Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “set up laptops and accounts for new hires”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

90 min
typically, once a week
70%
of the time can be automated
A small project
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

AutomationBest fix

Ship laptops straight to new hires with zero-touch enrollment

With Windows Autopilot or Apple Business Manager and an MDM, laptops configure themselves the first time the user signs in: apps, settings, security and all.

Typically saves about 60% of the time8 h to set up
  1. 1Register company devices in Apple Business Manager or Windows Autopilot (your reseller can do this at purchase).
  2. 2Build enrollment profiles in Intune, Jamf, Kandji or your MDM with the standard apps and settings.
  3. 3Ship devices directly to the new hire; they sign in and the setup runs.
  4. 4On offboarding, remote lock or wipe from the MDM and arrange a return label.

Tools: Microsoft Intune with Windows Autopilot · Apple Business Manager · Jamf · Kandji · Mosyle

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Drive joiners, movers and leavers from the HR system automatically

When HR adds, changes or ends someone in the HR system, Okta Workflows or Entra ID lifecycle workflows create accounts, assign groups and remove access without a ticket.

Typically saves about 65% of the time10 h to set up
  1. 1Connect your HR system (Workday, BambooHR, HiBob, Rippling) to Okta or Entra ID as the source of truth.
  2. 2Map departments and job titles to groups that grant the right apps.
  3. 3Build joiner, mover and leaver workflows (Okta Workflows or Entra ID Governance lifecycle workflows).
  4. 4Use SCIM provisioning for apps that support it so accounts are created and removed automatically.
  5. 5Test with a fake employee before switching on.

Tools: Okta Workflows · Microsoft Entra ID Governance · Google Workspace · Rippling IT

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Do new laptops set themselves up when the new hire first signs in?
Zero-touch enrollment with Windows Autopilot or Apple Business Manager plus an MDM installs apps and settings automatically, so you can ship devices straight to people.
Are accounts created and removed automatically when HR adds or ends someone?
Okta Workflows and Entra ID lifecycle workflows use the HR system as the trigger to create accounts, assign apps and remove access on the last day.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

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Other common tasks for IT support / Helpdesk teams