and managing Apple devices. Allow 30 to 60 hours for preparation depending on your background and experience.

Approach for Preparation

Study the Apple Deployment and Management Exam Preparation Guide thoroughly.
Gain practical experience in deploying and managing Apple devices.

Taking the Practice Exam
The practice exam helps assess your readiness for the actual exam.

Signing Up for the Practice Exam

Sign in to ACRS (Apple Certification Records System) using your Apple ID and password.
Click on Available Exams and select the Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam.

Complete the exam application page and submit.

FAQ

Q: How can I schedule the Apple Deployment and Management Exam?
A: You can schedule the exam by following the instruction provided on the Notifications page after submitting your exam application.
Q: What is the significance of earning the Apple Certified IT Professional digital badge?
A: Earning the badge showcases your expertise in deploying and managing Apple devices, which can enhance your professional credibility

Apple Deployment and Management
Exam Preparation Guide

About the Exam
The Apple Deployment and Management Exam is for technical professionals who deploy and manage Apple devices in their organization. The exam verifies your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter covered by the learning objectives listed in this guide. When you pass the exam, you earn the Apple Certified IT Professional digital badge. For more information, visit the Apple Training website.
The exam is based on iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma.

Preparing for the Exam

The Apple Deployment and Management Exam covers all the learning objectives listed in this guide, not only the topics in the Apple Deployment and Management course. To pass the exam, you must study multiple Apple resources and gain direct experience deploying and managing Apple devices. Depending on your background, technical expertise, and experience deploying and managing Apple devices, you may need 30 to 60 hours to prepare for the exam.

To prepare for the Apple Deployment and Management Exam, follow this approach:

Gain practical experience in deploying and managing Apple devices in an organization.
Read the learning objectives in this guide and carefully study the linked resources for each objective.

Complete the Apple Deployment and Management course. Study its content and linked resources, and perform the exercises. The Check Your Understanding questions in each article or tutorial help reinforce your knowledge.
Take the Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam. The practice exam helps you understand whether you’re ready to take the Apple Deployment and Management Exam or which knowledge areas require further study.

Taking the Practice Exam

You complete the practice exam online through the Pearson VUE system.
The practice exam name is Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam (DEP-2024-PRA).

Plan to complete the practice exam in one sitting. You have 120 minutes to complete it.
The practice exam contains approximately 80 scored technical questions.

The minimum passing score is 75 percent. Scores aren’t rounded.
The practice exam includes multiple-choice single-select and multiple-choice multiple-select questions.
Answer each question without referring to the course or other resources. Doing so helps you identify whether you’re ready to take the Apple Deployment and Management Exam.

Signing Up for the Practice Exam
To sign up for the Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam, complete these steps:

Sign in to ACRS (Apple Certification Records System) using your Apple ID and password.
Click Available Exams, then locate and click the link in the following message: “A practice exam is now available for Apple Deployment and Management. Click here to apply.”
Update the required sections on the exam application page, then click the Submit button.
On the Notifications page, locate and click the link in the following message: “You may continue to the exam process for Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam. Continue at Pearson VUE.”
On the Pearson VUE page, follow the instructions and pay for the practice exam. You can start the practice exam immediately.

If you want to start the practice exam later, complete these steps:

Sign in to ACRS, then click the Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam on the Notifications page.
Click Begin Exam, then follow the instructions and continue on Pearson VUE.

If you don’t pass the practice exam on the first try, you can buy another practice exam and retake it after 7 days. You have unlimited attempts to pass the Apple Deployment and Management Practice Exam.

Learning Objectives

Deployment
Explain how device ownership models affect an organization’s deployment strategy.

Enrolling User-Owned Devices
Managing Organization Apps and Data
How Apple separates user data from organization data

How users enroll their personal devices

Evaluate identity management and authentication services, such as single sign-on (SSO) and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), to manage secure access to your organization’s resources on Apple devices.

Evaluating Authentication and User Services

Platform Single Sign-on for macOS

Evaluate an organization’s network infrastructure with respect to profiles and payloads for Apple devices.

Managing Network Traffic

Network Usage Rules MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Compare the requirements of account-driven Device Enrollment to profile-based Device Enrollment.

Account-driven Device Enrollment

Identify key considerations that relate to deploying Apple devices in organization-owned deployment scenarios.

Managing Enrollment and Setup Assistant
Understanding Device Enrollment

Device Enrollment and MDM
Automated Device Enrollment and MDM

Given a scenario, develop a deployment strategy for different ownership models and device purchase sources.

Managing Device Assignments
Manage device suppliers in Apple Business Manager
Manage device suppliers in Apple School Manager

Compare and contrast the features and functions related to managed devices between Apple Configurator and MDM.

Exploring Apple Configurator Features
Preparing Devices for a Return to Service

Revive and restore Apple devices
Update or restore iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV devices

Explain how mobile device management impacts a user’s ability to configure settings on Apple devices.

Setup Assistant pane options
Firewall MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Explain declarative device management.

Understanding How MDM Works
Exploring Apple’s MDM Framework
Querying Devices

Intro to declarative device management and Apple devices
Declarations

Recognize the key purpose and function of Apple’s management framework.

Exploring Apple’s MDM Framework
esigning a Security Strategy
Managing Software Updates

Intro to mobile device management profiles
About software updates for Apple devices
Use MDM to deploy software updates to Apple devices

Erase Apple devices

Explain the ownership and enrollment options for each enrollment type.

Planning Device Ownership and Enrollment

Designing a Security Strategy
Intro to Apple device enrollment types
Device Enrollment and MDM

utomated Device Enrollment and MDM
About Apple device supervision

Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager
Link Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager to your organization’s third-party MDM solution.

Adding an MDM Server
Link to a third-party MDM server in Apple Business Manager
Link to a third-party MDM server in Apple School Manager

Explain the Directory Sync requirements for Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Evaluating Authentication and User Services
Using Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager

Use federated authentication with Google Workspace in Apple Business Manager

Identify the integration standards for public or in-house identity providers to integrate with Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Using Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager

Learn which Student Information Systems (SIS) that Apple School Manager supports

Explain why an organization uses Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Planning Device Ownership and Enrollment

Using Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager
Choosing a Distribution Method
Managing Organization Apps and Data

Inspect a user account in Apple School Manager
Integrate Apple School Manager with your Student Information System (SIS)
Migrate from redemption codes to managed distribution

Migrate content tokens to Apple School Manager
Migrate content tokens to Apple Business Manager
Intro to content distribution for Apple devices

Intro to Apple device enrollment types
Automated Device Enrollment and MDM

Identify the purpose of roles and locations in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Using Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager
Intro to roles and privileges in Apple School Manager

Explain who owns volume purchased app and book licenses after distribution.

Buying Content Through Apps and Books
Choosing a Distribution Method
Managing Organization Apps and Data

Intro to content distribution for Apple devices

Add devices from Apple Configurator to Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Manually Adding Devices to Your Organization

Add devices from Apple Configurator to Apple Business Manager
Add devices from Apple Configurator to Apple School Manager

Buy content in volume in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Buying Content Through Apps and Books
Manage content tokens in Apple Business Manager
Manage content tokens in Apple School Manager

Manage content tokens in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Buying Content Through Apps and Books
Manage content tokens in Apple Business Manager

Manage content tokens in Apple School Manager

Transfer licenses to another location in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.

Buying Content Through Apps and Books

Transfer licenses to another location in Apple Business Manager
Transfer licenses to another location in Apple School Manager

Networking

Configure your organization’s network infrastructure — Wi-Fi coverage and capacity, proxies, firewalls, VPN, and Bonjour — for use by Apple devices.

Preparing Your Network
Get proper Wi-Fi capacity
Use Apple products on enterprise networks

TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products
Infrastructure requirements

Summarize requirements and technical considerations for integrating Apple devices into an existing network.

Preparing Your Network
Use Apple products on enterprise networks

Explain how content caching in macOS caches and optimizes downloaded Apple content on your network.

Understanding Content Caching
Plan for and set up content caching

Recognize how content caching across subnets works.

Understanding Content Caching
How content caching works

Recognize key considerations that relate to joining managed Apple devices to Wi-Fi networks.

Preparing Your Network
Joining Wi-Fi Networks
How iOS, iPadOS, and macOS decide which wireless network to auto-join

Configure wireless authentication methods your organization will use to connect Apple devices to your network.

Joining Wi-Fi Networks
WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 MDM settings for Apple devices
Secure access to wireless networks
How Apple devices join Wi-Fi networks

Configure Apple devices to connect to 802.1X wireless networks.

Preparing Your Network
Joining Wi-Fi Networks
Connect Apple devices to 802.1X networks

Identify key payloads and settings that MDM uses to configure a managed Apple device to connect automatically to a supported Wi-Fi network using a supported authentication protocol.

Joining Wi-Fi Networks
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) MDM settings for Apple devices

Configure devices to automatically use Always On VPN using MDM.

Using VPN on Apple Devices
VPN overview for Apple device deployment

Configure a relay network extension for managed apps, domains, or the entire device in an MDM solution.

Managing Organization Apps and Data
Relay MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Configure network priorities for Wi-Fi and cellular networks for Apple devices.

Joining Wi-Fi Networks
Managing Network Traffic
Configuring App Priorities
Cisco Fastlane MDM settings for Apple devices

Configure global HTTP Proxy payload settings for Apple devices.

Managing Network Traffic
Global HTTP Proxy MDM payload settings for Apple devices
DNS Proxy MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Identify key ports and protocols that MDM uses to communicate with APNs.

Preparing Your Network
Configure devices to work with APNs

Recognize relays can be applied to managed apps, domains, or the entire device.

Relay MDM payload settings for Apple devices
Use network relays on Apple devices
Network relays
Network relays in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS

Evaluate and recommend strategies for your organization to optimize its network configuration for device access to Apple-specific services.

macOS wireless roaming for enterprise customers
How iOS, iPadOS, and macOS decide which wireless network to auto-join
Wi-Fi roaming support in Apple devices

Configure network to support screen monitoring for Classroom and Apple Remote Desktop.

TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products
Infrastructure requirements

Security

Identify passcode configuration options for Apple devices.

Using Passcode Payloads
Passcode MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Recognize key restrictions that apply to supervised Apple devices.

Using Restrictions Payloads
About Apple device supervision
MDM restrictions for supervised Apple devices

Recognize key restrictions that apply to unsupervised Apple devices.

Using Restrictions Payloads
Review MDM restrictions for Apple devices

Describe what’s encrypted in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, including where keys can be stored for FileVault.

Protecting Data with FileVault
Institutional versus personal recovery keys

Recognize the key purpose and function of Lost Mode as it relates to managed Apple devices.

Using MDM to Manage Lost Mode
Managing Lost Devices
Locate lost or stolen supervised devices
Lock and locate Apple devices

Define the key purpose and function of Activation Lock as it relates to managed Apple devices.

Managing Activation Lock
recoveryOS Password
Activation Lock on Apple devices
Organization-linked Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad

Describe different types of biometric capabilities on Apple devices.

Touch ID security
About Touch ID advanced security technology
Uses for Face ID and Touch ID
Use Touch ID on Mac
Set up Face ID on iPhone

Describe key components of Apple’s security model.

Understanding Device Enrollment
Secure Enclave
Face ID and Touch ID security
Hardware security overview
Apple Platform Security

Apply organization security policies to MDM settings that allow an organization to install and manage apps on a managed Apple device that run securely without compromising platform integrity.

Managing Organization Apps and Data
Distribute apps to devices
Distribute Managed Apps to Apple devices

Support

Define what a keychain is, and explain what a user can do with Keychain Access in macOS.

Keychain data protection
Change Passwords settings on Mac

Describe macOS Recovery and what a user can do with it.

Mac startup key combinations
Apps available in macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon
Start up from macOS Recovery

Explain what Console is and how it’s used to triage or troubleshoot user issues.

Console User Guide for Mac
Share log messages, activities, or reports in Console on Mac

Discern and classify the key components of a digital certificate.

Managing Certificates
Intro to certificate management for Apple devices

Set up tethered caching.

Intro to content caching
Set up content caching on Mac
Device network information MDM queries for Apple devices
How Content Caching > Share Internet connection works with MDM

Explain what Terminal is and how it’s used to triage or troubleshoot user issues.

Console User Guide for Mac
Terminal User Guide for Mac
Test Wi-Fi networks with Apple Network Responsiveness

Identify content types supported by the caching service.

Understanding Content Caching
Content types supported by content caching in macOS

Describe the changes FileVault makes to the macOS boot process.

Protecting Data with FileVault
Intro to macOS Recovery
Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon
Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac
How does FileVault work on a Mac?
Protect data on your Mac with FileVault
Volume encryption with FileVault in macOS
Use secure token, bootstrap token, and volume ownership in deployments
Manage FileVault with mobile device management

State the importance of recovery keys, personal recovery keys, and MDM escrow.

Protecting Data with FileVault
How does FileVault work on a Mac?
Protect data on your Mac with FileVault
Mac startup key combinations
Apps available in macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon
Start up from macOS Recovery
Institutional versus personal recovery keys
FileVault MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Configure content caching on Mac.

Understanding Content Caching
Enabling Content Caching
Configuring Content Caching Advanced Settings
Optimizing Content Caching
Set up content caching on Mac
Change Content Caching settings on Mac
Change content caching Clients options on Mac
Change content caching Parents options on Mac
Change content caching Peers options on Mac
Change content caching Storage options on Mac
Intro to content caching
Set up content caching on Mac
Device network information MDM queries for Apple devices
How Content Caching > Share Internet connection works with MDM
Content types supported by content caching in macOS

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Describe what MDM is and how it works.

Understanding Device Enrollment
Enrollment profiles

Plan your MDM migration.

Intro to planning your MDM migration
Configure your new MDM solution
Reenroll devices in MDM

Manually enroll user-owned devices into an MDM solution.

Understanding Device Enrollment
Enrolling User-Owned Devices
User Enrollment and MDM
User Enrollment and Managed Apple IDs
About Lockdown Mode

Compare and contrast the actions that an MDM administrator can take on a managed user-owned and organization-owned Apple device.

Understanding How MDM Works
Designing a Security Strategy
Managing Enrollment and Setup Assistant
Enrolling User-Owned Devices
Using VPN on Apple Devices
Using MDM to Manage Lost Mode
Auto Advance and Automated Device Enrollment (macOS)
MDM commands for Apple devices
Lock and locate Apple devices
Managing Devices and Corporate Data
MDM commands for Apple devices
Per App VPN
VPN settings overview for Apple devices
User Enrollment and per-app networking
MDM commands for User Enrollment

Create and assign an enrollment profile in an MDM solution.

Automated Device Enrollment MDM payload list
Home Screen Layout MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Use Apple Configurator to enroll iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV devices into an MDM solution.

Exploring Apple Configurator Features

Identify which Setup Assistant options you can configure on Apple devices.

Setup Assistant MDM payload settings for Apple devices
Manage Setup Assistant for Apple devices

Use account-driven Device Enrollment on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to enroll in an MDM solution.

Managing Organization Apps and Data
Account-driven Device Enrollment
How Apple separates user data from organization data
Device Enrollment and MDM

Identify restrictions that apply only to supervised Apple devices.

Designing a Security Strategy
Using Restrictions Payloads
MDM restrictions for supervised Apple devices
About Apple device supervision
MDM restrictions for iPhone and iPad devices
Review MDM restrictions for Apple devices

Prevent users from installing or removing apps.

Designing a Security Strategy
Managing Organization Apps and Data
Preventing App Removal or Installation
Review MDM restrictions for Apple devices
MDM restrictions for iPhone and iPad devices
Notifications MDM payload settings for Apple devices
Distribute Managed Apps to Apple devices

Manage Rapid Security Response on Apple devices.

Managing Software Updates
Using Restrictions Payloads
Rapid Security Responses and MDM

Configure Managed Open In restrictions on a managed iPhone or iPad.

Managing Organization Apps and Data
Managed App restrictions and capabilities

Enforce the use of passcodes during enrollment.

Designing a Security Strategy
Managing Enrollment and Setup Assistant
Using Passcode Payloads
Passcode MDM payload settings for Apple devices
Setup Assistant pane options
Auto Advance and Automated Device Enrollment (macOS)
Automated Device Enrollment MDM payload list

Use an MDM solution to configure passcode requirements for Apple devices.

Using Passcode Payloads
Passcode MDM payload settings for Apple devices

Use an MDM solution to require FileVault on managed Mac computers.

Protecting Data with FileVault
Bootstrap token

Apply Lost Mode and Activation Lock on managed devices.

Designing a Security Strategy
Using MDM to Manage Lost Mode
Managing Activation Lock
Managing Lost Devices
Organization-linked Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad
Locate lost or stolen supervised devices

Demonstrate how to use an MDM solution to wipe devices safely.

Managing Lost Devices
Erase Apple devices

Identify the types of queries that are supported on a managed Apple device from MDM.

Querying Devices
Security MDM queries for Apple devices

Defer software updates on managed iPhone and Apple TV devices.

Managing Software Updates
Deferring software updates and upgrades

List what can be managed and actions that can be taken on a device in MDM.

Designing a Security Strategy
Using Restrictions Payloads
MDM restrictions for supervised Apple devices
About Apple device supervision
MDM restrictions for iPhone and iPad devices
Review MDM restrictions for Apple devices
MDM commands for Apple devices

Use cfgutil scripting to automate repetitive tasks not present in Apple Configurator.

Exploring Apple Configurator Features
Use the Apple Configurator 2 command-line tool

Use the EraseDevice command for iPhone and iPad to quickly reset devices for Return to Service in an MDM solution.

Preparing Devices for a Return to Service
Return to Service for iPhone and iPad
Erase Apple devices
Device Erase Command Details

Configure Setup Assistant for organization-owned Apple devices in an MDM solution.

Managing Enrollment and Setup Assistant
Setup Assistant pane options

Use MDM to display detailed information about a managed Apple device.

Querying Devices
MDM queries for User Enrollment
Device information MDM queries for Apple devices
Device network information MDM queries for Apple devices
Operating system MDM queries for Apple devices
Installed app MDM queries for Apple devices
Security MDM queries for Apple devices

Identify the purpose or function of using restrictions to manage Apple devices.

Designing a Security Strategy
Understanding Content Caching
Using Restrictions Payloads
Set up your content cache
MDM restrictions for supervised Apple devices
MDM restrictions for iPhone and iPad devices
Review MDM restrictions for Apple devices

Manage accessory restrictions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Managing Thunderbolt and USB Pairing
MDM management of host pairing

Deploy devices with cellular connectivity.

Use MDM to deploy devices with cellular connections
About the eSIM modification restriction

Exam Details

The exam name is Apple Deployment and Management Exam (DEP-2024-ENU).
The exam contains approximately 80 scored technical questions. You have 120 minutes to complete them.
The minimum passing score is 75 percent. Scores aren’t rounded.
The exam uses multiple-choice single-select and multiple-choice multiple-select questions.
You may not access any resources or references during the exam.

Taking the Exam
You take the Apple Deployment and Management Exam online through the Pearson OnVUE system. Schedule your exam session in advance, and plan to complete the exam in one sitting. You need a private space and a current, government-issued identification card to take the exam.
To learn more about the Pearson OnVUE online proctoring experience, watch this brief video.

Scheduling the Exam
To schedule the Apple Deployment and Management Exam, complete these steps:

Sign in to ACRS (Apple Certification Records System) using your Apple ID and password.
Click Available Exams. Then click Apple Deployment and Management Exam to start the registration process.
Update the required sections on the exam application page, then click the Submit button.
On the Notifications page, locate and click the link in the following message: “You may continue to the exam process for Apple Deployment and Management Exam. Continue at Pearson VUE.”
On the Pearson VUE page, follow the instructions to schedule and pay for the exam.

On the day of your scheduled exam, complete these steps:

Thirty minutes before your scheduled exam time, sign in to ACRS.
Click the Apple Deployment and Management Exam on the homepage.
Click Begin Exam, then follow the instructions.

After you complete the exam, Pearson emails you your score. If you don’t pass the exam on the first try, you can purchase another exam and retake it after 7 days. You’re allowed four attempts to pass the Apple Deployment and Management Exam.

About the Certification
The Apple Certified IT Professional digital badge differentiates you as a skilled professional, gives you a competitive edge in an evolving job market, and associates you with the power of the Apple brand.
When you pass the exam, Credly emails you the instructions to claim your digital badge.
Digital badges are valid for two years from the date earned, but specific expiration dates vary. You keep your badge current by taking the recertification exam when it’s released and before the badge expiration date. Visit the Apple Training website and sign in to ACRS periodically to ensure that you’re aware as soon as a recertification exam is available

Apple Deployment and Management Exam Preparation Guide

Documents / Resources

Training Deployment and Management Exam Prep [pdf] User Guide
Deployment and Management Exam Prep, Deployment, and Management Exam Prep, Management Exam Prep, Exam Prep, Prep

References

User Manual

Training Deployment and Management Exam Prep

Product Information

Product Usage Instructions