JNUC 2024 Recap: Key Announcements and Highlights from Nashville

Welcome to Compnow’s JNUC 2024 Recap! This year marked the 15th Jamf User Conference (JNUC), held in the vibrant city of Nashville, Tennessee. Hear from Compnow’s Damian Cavanagh as he takes you through the major announcements and hidden gems that are shaping the future of Apple device management.

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If you’re eager to dive deeper, see below for beta sign-up links to test the latest features. And keep an eye out—JNUC session videos will be available on Jamf’s YouTube channel by early December.

Key Announcements from JNUC 2024

1. Blueprints for Jamf Pro & Jamf School
Jamf continues to push forward with Declarative Device Management (DDM), introducing Blueprints across both Jamf Pro and Jamf School. Blueprints simplify configurations like passcode management and external storage control. Acting like enhanced configuration profiles, they lock critical settings, preventing even admin users from tampering with them.

These new tools signal Jamf’s commitment to delivering greater control and scalability for admins—be sure to stay tuned for expanded Blueprint functionality in future updates!

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2. Self Service Plus – A New Chapter in User Experience
Self Service is getting a major overhaul with the launch of Self Service Plus. This version integrates key features from other Jamf apps—such as Jamf Trust—offering a more intuitive user interface and broader functionality.

Self Service Plus will enhance onboarding and enable streamlined device management for both admins and users, making it a game-changer for improving workflows.

3. Security Compliance Reporting in Jamf Pro
Jamf introduced security compliance reporting—a long-awaited feature built on the macOS Security Compliance Project (mSCP). This will provide native compliance tracking for CIS and NIST benchmarks, ensuring comprehensive security monitoring across your fleet.

The microservices architecture Jamf is adopting means these new features will roll out smoothly, without requiring a complete platform overhaul. Expect to see mobile support and Jamf School integration in the coming months.

4. Introducing the Declarations Explorer App
A new Declarations Explorer app is on the way to help admins navigate the complexities of Declarative Device Management. Although no sign-up links are available just yet, this tool will empower teams to explore and configure settings more efficiently.

5. AI Assistant: Your New Admin Ally
Jamf’s AI Assistant expands on last year’s announcement, providing administrators with on-demand expertise. Using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, the AI Assistant draws from product APIs, Jamf documentation, and community content to deliver security insights and recommendations.

This tool will help admins stay ahead of threats while automating routine tasks. Be sure to grab your chance to test the AI Assistant by signing up for the beta!

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6. Jamf Nation Rewards Program
Jamf is launching the Jamf Nation Rewards Program, where members can earn points for interacting with the community and redeem them for Jamf swag and other prizes. Head over to Jamf Nation to sign up and start earning rewards today.

7. Highlights from Key Sessions
Enterprise State of the Union
Katie English walked us through Platform SSO, Managed Device Attestation, and Jamf’s Network Relay Service. Admins can now experience account-driven enrolment using Managed Apple IDs by generating credentials directly from Jamf’s portal.

To try it:

Visit account.jamf.com/try-jamf
Generate your credentials

Use them to sign in via Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > Sign in with Work or School Account

8. Soaring with iPad Automation
The Allegiant Air session showcased an innovative workflow for remote iPad provisioning using Jamf Pro, smart charging towers, and Apple automation. With some elements being phased out by Apple, Allegiant is transitioning to Apple Configurator and Shortcuts, demonstrating how admins can future-proof their automation with Jamf Actions.

9. Jamf in Education: Supporting 42 Million Devices
In the Education State of the Union, Jamf announced new features for Jamf School, including Blueprints, Dark Mode, and enhanced security integrations. Jamf Teacher will introduce Lesson Templates, helping educators collaborate more easily, while the Jamf Educator portal continues to grow, supporting professional development across the globe.

10. Practical Mac Security with Matt Taylor
Matt Taylor’s session on Practical Mac Security was a treasure trove of insights, covering:

The importance of environment hardening to reduce attack surfaces
Leveraging macOS security features to bolster device management
Using Jamf to block risky websites, patch software, and detect advanced threats
Real-time monitoring through Jamf Threat Labs, enabling faster incident response

What’s Next?
With so many exciting developments, there’s a lot to look forward to! Here’s how you can stay connected and explore these new tools:

• Jamf Beta Programs: Sign up for Blueprints, Self Service Plus, Security
• Compliance Benchmarks, and AI Assistant via the Jamf portal.
• Jamf Nation Rewards: Join now to earn points for swag and prizes.
• Session Videos: Full JNUC session videos will be released in early December—watch Compnow’s socials for a curated list of the must-watch content.
• Melbourne & Sydney Recap Events – Jamf will also host recap events in Melbourne and Sydney on October 31st. Don’t miss out on these in-person opportunities to dive deeper into everything JNUC had to offer.

Get in Touch
We’d like to thank Jamf for an incredible week in Nashville! If you want to learn more about how these announcements can benefit your organisation, reach out to your Compnow account manager.

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Stay tuned for more updates and join us on the journey toward smarter device management. See you at the recap events!