Smart Attributes

What Are Smart Attributes and How Do They Work?

Smart Attributes are dynamic device properties that enable advanced automation, segmentation, and device management in Applivery MDM. They allow administrators to define custom attributes that can be assigned to devices based on specific conditions, enabling sophisticated automation workflows and precise device targeting.

Smart Attributes are located in the Automation section of the Applivery dashboard, organized in the following order:

1. Smart Enrollment

2. Device Audiences

3. Automation Rules

4. Smart Attributes

5. Remediation

Smart Attributes can be OS-specific (separate values for Android, iOS/macOS, and Windows) or cross-platform (single value applied across all platforms). They integrate directly with Device Audiences, allowing you to create dynamic device groups based on attribute values.

Note: Smart Attributes are segment-scoped, meaning they can be configured at the workspace level (global segment) or within specific organizational segments.

What Types of Smart Attributes Are Available?

Applivery MDM offers five distinct Smart Attribute types, each designed for specific use cases:

Target Assignment

Smart Attributes support two target assignment methods:

• IT Target (Available now): Managed exclusively through the Applivery dashboard by IT administrators

• User Target (Future release): Allows end-users to set attribute values through the device agent

Note: The initial release supports IT target only. User target will enable end-users to fill in attributes like department selection or device purpose directly from their devices.

Selector Type Details

The Selector type uses interpolators to reference other device properties or Smart Attributes:

• Initial version: Supports interpolators and string operations

• Future versions: Will support advanced functions including:

  • String manipulation (split, substring, concatenation)

  • Conditional logic

  • Mathematical operations on numeric values

  • Date/time calculations

How Do I Create and Configure Smart Attributes?

Creating Smart Attributes involves defining the attribute type, scope, and values. Access Smart Attributes via Dashboard → Automation → Smart Attributes.

Step 1: View and Manage Existing Smart Attributes

The Smart Attributes table displays:

• Name: Attribute identifier

• Type: Custom Text, Script, Constant, Enum, or Selector

• Segment: Organizational segment where the attribute applies

• Scope: OS-specific or Cross-platform

• Devices Affected: Number of devices with this attribute assigned

• Updated: Last modification timestamp

• Actions: Edit, delete, or view attribute details

Click + Add Smart Attribute to create a new attribute.

Step 2: Select Attribute Type and Scope

1. Choose the Smart Attribute type from the five available options

2. Read the information message explaining the selected type

3. Select the scope:

   • OS-specific: Define separate values for Android, iOS/macOS, and Windows

   • Cross-platform: Define a single value that applies to all platforms

Note: For OS-specific attributes, the system automatically hydrates values for each platform in the backend while presenting a unified interface.

Step 3: Configure Attribute Properties

Required fields:

• Name/Label: Display name for the attribute (used in UI)

• Variable Name: Technical identifier (no spaces, used for API/database storage)

Optional fields:

• Description: Explanation of the attribute's purpose and usage

For OS-specific attributes, provide values for each platform:

• Android

• iOS/macOS

• Windows

For Cross-platform attributes, provide a single value that applies universally.

Step 4: Configure Type-Specific Settings

Enum Attributes

Add multiple predefined options that administrators or users can select from.

Script Attributes

• Write or paste the script code

• Use AI assistance to generate scripts (available in the script editor)

• Follow the documentation format for script output (last line must return the value in the specified format)

• Test scripts before deployment

Selector Attributes

Define interpolators using the syntax: {{device.property}} or {{smart_attribute.name}}

Examples:

• {{device.serial_number}}-{{device.model}}

• {{smart_attribute.department}}-{{device.os_version}}

Step 5: Define Device Assignment (Optional)

Configure which devices receive this Smart Attribute automatically:

• Manual assignment: Assign directly to specific devices through device details

• Automatic assignment: Define a Device Audience that determines which devices receive the attribute based on conditions

Note: Smart Attributes can be assigned manually through device management or automatically through Device Audiences when certain conditions are met.

How Do Smart Attributes Work with Device Audiences?

Smart Attributes integrate seamlessly with Device Audiences, enabling dynamic device segmentation based on attribute values. When creating or editing a Device Audience, you can add Smart Attributes as filter criteria.

Device Audience Filter Structure

Device Audience filters follow this structure:

Attribute → Operator → Value

Example configurations:

1. Device Tag filter:

   • Attribute: Device Tag

   • Operator: Includes (has all)

   • Value: Madrid, Barcelona

2. Smart Attribute filter:

   • Attribute: OS Version (Smart Attribute)

   • Operator: Greater than

   • Value: 26.2

3. Combined filters:

   • Smart Attribute: File Vault Enabled = True AND

   • Smart Attribute: OS Version > 26.2 OR

   • Device Tag: Includes Madrid

Logical Operators Between Filters

• AND logic: Applies between filters of the same type

  • Multiple Smart Attribute filters use AND (device must meet all conditions)

  • Example: OS Version > 26.2 AND File Vault = True

• OR logic: Applies between filters of different types

  • Device Tags use OR internally (device can have any of the specified tags)

  • Different filter types use OR (device meets criteria from any filter type)

Available Operators by Attribute Type

Operators vary based on the Smart Attribute data type:

Note: Device Tags use "Includes" (has all) operator, meaning devices must have all specified tags to match.

Viewing Filter Logic

The Device Audience interface displays a formula beneath your filter configuration showing the exact logical evaluation:

(device_tag includes "Madrid" OR device_tag includes "Barcelona") 
AND 
(smart_attribute.os_version > 26.2 AND smart_attribute.filevault = true)

This visual representation helps administrators understand exactly how devices will be evaluated against the audience criteria.

What Are Common Use Cases for Smart Attributes?

Smart Attributes enable sophisticated device management scenarios:

Compliance and Security

• Track security baseline compliance with Script attributes

• Define security tiers using Enum attributes

• Monitor certificate expiration with Selector attributes

• Enforce encryption requirements with Boolean Custom Text attributes

Organizational Management

• Assign department codes with Enum attributes

• Define cost centers with Custom Text attributes

• Track device ownership with Constant attributes

• Identify device location with Custom Text attributes

Automation Workflows

• Trigger policy updates based on attribute changes

• Route devices to appropriate configuration groups

• Automate software deployment based on device tiers

• Generate dynamic device identifiers with Selector attributes

Inventory and Reporting

• Categorize devices by business unit

• Track device lifecycle stages

• Monitor custom compliance requirements

• Generate detailed inventory reports with custom properties

Related Documentation:

• Device Audiences

• Automation Rules

• Remediation Workflows

• Smart Enrollment