Addigy Agent and Addigy MDM are two distinct but related components of how Addigy manages your devices. Understanding the difference helps you know what to expect on macOS versus other Apple device types, and why some capabilities depend on one, the other, or both.
Addigy Agent
The Addigy Agent is a macOS-only agent that enables the full feature set of Addigy, including:
- Deployment of most Catalog items
- The device information shown on GoLive and the Devices page
- Installation of remoting tools such as LiveTerminal and LiveDesktop
For more detail, see the Addigy Agent documentation and Overview - Addigy Agent.
Addigy MDM
MDM functionality is built into Apple devices themselves and lets them be configured using MDM configurations (Device Settings in Addigy) — enforcing device settings (like FileVault) and running commands (like remote wipe or remote lock).
Note: Installing Addigy MDM on a macOS device also installs the Addigy Agent.
Read more in the Addigy MDM Service documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both the Agent and MDM on a macOS device?
Installing Addigy MDM on a macOS device installs the Agent automatically, so in practice you'll end up with both. The Agent is what enables the full range of Catalog deployments and remoting tools beyond what MDM configurations alone provide.
Does the Addigy Agent work on iOS, iPadOS, or other Apple device types?
No. The Addigy Agent is macOS-only. On other Apple device types, management relies on MDM functionality built into the device.
What can MDM do that the Agent can't, or vice versa?
MDM enforces device-level settings and commands that are built into Apple's platform, such as FileVault enforcement and remote wipe/lock. The Agent enables Addigy-specific functionality — most Catalog item deployments, GoLive/Devices page data, and remoting tools like LiveTerminal and LiveDesktop — none of which MDM alone provides on macOS.