Qualys, generally described as one of many pioneering SaaS distributors, has bent with the instances to start providing Mac assist inside its cloud safety providing.

A pioneer in SaaS goes Mac

Because it launched in 1999, Qualys has historically supplied its providers to PCs, cell gadgets, and cloud-native functions. The corporate’s authentic 2000 product, QualysGuard, was distinguished as one of many first to market vulnerability administration instruments.

What’s additionally attention-grabbing concerning the provide is that it has strategic partnerships with key managed service suppliers and consultancies, akin to Wipro, Verizon, BT, Symantec, and others. The corporate claims present purchasers embrace most Forbes International 100 and Fortune 100 corporations.

The introduction of Mac assist proves the rising standing of Macs in enterprise IT, representing the momentum the platform continues to construct, notably for the reason that launch of M-series Macs.

“Up to now few years, a lot of our prospects have seen a pointy improve within the variety of Mac gadgets launched to their setting,” wrote Eran Livne, senior director of product administration at Qualys, in an organization weblog saying the transfer.

A Mac instrument for Home windows admins

Livne argues that the introduction of macOS patch administration by Qualys means IT will be capable of follow instruments admins already use for Home windows and Linux gadgets whereas securing the enterprise setting.

Options embrace:

  • The identical sensible automation and remediation workflows as accessible for Home windows techniques.
  • The power of Qualys Cloud Mac Agent to detect and deploy Mac OS patches and patches for third-party Mac apps. 
  • Full integration with the Qualys VMDR and the present patch administration providing.

“Prospects informed us how utilizing one answer not just for the detection of vulnerabilities, but additionally for understanding the danger of these vulnerabilities and with the ability to effectively reply and remediate these vulnerabilities save them time and permit them to turn into considerably safer,” Livne stated.

Qualys has consciously constructed its Mac assist in such a manner that present Home windows admins will discover the instrument acquainted. Jobs could be run on demand, at scheduled instances, or throughout outlined upkeep home windows. Admins may also use the instrument to reboot a  system, if required.

The corporate is providing present prospects trial licenses to allow them to start testing the Mac assist throughout their fleets.

Apple and the way forward for the enterprise

The Mac system administration house is flourishing as Apple deployments within the enterprise proceed to speed up.

That is prompting the looks of recent opponents in a space arguably first explored by Jamf, with model new MDM start-ups getting into the fray and established firms akin to Qualys including Apple assist to present options.

Elevated competitors emerges as firms themselves search to deliver their Safety Service Edge (SSE) options into more and more tight budgetary controls. A current Gartner report claims that by 2025, 80% of enterprises may have adopted a technique to unify net, cloud providers, and personal utility entry from a single vendor’s SSE platform.

In fact, inside this convergence of forces the controversy will evolve in two instructions: those that imagine enterprise tech is finest served by reliance on best-in-breed options offering the very best assist for devoted platforms, and people looking for instruments with which to handle a number of platforms from one place.  

For Apple, that this debate has emerged in any respect testifies to the success the corporate has loved because the iPhone uncovered quite a few industries to an accelerating tide of digital transformation. The truth that established Home windows-centric firms now select to introduce Mac assist inside their enterprise merchandise reveals the extent of change that has taken — and is anticipated to proceed to take — place.

Please comply with me on Mastodon, or be part of me within the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions teams on MeWe.