Blueprint-based management has enabled one admin to manage hundreds of devices efficiently
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Kandji is device management, providing end-to-end device management from the moment we receive the device to the moment it is in a user's hands and after, for managing updates, deploying apps, and more.
A specific example of how I used Kandji for device management involves multiple blueprints of devices: we had engineering spec devices, sales devices, and IT devices. Having a different blueprint for teams that needed their own customized available apps for them to download and install or for security management made it very easy to deploy the right tools, software, and permissions to the right devices. For example, engineers would have admin permissions and able to script the blueprint such that engineers got admin permissions, but nobody else did, made the deployment seamless. We deployed many scripts, and Kandji support was always amazing. They have been far and away the best to deal with, head and shoulders above all the companies that I have worked with to submit support tickets. Posting in chat or requesting a chat results in talking to an engineer within minutes; you cannot beat that.
What is most valuable?
In my opinion, the best feature Kandji offers is reliability. When we were acquired by Blackhawk, they used Jamf, so working in the same environment, I got to work with devices on both Kandji and Jamf. Now at my current company, we primarily use Jamf, and I must say, the simplicity and ease of management with Kandji cannot be overstated. It is reliable, a modern approach to managing Apple devices, and with features in blueprints, smart apps, and consistently reliable performance, I do not think Jamf really comes close.
While I do not have anything specific to add about the features, I do think there is a lack of flexibility in Kandji. However, that same rigidity is also what contributes to its consistent reliability and performance. It is much simpler to manage, and if a company were trying to manage devices with a smaller team, Kandji would absolutely be my choice over Jamf.
Kandji has positively impacted my organization by allowing a small team, of which I was actually the only member handling device management, to manage three hundred to four hundred devices efficiently. Automatic updates, patching, and easily deploying scripts to fix issues have empowered me and significantly reduced the complexity of managing all those devices by myself.
What needs improvement?
I see room for improvement in Kandji by adding more flexibility. By the time I stopped using it, they were starting to implement smart groups for app deployments, which seems like a step towards offering more flexibility, similar to Jamf. The simplicity and straightforwardness are its strongest attributes. Additionally, I think expanding the catalog of Kandji Auto Apps would be beneficial; they significantly reduced the complexity of managing the applications we pushed to devices. The fewer custom apps we have to upload, the more time we can focus on critical tasks in issue resolution or setting up the right policies upfront.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Kandji for approximately three years while I was at Tango and Blackhawk Network in my previous job.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Kandji is stable and performs reliably.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Kandji's scalability is quite good, though I do see a concern once organizations start getting really large and need more flexibility. The blueprint scheme works well in smaller to medium-sized companies but might present challenges in larger organizations.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support at Kandji is phenomenal and is the best I have experienced from any vendor. The instant chat with engineers is an amazing feature. I rate the customer support a ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Kandji was the first endpoint management solution I worked with. We switched to Jamf eventually because we were purchased by a company that used Jamf.
What was our ROI?
Kandji definitely saved time, though I do not have specific metrics to share. I was managing over four hundred devices solo, and it made the task very easy to handle. My experience with Jamf showed that managing the same number of devices would be far more difficult. Thus, we definitely needed fewer employees, saved time due to the automations in Kandji, and avoided the need for additional endpoint management staff.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I did not deal with the pricing negotiations, so I am not super familiar with the costs directly. My IT director managed those conversations, but from what I understood, it was a bit more than Jamf, particularly at renewal time, but it was money well spent.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for others considering Kandji is to embrace the blueprint model to the best of your ability. The more you stay within blueprints, the more reliable your experience and the less complexity you introduce into your organization, making management easier with a smaller team. While smart groups exist for when customization is necessary, blueprints are the easiest way to manage a fleet of devices. I rate this product a ten.
Remote support has become faster and now saves time for global Mac user assistance
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for
Kandji is supporting Mac devices.
I use Kandji to support Mac devices by configuring them, deploying them, resetting remote support, app deployment, and security patch deployment.
What is most valuable?
The best features Kandji offers are quick sync support for Mac devices, as whenever a command is deployed, it is very quick compared to
Intune, and I find that very easy and efficient.
Quick sync support stands out for me because it saves time with the user. Unlike other support tools, it is very fast and I can provide proper support.
Kandji has positively impacted my organization by providing remote and quick support.
This quick support has changed my team's workflow and efficiency because our company is a remote-first organization, so Kandji gave us a great and efficient way of supporting users across the world.
What needs improvement?
I believe Kandji can be improved by having more self-service options, as users can complete a few steps before reaching out to IT support, which will give us more context on the issue.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Kandji for about six months.
What other advice do I have?
I advise others looking into using Kandji that it is a great tool and it would be very convenient for any Apple environment devices, so I would recommend it for any organizations that are looking into it. I would rate my experience with Kandji an 8 out of 10.
Streamlined Mac Management with Robust Features
What do you like best about the product?
I like Iru's user interface because it's very straightforward, making the software easy to understand despite being quite powerful. It's great for coordinating with my ISV and outside IT consultant because they can access everything they need. I also appreciate that if there's ever an issue, I can log in to Iru and identify the specific computer or IP address causing the problem, which helps in coordinating with my IT service provider and cybersecurity consultant.
What do you dislike about the product?
It really only works well with Apple systems, like Macs and iPhones. We have one user with an Android phone, and it's cheaper for us to replace her phone with an iPhone than to do some VI solution. If you have a hybrid system, I don't think it works nearly as well. Also, we still have to use other products, like Okta, for identity management. It would be ideal if it could be one product.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Iru ensures we have the latest updates, security fixes, and proper software on our Macs and iPhones.
Efficient MDM with User-Friendly Interface
What do you like best about the product?
I like that Iru's interface is generally easy and simple to use, and it moves quickly. It's easy to get things done and isn't super cumbersome, which is a big plus.
What do you dislike about the product?
The navigation on the left side could be improved. Seems kinda duplicative where the device enrollment is or maybe not duplicative, but unclear versus the other things on the left hand bar.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Iru for MDM management, setting up computers for new hires, ensuring they have the necessary tools and software, and maintaining effective compliance.
Effortless Fleet MDM with Robust Features
What do you like best about the product?
I like Iru for its automatic updates, compliance, and security features, which are crucial in managing our fleet. I also appreciate the amount of library apps available, which make implementing tasks like WiFi and printer installs really easy. Once I learned how it works, everything became easy to use. I rate it a 10 out of 10 for recommending to friends or colleagues.
What do you dislike about the product?
The only complicated thing is the migration, but largely because of the tool we had before that makes Iru install sometimes harder. We used Deeploi and nobody can remove their profile other than themselves. Migration with ABM works in some devices only.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Iru for MDM of our fleet, solving automatic updates, compliance, and security issues.
Simple Yet Effective Device Management
What do you like best about the product?
I really like that Iru is simple to use. It's a strong part of its appeal. What really stands out is that it works perfectly fast, which is a big plus for me.
What do you dislike about the product?
It can be expensive.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We use Iru for mobile device management, especially for managing all our macOS devices.
Iru Makes Mobile Device Management a Breeze, Backed by Outstanding Support
What do you like best about the product?
Iru makes mobile device management a breeze. Their support team is also among the best I’ve encountered across roughly 100 SaaS companies I’ve worked with.
What do you dislike about the product?
I can’t really think of any significant downsides. The only thing that comes to mind is that I’d like the option to create a custom profile directly within the platform, rather than relying on third-party tools like iMazing Profile Editor to generate a “mobileconfig” file and then import it into Iru.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It helps us manage our fleet of around 150 MacBooks by automatically provisioning them for new hires and remotely erasing departed employees’ laptops, which helps us stay compliant with our security requirements.
One of my favorite vendors of all time
What do you like best about the product?
Iru is easy to use and the customer support when running into questions is always super eager to help. They're also extremely knowledgeable about the product and able to answer questions not just how you do things, but why you'd do things and offer other options and let you know why.
What do you dislike about the product?
There's not really anything I dislike about it specifically
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We're a very small IT team that runs lean and it lets us manage a lot of devices efficiently
Fast Setup, Strong Mac Self-Service—But Windows and One-Off Tasks Need Work
What do you like best about the product?
What I liked best were a few key things. First, the setup was easy—we were able to get devices enrolled within minutes. I also really liked the Blueprint design and its conditional logic, which makes it straightforward to set up user self-service. The self-service portal is another highlight, since it’s nice not having to babysit every install request. Finally, the built-in App Library is exhaustive (for Mac). Customer support is also very responsive. If the AI agent can't provide an answer they'll connect to you a real human.
What do you dislike about the product?
There are a few shortcomings we’ve noticed. Windows support still has a long way to go, especially when you compare it to the features available on Mac. There also isn’t an easy way to run a one-off command or open a remote terminal. Finally, making one-off changes can feel cumbersome because of the blueprint and app library setup.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We were using another MDM platform before Iru. The Iru team was very helpful with our migration. They were able to provide runbooks and scripts to help make the cutover easier.
Great UI and Timely Account Management Service
What do you like best about the product?
Good user interface. Timely account management service
What do you dislike about the product?
Pricing was high. It required negotiations and comparison against competitors to make it more competitive with market offering
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It helps us with the management of our laptops
