JumpCloud Identity & Zero Trust Security for New Zealand Businesses
Still duct-taping Macs to domain controllers and begging users to reset passwords? We design Zero Trust identity stacks that make Macs, Windows, Linux, and SaaS sign in cleanly. No vendor kickbacks, no buzzwords - just a fast path to MFA, SSO, and device trust that sticks.
Zero Trust Security: No Buzzwords, Just Outcomes
Active Directory was built for the 90s office when everyone sat inside one network on Windows PCs. Today your team is distributed and your apps are SaaS-heavy. Stretching AD over that reality means VPN tantrums, duct-taped Group Policies for Macs, and lost time every week resetting passwords and fixing broken logins.
AD sync tools, VPN clients, and brittle connectors love to break on Sunday night. A cloud directory removes that blast radius: one place for identity, one login flow for every app and device, and access that follows your users instead of your building. MFA, device trust, and conditional access happen before a session is issued, so unpatched or unmanaged devices never reach your data.
What you get: a clear TCO and timeline, a migration plan that keeps Monday mornings calm, and MFA/device trust/SSO live from day one. We pick the platform that fits your stack and people—without making you learn new jargon or care which logo powers it.
Outcomes When We Build Your Identity Stack
Cloud Directory Without Monday Outages
Pilot first, keep a rollback, and move people over without sync tools blowing up at 8 a.m. Picked for your stack, not a vendor quota.
What's included
- Shortlist that fits your stack and budget, documented in plain English
- Pilot and rollback plan before anyone notices a change
- Provisioning that covers Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile without tickets
- Hybrid coexistence until the last AD dependency is gone
- Bridges for legacy apps so nothing breaks mid-project
- Admin roles mapped to real duties, not blanket domain admin
Single Sign-On Everywhere
Kill password spreadsheets and "which login is this?" calls. One identity, one MFA prompt, every app—including the stubborn on-prem ones.
What's included
- SSO coverage for finance, collaboration, and line-of-business apps
- Modern OIDC/OAuth wiring for SaaS and custom tools
- Wi-Fi and VPN logins tied to identity rules, not shared secrets
- Legacy apps handled via LDAP/Kerberos when SAML is off the table
- Automatic account birth/death so offboarding is not a checklist
- Sessions and re-auth tuned to risk instead of vendor defaults
Multi-Factor Authentication People Will Actually Use
Push, keys, and simple fallbacks rolled out with training so adoption sticks and tickets drop.
What's included
- Push MFA (JumpCloud Protect, Duo, Okta Verify) as the default experience
- TOTP options for users who prefer authenticator apps
- Hardware keys for admins/finance with WebAuthn, Touch ID, Windows Hello
- SMS and email codes as on-ramps for non-technical roles
- Conditional MFA rules by app, device trust, location, and time
- Break-glass and bypass procedures documented before go-live
Device Trust That Actually Blocks the Wrong Stuff
Access checks the device before a login token is issued. If it's unpatched or unmanaged, it's out—automatically.
What's included
- Enforce "only MDM-enrolled devices may authenticate"
- Conditional access by user risk, device posture, geo, and time
- FileVault/BitLocker checks before credentials are honored
- Version guardrails to block outdated macOS, Windows, iOS builds
- Jamf, Intune, or open-source MDM integrations wired to the directory
- Different rules for office, remote, and contractor networks
Apple + Linux + Windows, One Playbook
One directory, no silos. Macs sign in cleanly, Linux respects sudo policies, Windows joins without bolting on new domain controllers.
What's included
- Mac local account lifecycle with password sync and FileVault escrow
- Linux auth via LDAP/SSSD with role-based sudo policies
- Windows cloud domain join (native where possible, LDAP where required)
- Managed Apple IDs and ABM alignment for iOS/iPadOS
- Cross-platform policies with OS-specific enforcement instead of lowest-common-denominator
- SSH key and certificate-based auth so admins stop sharing passwords
Migration Without the All-Nighter
Phased cutovers, hybrid coexistence, and AD decommissioning when the time is right, not before.
What's included
- AD-to-cloud project plan with comms, pilots, and executive-ready timelines
- Hybrid sync during transition so users aren't forced to switch overnight
- User/computer moves with coordinated password resets and testing
- Dependency mapping that exposes every app still glued to AD
- GPO translation to cloud policies or MDM profiles with acceptance testing
- Safe AD shutdown steps with cost and risk reduction documented
Why magnumit (Instead of the Vendor of the Month)
Recommendations, Not Rebates
We don't chase vendor spiffs. We document why JumpCloud, Okta, Entra ID, or an open-source stack fits you, run a pilot, and hand over a playbook you can operate without us. No black boxes, no MDF-driven agendas.
Apple-First, Cross-Platform Fluent
Macs aren't weird Windows machines. We bind them properly, integrate Jamf for device trust, escrow FileVault keys, and match Windows security posture without pretending domain controllers are mandatory. Linux servers get the same respect: SSSD auth, sudo controls, SSH key management that auditors actually like.
Security Baked In, Not Bolted On
MFA, device posture, and conditional access are default, not "phase two." We verify encryption, OS version, MDM enrolment, and hardware before a login token is issued. 802.1X keeps untrusted devices off the network. Compliance boxes get ticked because the controls are real, not because we wrote a policy document.
Phased Rollouts That Don't Wreck Mondays
No three-day panic migrations. We start with IT, move departments in waves, and keep AD online until every app works in SSO. Most organisations finish in 6-12 weeks without business disruption. Everything is documented so your team can run it without calling us for every tweak.
Who This Delivers for Right Now
Canterbury Schools & Education
Primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions
- Cloud directory for staff and students without the Windows Server tax
- Apple School Manager + Google Workspace rostered with automated class groups
- 802.1X Wi-Fi with certificates for BYOD and school-owned devices
- Teachers can manage groups; no tickets for simple changes
- Chromebook, Mac, and Windows support from one policy set
- Role-based MFA for staff; age-appropriate login for students
Christchurch Creative Studios
Design studios, production houses, media agencies
- Mac-native authentication tied to Jamf with FileVault escrow handled
- SSO for Adobe CC, Frame.io, Slack, NAS, and render pipelines
- SSH key management for render farms and Linux boxes that run the workloads
- Conditional access: MFA remote, certificate auth in-studio
- Freelancer accounts that expire automatically when projects wrap
- Zero Trust remote access so VPN drama stops killing edits
Professional Services Firms
Law firms, accounting practices, consultancies
- Audit-ready logging, PAM, and role separation for partners vs staff
- Microsoft 365 and Xero SSO with conditional MFA on risky actions
- Device trust so only firm-managed laptops reach client data
- Partner and client guest access with timed credentials
- Encrypted credential vaulting and sharing rules everyone follows
- ISO 27001 and legal privilege documentation without vendor fluff
Growing SMBs (10-150 staff)
Scaling Christchurch businesses outgrowing Google Workspace passwords
- Cloud directory at predictable $3-12/user/month instead of hardware + CALs
- SSO for SaaS - kill the password spreadsheet for good
- Mac, Windows, and Linux managed from one console, not three
- Hybrid/remote access without complex VPN appliances
- Architecture that scales from 10 to 500 users without rework
- We train your IT or office manager so you're not locked to us
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about working with magnumit
How do you decide which cloud identity platform to recommend?
How do you decide which cloud identity platform to recommend?
We start with your stack, compliance needs, and who will run it day to day. JumpCloud fits Apple-first SMBs (10-500 users) with strong Mac/Linux support and Jamf integration. Okta works when you need deep compliance features and a massive app catalog. Entra ID (Azure AD) makes sense if you're already paying for Microsoft 365 E3/E5. Authentik or Keycloak give you control without licensing costs but require more operational muscle. You get a comparison matrix with costs, timelines, and risks - no reseller-margin bias.
When should we migrate from Active Directory to cloud identity?
When should we migrate from Active Directory to cloud identity?
Signs it's time: more Macs than Windows, staff working everywhere, SaaS-first stack, VPN headaches, or domain controllers at end-of-life. Cloud identity shines for 10-1000 user organisations where "the office" is optional. We'll map dependencies and tell you if you're ready now or need a hybrid phase first.
Can cloud directory platforms replace Active Directory completely?
Can cloud directory platforms replace Active Directory completely?
For most organisations, yes. Modern cloud platforms deliver Windows domain join, Mac binding, Linux auth, SSO, MFA, and policy enforcement plus device posture and conditional access. If you have legacy apps hardcoded to AD LDAP or old Exchange dependencies, we design a hybrid phase and give you a path to retire AD when the last dependency is gone.
How does cloud identity work with Jamf for Apple devices?
How does cloud identity work with Jamf for Apple devices?
Identity handles who you are; Jamf handles what the Mac can do. Users sign in with cloud creds, FileVault keys escrow properly, and only Jamf-enrolled Macs pass device trust. Same split you'd expect from AD + Jamf, minus the domain controllers and VPN baggage. Works with JumpCloud, Okta, Entra ID, or open-source platforms.
How does device posture enforcement actually work?
How does device posture enforcement actually work?
Before a login token is issued, the platform asks: is the device in MDM, encrypted, on a current OS, and on the approved hardware list? If not, access is denied until it is. The same checks apply to Mac/PC logins, SSO apps, Wi-Fi (RADIUS), and VPN. Automatic, enforced every time, no "please remember to update" emails.
What MFA options work for non-technical users?
What MFA options work for non-technical users?
Push approvals are the default: tap "Approve" and get on with it. No smartphone? Use SMS or email codes. High-trust roles get hardware keys (YubiKey, Touch ID). Conditional MFA lets you enforce for remote or sensitive apps while keeping trusted office devices fast. With training, 95% adoption in the first two weeks is normal.
How much does cloud identity cost compared to Active Directory?
How much does cloud identity cost compared to Active Directory?
Cloud platforms run $5-15/user/month depending on features. AD needs Windows Server licenses, CALs, hardware, backups, patching, and specialist time. For most organisations, cloud identity is cheaper once you include the labour you spend babysitting domain controllers - and the big win is that you get your nights back. We'll give you a TCO comparison using your real numbers.
Can cloud identity work with our existing Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Can cloud identity work with our existing Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Yes. The cloud directory becomes the identity provider for Google Workspace (SAML SSO), Microsoft 365 (federated auth), and 200+ cloud apps. Log in once, get Gmail/Drive/Office/Slack/Xero automatically. SCIM handles user birth/death so offboarding isn't a checklist. Works with JumpCloud, Okta, Entra ID, and open-source platforms.
What happens if the cloud identity platform goes offline - can we still work?
What happens if the cloud identity platform goes offline - can we still work?
macOS, Windows, and Linux cache credentials (typically 30-90 days), so users can log in offline. New SSO app access needs the cloud service, which carries 99.9-99.99% uptime SLAs. If you need belt-and-braces uptime, we design hybrid fallback or build HA with on-prem agents (common with Okta).
Do you provide ongoing support after cloud identity deployment?
Do you provide ongoing support after cloud identity deployment?
Yes, if you want it. We can run the platform ($1,500-3,500/month depending on users and platform) covering provisioning, policy updates, integrations, and incidents. Or we train your team, document everything, and stay on-call. Many clients take managed service for 3-6 months, then run it themselves with us as a safety net.
Based in Christchurch, Delivering NZ-Wide
Christchurch-based, on-site when it matters, remote when it saves you time. JumpCloud migrations and Zero Trust rollouts for schools, studios, and professional firms across New Zealand.
Christchurch & Canterbury Service Areas
Remote delivery nationwide; Christchurch and Canterbury clients get on-site support when it's needed.
Ready to Stop Babysitting Domain Controllers?
Book a Zero Trust game plan call. We'll audit your stack, map dependencies, and hand you a phased migration blueprint you can run with us - or without us. Clear recommendations, no obligation.