Configuring additional Wi-Fi profiles with MDM

Organizations can ensure that the devices can seamlessly connect to certain Wi-Fi networks by configuring it through Hexnode UEM. MDM configured Wi-Fi networks provide increased data security and reduced workload as it is an over-the-air procedure. An added advantage of configuring Wi-Fi from the portal is that users are oblivious to the Wi-Fi password thereby guaranteeing that it cannot be shared with unauthorized users. The process of configuring additional Wi-Fi on a device is the same as configuring a new Wi-Fi.

1. Go to Policies and click on New Policy.
2. Provide a name to the policy and select the OS platform (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS) of the device you want to configure the Wi-Fi on.
3. Provide the SSID. Service Set Identifier simply implies the name of the network. It is case-sensitive.
4. Enable ‘Auto Join’ if the device must connect automatically to the saved network.
5. Select the option ‘Hidden Network‘ if the network does not broadcast the SSID and keeps it hidden.
6. Choose the Security Type applicable to your network and fill in the necessary details. You can select WEP, WPA/WPA2, Any (Personal), WEP Enterprise, WPA/WPA2 Enterprise, Any (Enterprise), WPA/WPA2 PSK, 802.1x EAP, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK or WPA/WPA2 Enterprise.
7. Provide the Password of the Wi-Fi network.
8. Set the Proxy. Proxy can be configured as manual or automatic. Manual proxy requires server, port, authentication and password details while an Automatic proxy requires proxy server URL.
9. To configure additional Wi-Fi networks, click on ‘+Add more‘ and repeat steps 3-6.
10. Assign the policy to Devices/Device Groups/Users/User Groups/Domain from Policy Targets. Save the policy.

What happens when you push a new Wi-Fi profile?

The new Wi-Fi profile will be configured automatically. When the current Wi-Fi becomes unavailable, the new Wi-Fi will get connected automatically if you have enabled ‘Auto Join’, or you can connect to the Wi-Fi manually.

Exceptional cases

In most of the devices, the new Wi-Fi configuration profile will get added automatically without any prompts. However, in devices like Xiaomi, the user will have to permit the addition of a new Wi-Fi profile manually to enable Wi-Fi profile installation.

1. Go to device Settings.
2. Select Hexnode MDM from Installed Apps.
3. Select Other permissions.
4. Enable the option Change Wi-Fi connectivity.

Only after doing so, the new Wi-Fi profile gets installed. Once this is done, no more prompts will appear when you push additional Wi-Fi profiles.