Admin By Request Launches Version 5.0 for macOS: Strengthening Endpoint Privileged Access Management Across Platforms

Organisations operating in the everyday hybrid working environment that has become common over the last few years often face a dual challenge. Firstly, maintaining strong security measures for the laptops and other endpoint devices their staff are using. Secondly, ensuring these protections don't impact employee productivity by being overly complex. Any security that is burdensome to the people using it will likely result in them finding ways to bypass it so they can work in easier ways.

Delivering easy-to-use protections while maintaining effectiveness is particularly crucial when it comes to managing and controlling Local Administration access rights management. Admin By Request designed their Endpoint Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution to address the challenge of giving people the access they need at any particular time to do their jobs while also delivering the security that is necessary to protect the modern, dispersed IT landscape.?

Admin By Request PAM

Admin By Request (ABR) provides PAM that offers a balanced approach that enhances security without compromising efficiency or overly annoying people. The embedded video below gives a short overview of Admin By Request PAM in under 2 minutes.

Improved Support for Mac

Many information workers prefer using Mac devices rather than Windows-based laptops, which are often the choice of corporate IT departments. In the increasingly competitive job market, especially with the hybrid/remote hiring that's common, giving potential hires the choice of device to use can be a plus factor in successful recruitment. So, having the ability to deploy PAM solutions that deliver the needed security across Windows and macOS is essential. As well as for Linux, which Admin By Request PAM also supports, but that's a topic for another blog.?

When supporting organisations that have a mixture of device types running different operating systems, you don't want to increase the workload of the IT support and security teams. Ideally, you want to be able to have management and security tools in place that minimise the difference between device types and make it simpler to apply policies and rules across them all. The latest 5.0 release of Admin By Request PAM for macOS does this by aligning the features available on the macOS version with the Windows release.

Admin By Request Version 5.0 for macOS

Admin By Request version 5.0 for macOS is a significant update that brings enhanced functionality and improved user experience for Mac users. The release delivers a substantial improvement for organisations managing a mixed deployment of Windows and macOS endpoints. It aligns Mac capabilities with the Windows version to provide a streamlined administration experience for IT teams.

Here are the seven headline updates in the new Mac version:

Easier Endpoint Client Installation - The installation process for the Mac Admin By Request client is simplified and more user-friendly. The new method automatically installs the necessary macOS extensions and prompts for permissions to do this as required, streamlining the setup for both IT administrators and end-users.

Conventional App Installation Support - In addition to supporting .pkg installation files, version 5.0 now allows users to install apps by simply dragging them to the Applications folder (a standard action known to Mac users). This enhances the user experience and reduces friction in the app installation process.

Intuitive App Updates - Pre-approved apps can now be updated on the Mac when an app developer releases an updated version. This eliminates the need for a full Admin Session for routine updates, improving user convenience and removing activities from IT admin staff.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Support - Version 5.0 introduces Multi-Factor Authentication for macOS clients, adding an extra layer of security to privileged access requests. This feature means that only authorised users can access elevated privileges. It requires Azure SSO integration to function.

Support Assist Capability - The new release brings the Support Assist feature to macOS, allowing IT administrators to provide targeted support to users without granting full admin access. This enhances the IT team's ability to resolve issues remotely while maintaining security protocols.

Local Admin Rights Control from Portal - IT administrators can now easily manage local Mac admin rights directly from the Admin By Request portal. This allows for quick management of Mac admin accounts, reducing the potential attack surface on Macs.

Comprehensive Administrator Audit - All administrative events are now fully logged in the Auditlog and/or Events log. This includes tracking any sudo commands executed and any steps taken to upgrade applications. This logging provides enhanced visibility and accountability for all privileged actions when investigating any abnormal activities.

These seven new features significantly enhance Admin By Request's cross-platform PAM service offering. Streamlining the macOS version's capabilities with the Windows version provides a more consistent and powerful PAM solution across both platforms. This alignment not only simplifies administration for IT teams but also helps organisations maintain a uniform security posture regardless of the operating system.

Strengthening Cybersecurity Through Partnership

The release of Admin By Request version 5.0 for macOS is a significant milestone in ABR's commitment to providing comprehensive cross-platform Endpoint Privileged Access Management solutions. The partnership between Halodata and ABR means you can access not just these powerful PAM tools but also get expert advice to help your business strengthen its cybersecurity posture across Mac and Windows endpoints. Learn more about Admin By Request PAM on our Halodata and Admin By Request vendor page.

Contact Halodata to learn more about Admin By Request version 5.0 for macOS (or to chat about the Windows or Linux versions). Don't wait until a security breach occurs on one of your endpoints. Act now to protect your business and empower your workforce safely and efficiently before the worst happens.