Device Hardware Baseline Specification: Apple Desktop and Laptop Devices - September 2024
Apple hardware lifecycle management:
The compliance capability of an Apple device is defined by its age, architecture and by the version of macOS that it can support.
Apple hardware product support is principally linked to “age” (manufacturing date). The current categories are:
- Supported (2018 – to-date),
- End of Life (2017 and older).
Devices manufactured in 2017 or earlier need to be refreshed as part of a lifecycle management schedule by the owning stakeholders.
If required, Digital Services can advise in greater detail on Apple Lifecycle Management queries.
Baseline Specification
- Device registration: At procurement time, Apple macOS devices (desktops and laptops) must be registered in Apple Schools Manager (ASM) by the NDNA supplier.
Devices must be subsequently registered in the University’s Jamf Cloud Management platform by the stakeholder (or directly by arrangement with Digital Services). - Chassis: The device type (desktop /laptop) and screen size will be an individual selection based upon user requirement/specification, the hardware portfolio currently offered within the NDNA framework and the affordability.
- Processor: For new Apple procurements, an Apple M4 device architecture will be mandatory. An M3 architecture is required where M4 architecture is not available.
- Memory: 16Gb (minimum) with 24Gb or higher advised for graphics intensive applications.
- Local storage: 500Gb Solid State storage device (minimum).
- Networking: Wireless network and Bluetooth support to be standard. Gigabit Wired Ethernet support ought to be included in a desktop specification.
- Interface Support: As new Apple devices only support USB-C /Thunderbolt interfaces, USB-C <> USB-A adaptors should be procured for USB-A peripherals. Desktop Apple devices must be procured with a Gigabit Wired Ethernet interface.
- Legacy Apple devices: Apple devices must be capable of running a minimum of macOS 13 (but ideally upgradable to macOS 15). Devices must be Apple School Manager and Jamf Cloud enrolled so that cyber-security compliance requirements are met and also allow application of a standards-based configuration.
- Unsupported Apple devices:
- Apple devices that cannot support macOS 13+ are considered to be unsupported /end-of-life and a hardware refresh must be arranged by the owning stakeholders.
- Device offboarding: End of life Apple devices must be offboarded/retired in line with University governance requirements.