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We are just past the five-year anniversary of the first Apple Silicon Mac (M1 MacBook Air), and the long-term impact of that transition is starting to show up for both Apple and IT teams. MacPaw’s new Mac Admin Survey for 2026 paints a clear picture of what life looks like for IT teams managing Apple hardware. Macs are lasting longer, IT teams are relying more on automation and maintenance tools, and AI is quietly becoming part of everyday IT team workflows. At the same time, resource gaps are growing, and most teams are understaffed. IT teams are being asked to support larger fleets with fewer people, and they are turning to community support and new tools to keep up with ticket volume, etc.
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About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.
The Mac is lasting longer than ever
One of the most mind-blowing findings in the survey is how long Macs now stay in service at the companies of those surveyed. Almost half say their Macs remain in use for three to five years, which is a direct reflection of how amazing even the M1 Apple Silicon chip is. M-series machines are not aging the way Intel hardware did. They run cooler, perform the same on day one thousand as they did on day one, and simply do not need to be replaced as often. I still own an original M1 Air, and it still runs great.
For IT teams, this shift changes the entire rhythm of hardware management. Instead of planning for regular replacement cycles driven by performance issues, teams are focusing on keeping people productive and minimizing downtime. In some ways, this hurts Apple because The longer lifespan also gives organizations more breathing room in their budgets, and also allows them an easier time going for higher end features (more RAM, larger storage, etc)When a Mac lasts four or five years without becoming a major issue, it lets companies invest in better management tools, stronger security practices, and improvements that support the people who rely on these devices every day. The machines are holding up, so IT can focus on the experience around them. Of course, Apple makes money from selling hardware, so there is that to consider, but overall, the Mac is at an incredible place hardware wise.
Doing more with less
I spoke to someone in the IT industry recently, and we talked about how in IT, projects are never done. Did your team roll out new software? You support it forever. Roll out new phones? You’re now the phone department. The survey makes it clear that IT teams are being asked to do more with less. Nearly 1/3rd of Mac admins say they are already using AI in parts of their workflows. That usage is not coming from a place of excitement. It is coming from necessity. The report shows a rise in admins who feel they do not have the resources they need.
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