The notion of responsive platform security on Apple devices becomes far more profound now that Jamf, a leading device management and security vendor in the space, has agreed to acquire Identity Automation, an education-focused dynamic identity and access management (IAM) platform, for around $215 million.Whats interesting about this deal is that the combined technologies should allow Jamf to support dynamic identity and access scenarios in a variety of industries.Some, such as education, healthcare retail, aviation, and field engineering, are frequently characterized by rapidly changing roles, teams, schedules, and location, and require dynamic adjustment of security policy to support workers in what they do. Student roles and access frequently change based on class, grade, school, and district, for example, while air crews might require secure access to company resources from rapidly changing geographies.Making identity and access dynamicIdentity Automations platform automates identity and access management workflows, which enables IT to more easily support security in such situations. The acquisition means Jamf can combine identity and device access in its software, further empowering Apple-based IT admins with what appears to be an initial focus on the education sector, where roles are particularly dynamic.Its important to understand that education IT frequently finds itself provisioning tens of thousands of devices in a very short time, particularly at the start of each semester. In that context, tools like these could prove invaluable. Identity Automation CEO Jim Harold, explained: An intuitive user experience is essential to ensuring technology enhances rather than hinders the classroom experience.Said Jamf CEO John Strosahl: By bringing our security solutions together, were creating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience that enables fast, dynamic access to all the resources users need to be productive. We see the huge potential to help organizations that have a shared-device model, deskless workers, temporary staff, or contractors. By removing cumbersome onboarding and off-boarding processes, users can be productive as soon as they pick up a device.How Identity Automation worksIdentity Automation offers its service through a cloud-based platform and includes tools for managing identity lifecycles, governance, and authentication:Identity Lifecycle Management: End-to-end lifecycle management automates provisioning, role assignments, and de-provisioning with real-time updates from HR systems.Access Governance: Policy-driven configurations control who has access to systems and data.Authentication: Customizable, multi-factor authentication policies handle role-based access, Single Sign-On (SSO), and rostering capabilities.What makes the acquisition more interesting is that the tech can also integrate with other identity and SSO solutions, including those from Okta, Clever, and ClassLink. It will integrate with Microsoft Active Directory (AD) for authentication and MFA, and enable federation and SSO access for Googles cloud-based applications.In other words, bringing this technology into the Jamf fold means it will be available to a range of users for use in numerous deployment models.Its also logical to think it might eventually give Jamf additional reach into international markets, given that Identity Managements RapidIdentity service is adopted nationally in Norway.Why does this matter? Accelerating technological change and the implications of increasingly mobile workforces and AI-driven business processes imply that security provisioning must itself become a business-enabling tech, not just a security requirement.Combined withDeclarative Device Management and No Trust, IAM systems that enable dynamic and responsive access and identity management should help support fast-changing business environments, particularly when the threat landscape is becoming more hostile by the day.That Mac, iPhone, and iPad users can expect to be peer players in this evolution of device management also reflects Apples growing status in the enterprise. Would this have been true on the launch of the original iMac? Almost certainly not.You can follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky,LinkedIn,andMastodon.