Apple iBeacon Overview

Apple iBeacon with Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub v5.1+ helps manage location awareness for devices. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), iBeacons provide a more efficient way to track devices than using geofencing.

Bluetooth Low Energy does not drain the battery life of a device, and you can establish iBeacons to observe multiple regions simultaneously, providing more precise monitoring. This functionality also allows more privacy for end users because devices are only tracked when the device enters or exits specific locations, instead of being constantly monitored.

After setting up a third-party iBeacon, configure the iBeacon in the UEM console. Next, create iBeacon regions to monitor. Last, push device profiles with iBeacon functionality to manage iBeacons within the configured regions using the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub. Detect when the device enters these regions and use device event logs to find changes in iBeacon ranges.

Requirements for iBeacon

• Workspace ONE UEM console v8.1+
• iBeacons from a third-party vendor
• Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub v5.1 + for iOS
• Location services on the device must be enabled
• Bluetooth must be enabled
• iPhone 4S+, iPad mini+, iPad 3rd Generation+, iPod touch 5th Generation+

iBeacon Operations Details

• A maximum of 20 regions, including geofencing and iBeacon groups may be assigned to the device. This is the maximum amount that Apple allows. A high number of iBeacon groups assigned to the device increases battery consumption on the device.
• The Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub monitors iBeacons only. It does not use the ranging technique that determines the proximity of the device to iBeacon transmitter.
• If the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub is stopped before a device exits the iBeacon group, the device is not detected until the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub is launched again.

Enable iBeacon for iOS Devices

To configure iBeacon, first enable the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub to detect iBeacon groups that receive broadcasts. Then, add a set of iBeacon groups for the device to monitor.

1. Navigate to Groups & Settings > All Settings > Devices & Users > Apple > Apple iOS > Hub Settings.

2. Scroll to Area and select Detect iBeacon Area to enable an iBeacon for the organization group.

3. Select Save.

4. Navigate to Resources > Profile & Baselines > Settings > Areas.

5. Select Add > iBeacon Group. Choose Add > Add Profile or Edit an existing profile using the pencil button on the left-side of the profile. A General profile window appears.

6. Configure the iBeacon Group settings.

   Setting	Description
   Group Name	Enter the name for the specific iBeacon group.
   iBeacon Name	Enter the name of the iBeacon.
   UUID	Enter a unique identifier for the iBeacon deployment to share.
   Major Value	Enter an identifier to subdivide the area of the iBeacon.
   Minor Value	Enter an extra identifier to subdivide the area of the iBeacon.

7. Select Save. Return to Area and edit and delete iBeacon groups as needed using the menu buttons on the left.

Assign iBeacon Groups to Device Profiles

Once the iBeacon group is established, you can assign the group to a device profile. This profile is then installed on the device when it enters the iBeacon group and is removed when it exits the group.

1. Navigate to Resources > Profiles & Baselines > Profiles. Choose Add> Add Profile or Edit an existing profile using the pencil button on the left-side of the profile. A General profile window appears.

2. Scroll to Additional Assignment Criteria on the General profile.

3. Select Install only on devices inside selected areas and select the iBeacon from Assigned Geofence Areas.

4. Continue to configure the payload as needed.

5. Select Save & Publish. You can now manage devices in the iBeacon group with the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub.

Add Compliance Policies for iBeacon Groups

Once the iBeacon group is established, add compliance polices to enforce actions on the device when it enters or exits the iBeacon group.

1. Navigate to Devices > Compliance Policies > List View, and select Add and then Apple iOS.

2. Choose Any or All of the rules to match.

3. Select iBeacon Area and choose within/not within for a specific iBeacon group and select Next.

4. Choose the Actions tab and select actions that can occur in the iBeacon group. For detailed information on the applicable actions on Apple iOS, see the Compliance Policies Actions by Platform section of the Managing Devices documentation.

5. Select Finish and Activate when you have completed the compliance policy configuration. Verify that the policy is available on the Device Details page in the UEM console.