I have a small commercial building with about 6 iPads that were set up by a marginally competent vendor. They periodically require passcodes and Apple ID passwords and this has become a serious inconvenience.
The iPads are set up throughout the building and control things like lighting, access doors, and the security system. Individual applications have their own authentication procedure and everyone in the building is authorized to use the system. The Apple ID is owned by management and has a very secure password.
Here's the problem:
The iPads constantly prompt for the Apple ID password, which only management knows. This has resulted in someone from management having to go to every room in the building and enter the very secure (takes long to enter) on every iPad. And I've watched them do this -- it prompts for it over and over. First it asks for it for no particular reason. Then it asks for it to update software. Then it asks for it again for no particular reason. I should make a video of this, it's ridiculous.
This means application additions and updates have to wait for management to make rounds to every iPad and enter every password two or three times. The prompts for the Apple ID password also seem to appear randomly and are system modal -- you can't just ignore them or hit the home key, you must answer them.
There has to be a better way.
How can I deal with users trying to access emergency functions having to find the "Cancel" button on an Apple ID prompt that has appeared for no particular reason?
How can I allow users to install and update applications without having to go to a manager to get the Apple ID password?
Are we doing everything wrong? Is there some simple, sane way for a very small entity to manage a small number of iPads that solves these issues?