Kandji has quickly established itself as a leader in the mobile device management industry, specifically for Apple products in enterprise environments. Today, we’ll explore Kandji’s inception, its growth, and how its features and culture help it stand out in a competitive market.

Company Background

Kandji is a leading provider in the Apple device management and security industry, founded in 2018. The company has rapidly established itself as a crucial tool for enterprises that rely on Apple devices, offering a comprehensive platform that integrates device management with robust security features. Kandji’s flagship platform, known as Device Harmony, is designed to create a seamless experience between IT and information security teams, allowing them to manage and secure Apple devices across their organizations with greater efficiency.

Kandji’s solution supports endpoint detection and response, automated compliance management, and security policy enforcement, making it particularly valuable in environments where security and compliance are critical. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has attracted substantial investment, reflecting its growing influence in the enterprise IT landscape. With a focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions, Kandji continues to expand its footprint in various industries, catering to the increasing demand for Apple device management solutions​

Founding Story

Kandji was founded in 2018 by Adam Pettit and Mark Daughters, both of whom brought extensive experience in IT management and security. The idea for Kandji emerged from their firsthand frustration with the limitations of existing tools for managing Apple devices in enterprise environments. They recognized a gap in the market for a solution that could not only manage devices effectively but also integrate robust security measures tailored specifically for Apple products.

The company’s inception was driven by the increasing reliance of organizations on Apple devices, coupled with the need for tools that could meet the unique challenges of managing these devices at scale. Pettit and Daughters aimed to create a platform that would simplify the complexities of Apple device management, offering IT teams a more intuitive and powerful toolset. From the outset, Kandji was designed to bridge the gap between IT management and information security, providing a unified platform that could address both operational efficiency and security compliance.

Since its founding, Kandji has experienced rapid growth, attracting significant investment and expanding its customer base across various industries. The founders’ vision of creating a seamless, automated solution for Apple device management has been central to the company’s success, positioning Kandji as a key player in the enterprise IT landscape

Key Milestones and Timeline

Since its founding in 2018, Kandji has achieved several significant milestones that have propelled the company to its current position as a leader in Apple device management and security.

In 2020, Kandji introduced its flagship platform, Device Harmony, which set a new standard for integrating device management with security. This initial launch included innovative features such as automated compliance management and security policy enforcement, quickly attracting attention from enterprise clients who needed a comprehensive solution for managing Apple devices at scale.

By 2021, Kandji had secured $100 million in a Series C funding round led by Tiger Global, bringing its valuation close to $800 million. This funding round marked a turning point for the company, enabling it to expand its product offerings and accelerate its go-to-market strategies. During this period, Kandji also saw a remarkable increase in its customer base and annual recurring revenue, reflecting the growing demand for its solutions.

In 2023, Kandji continued its rapid growth trajectory by rolling out several key product innovations, including the enhancement of its Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) capabilities. These updates further solidified Kandji’s reputation for delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored specifically for the Apple ecosystem. The same year, Kandji was recognized on Forbes’ Next Billion Dollar Startups list, highlighting its potential to achieve unicorn status.

As of 2024, Kandji raised an additional $100 million in Series D funding, pushing its valuation to $850 million. This latest milestone underscores the company’s continued momentum and its commitment to driving innovation in the enterprise IT sector. The funding is being used to enhance its product portfolio and expand its market reach, ensuring Kandji remains at the forefront of Apple device management.

Company Culture

Kandji’s company culture presents a mixed picture, with both strengths and areas needing improvement. The company is recognized for its competitive salary packages and the quality of its benefits, which have been well-received by employees. Many employees appreciate the opportunity to work with a motivated and intelligent team, often highlighting the collaborative environment as a key positive aspect.

However, there are a few notable challenges within Kandji’s culture. Feedback from employees suggests that the leadership team could improve in terms of people management and communication skills. Additionally, there is a call for more transparency and accountability from management, along with a stronger focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Despite these issues, some employees report a positive onboarding experience and clarity in company goals, indicating that Kandji has a foundation it can build upon to improve its workplace environment.

Competitive Landscape

Kandji operates in a highly competitive market, particularly in the realm of Apple device management and security solutions. Its primary competitors include Jamf, MobileIron, and Good Technology, each of which offers similar services tailored for enterprise environments.

Jamf is arguably Kandji’s most significant competitor, having been established much earlier in 2002 and building a strong reputation in Apple enterprise management. Jamf’s comprehensive suite of products and its long-standing presence in the market make it a formidable rival. While Jamf has the advantage of being a well-established brand, Kandji differentiates itself through a focus on automation and seamless integration of security features, which have been pivotal in attracting customers who prioritize efficiency and robust security.

MobileIron and Good Technology also pose competition, though they have been more focused on broader mobile device management rather than specializing exclusively in Apple devices. MobileIron offers a strong enterprise mobility management platform, while Good Technology (now part of BlackBerry) is known for its secure communications and mobility solutions. These competitors have diversified portfolios, but Kandji’s specialization in Apple devices gives it a unique edge in a niche yet rapidly growing market.

Kandji’s recent rapid growth and substantial funding rounds have further positioned it as a serious contender in this space. Its ability to attract high-profile customers like Canva and Allbirds, along with its strong product innovation pipeline, suggests that Kandji is well-equipped to continue challenging these established players in the years to come.

Notable Challenges

Kandji has faced several significant challenges as it continues to scale and expand its presence in the Apple device management and security market. One of the foremost challenges is navigating the intense competition within the industry. Competitors like Jamf, which has a more established presence, pose a continual threat, pushing Kandji to differentiate itself through innovation and enhanced product offerings. Despite its success in attracting a large customer base, Kandji must consistently prove its value against these well-entrenched competitors.

Another major challenge for Kandji is maintaining its rapid growth trajectory while ensuring operational efficiency. As the company expands globally, it faces the complexities of adapting to different regulatory environments and market conditions. This expansion requires careful planning and execution to avoid logistical and operational pitfalls, such as supply chain disruptions or cultural misunderstandings, that could hinder its market penetration efforts.

Culturally, Kandji has encountered internal challenges related to its fast-paced growth. Maintaining a cohesive company culture has been difficult, particularly with reports of employee dissatisfaction related to leadership communication and workplace dynamics. 

As Kandji broadens its product offerings, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity, it must continuously innovate to stay ahead of evolving security threats. This requires significant investment in research and development to ensure that its solutions remain robust and effective in protecting customers’ Apple devices.

Awards And Accolades

Kandji has received several accolades and recognitions that highlight its growing influence in the Apple device management and security industry. One of its most notable achievements is being listed on Forbes’ “Next Billion Dollar Startups” in 2023, an acknowledgment that underscores its potential to reach unicorn status with a billion-dollar valuation. This recognition was based on Kandji’s rapid growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and its expanding customer base across various industries.

In addition to this, Kandji has been consistently recognized for its innovation in the tech industry. The company has introduced many groundbreaking features in its Device Harmony platform, which have earned it praise from both industry experts and customers. These innovations include advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities and automated compliance management, both of which have been instrumental in securing Kandji’s position as a leader in the market.

Kandji’s commitment to product excellence and customer satisfaction has also been highlighted in industry awards and customer reviews. For instance, the company’s support team, which provides 24/7 global support, has received high marks for customer satisfaction, with a 96% positive rating. This dedication to service excellence has further solidified Kandji’s reputation as a top-tier provider in the Apple device management space.

These awards and recognitions reflect Kandji’s ongoing commitment to innovation, quality, and customer success, which have been key drivers of its rapid rise in the industry.

Success Stories

Kandji has amassed a number of success stories that illustrate its impact across various industries. One of its standout clients is Allbirds, the eco-friendly footwear company. Allbirds leveraged Kandji’s platform to manage and secure its growing fleet of Apple devices across multiple global locations. The automation features provided by Kandji allowed Allbirds to streamline device management tasks, ensuring that their IT team could focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance. This efficiency boost was crucial for Allbirds as it scaled its operations internationally.

Another significant success story comes from Canva, the graphic design platform that has taken the world by storm. Canva utilized Kandji to ensure compliance and security across its vast array of Apple devices, particularly as the company expanded its workforce rapidly. Kandji’s ability to provide real-time visibility into device status and automate security updates helped Canva maintain a secure and efficient IT environment, which was critical as they continued to innovate and grow.

Notion, the popular productivity tool, also benefited greatly from Kandji’s services. Notion’s IT team was able to automate much of their device management, reducing the time spent on manual updates and ensuring that all devices were secure and compliant with company policies. Kandji’s platform enabled Notion to support a fast-growing and distributed workforce, helping the company maintain high standards of operational efficiency and security.

These success stories demonstrate Kandji’s ability to meet the diverse needs of its clients, providing tailored solutions that help companies manage their Apple devices effectively while scaling their operations

Ideal Client Fit

Kandji is ideally suited for medium to large enterprises that rely heavily on Apple devices for their operations. Companies that prioritize security, compliance, and efficient device management are the best fit for Kandji’s platform. Organizations with a distributed workforce, such as tech startups and global corporations, will particularly benefit from Kandji’s automation capabilities. Kandji streamlines device management tasks, reduces the burden on IT teams, and ensures that all devices are kept secure and compliant without manual intervention.

Industries that are heavily regulated, like healthcare, finance, and legal sectors, are also an excellent fit for Kandji. The platform’s robust compliance management tools help these organizations meet strict regulatory requirements by automating security policies and monitoring compliance in real time. Additionally, businesses that are scaling rapidly, such as those in the tech sector, find Kandji invaluable for managing an expanding fleet of devices across multiple locations.

Kandji’s ideal clients are those who seek a comprehensive, Apple-specific solution that goes beyond basic device management to include advanced security features, compliance automation, and seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure. This makes Kandji a preferred choice for enterprises that cannot afford downtime or security lapses and need a platform that grows with them​

Use Cases

Kandji is utilized across various industries and scenarios where managing and securing Apple devices is critical. One common use case is in global technology firms with large, distributed workforces. These companies leverage Kandji to automate device onboarding, configuration, and compliance checks, ensuring that every device meets the company’s security standards from the moment it is deployed. This is particularly valuable for tech companies experiencing rapid growth, as it allows them to scale their IT operations efficiently without compromising security.

In the healthcare sector, Kandji is used to manage devices that handle sensitive patient data. With its robust compliance features, Kandji helps healthcare organizations ensure that all devices adhere to strict regulations such as HIPAA. By automating security updates and monitoring device compliance in real time, healthcare providers can focus on patient care while trusting that their IT infrastructure is secure and compliant.

The finance industry also benefits from Kandji’s capabilities, particularly in managing the security of mobile devices used by employees who access sensitive financial data. Banks and financial institutions use Kandji to enforce strict security policies, such as data encryption and remote wipe capabilities, across all devices. This ensures that even in the event of a lost or stolen device, sensitive information remains protected.

In educational institutions, Kandji is used to manage fleets of iPads and Macs deployed to students and staff. Schools and universities rely on Kandji to push updates, manage apps, and enforce content restrictions, creating a secure and controlled digital learning environment. The platform’s ability to automate these processes significantly reduces the workload on IT staff, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Feature Breakdown

Kandji’s platform is built around several key features designed to simplify the management and security of Apple devices in enterprise environments. Each feature is tailored to address specific needs, ensuring that IT teams can maintain control, compliance, and security with minimal manual effort.

• Automated Device Management Automated Device Management is at the heart of Kandji’s platform, streamlining the entire lifecycle of Apple devices within an organization. This feature automates the initial setup and configuration of devices according to pre-defined policies, ensuring consistency across all devices. It also includes ongoing management capabilities such as automated updates and security enforcement. This reduces the workload on IT teams by eliminating the need for manual interventions and allows organizations to scale their operations more efficiently.
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Kandji’s Endpoint Detection and Response feature is crucial for organizations that prioritize security. This tool provides advanced threat detection capabilities specifically designed for Apple devices, enabling IT teams to identify and respond to potential security incidents quickly. The EDR system monitors for malicious activities, suspicious behaviors, and unauthorized access, providing real-time alerts and automated responses such as quarantining affected devices. This level of protection is essential for companies that handle sensitive data or operate in highly regulated industries.
• Compliance Management Compliance Management is another cornerstone of Kandji’s platform, particularly for organizations operating under strict regulatory frameworks like HIPAA or GDPR. This feature allows IT administrators to automate compliance enforcement across all devices, ensuring that security policies are consistently applied and maintained. The compliance dashboard provides real-time insights into the status of each device, helping organizations quickly identify and resolve compliance issues before they become critical​.
• Mobile Device Management (MDM) Kandji’s platform also includes robust Mobile Device Management capabilities, which are essential for organizations with a mobile or distributed workforce. This feature allows IT teams to manage iOS and iPadOS devices with the same level of control and security as desktops and laptops. MDM includes tools for configuring devices, managing apps, enforcing security policies, and remotely wiping or locking devices if they are lost or stolen. This ensures that all mobile devices are secure and compliant, regardless of where they are used.

Kandji Manage & Control Review

Kandji Manage & Control is an excellent solution for organizations heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, offering streamlined device management, robust security, and ease of use. However, its focus on Apple devices might not make it the best fit for environments with diverse hardware needs.

Key Features:

• Zero-Touch Deployment: Kandji offers a seamless zero-touch deployment process, allowing IT teams to configure and manage Apple devices remotely without physically handling them. This is particularly beneficial for distributed teams and new device setups.
• Blueprints for Custom Configuration: The Blueprints feature lets administrators assign specific apps, controls, and automations to devices based on teams or roles. This flexibility makes it easy to maintain consistent configurations across different departments.
• Advanced Security and Compliance: Kandji includes over 150 pre-built security controls that help organizations comply with standards like HIPAA and GDPR. These controls remain effective even if devices go offline, ensuring continuous security compliance.
• Automated Patch Management: The platform automatically manages updates for macOS and iOS devices, helping organizations keep all devices up to date with the latest security patches and software versions.
• Intuitive User Interface: Kandji is known for its clean, user-friendly interface, which simplifies the management of Apple devices, making it accessible even to those with limited technical expertise.

The Manage and Control plan in Kandji offers several advanced features that aren’t included in the Secure and Protect plan. 

This plan includes automated macOS and iOS patch management for over 160 apps, ensuring that all devices remain up to date without manual intervention. It also offers personalized device setup experiences, such as custom wallpapers and home screen layouts, and integrates with Single Sign-On (SSO) and identity provider (IdP) solutions, enhancing ease of use and security. 

The Manage and Control plan also provides zero-touch deployment, allowing devices to be set up and configured automatically, which is particularly beneficial for large-scale deployments​

Kandji Secure & Protect Review

The Secure and Protect plan in Kandji is designed with a strong focus on advanced security features that are not available in the Manage and Control plan. It includes real-time monitoring and malware detection, which proactively identifies and mitigates threats across all managed Apple devices. 

Key Features:

• Zero-Touch Deployment: Automates device enrollment without the need for IT intervention, making the setup process seamless and efficient.
• Automated Patch Management: Ensures devices are always up-to-date with the latest patches, minimizing vulnerabilities across the network.
• One-Click Compliance Templates: Provides pre-built templates that help organizations quickly comply with security standards, including CIS benchmarks.
• Blueprints for Device Policies: Allows administrators to create, assign, and manage device policies easily using intuitive templates, reducing the risk of policy conflicts.
• Comprehensive Application Management: Streamlines app deployment and updates through Auto Apps and Blueprints, ensuring consistency and compliance across all devices.

This plan also features instant block and quarantine capabilities, allowing IT teams to immediately isolate compromised devices to prevent the spread of malware. Additionally, it offers customized allow/block lists for enhanced control over applications and processes, and integrates with Kandji’s dedicated Apple threat intelligence team, ensuring that security measures are always up-to-date with the latest threats

Kandji Insights Wrap-Up

Kandji has quickly established itself as a key player in the Apple device management and security landscape, offering a comprehensive platform tailored to the unique needs of enterprises that rely on Apple products. Through its innovative features such as Automated Device Management, Endpoint Detection and Response, Compliance Management, and Mobile Device Management, Kandji provides organizations with the tools they need to maintain control, security, and compliance across their Apple ecosystems.

Despite facing challenges related to intense competition, rapid growth, and the complexities of global expansion, Kandji has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, continually enhancing its product offerings to meet the evolving demands of its clients. Its success stories with high-profile clients like Allbirds, Canva, and Notion underscore its effectiveness and reliability as a solution provider.

As Kandji continues to innovate and expand, it remains well-positioned to maintain its growth trajectory and solidify its status as a leader in Apple device management for enterprises. The company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, combined with its strong product suite, ensures that it will continue to be a preferred choice for organizations seeking robust and scalable Apple device management solutions.