How to synchronize business contact data from Nextcloud to iOS/iPadOS devices

Are you looking for an alternative to Exchange for the provision and synchronization of business contact data on fully managed iOS and iPadOS devices? One solution is to create a profile with the Apple Configurator (.mobileconfig). This allows contact data from a Nextcloud instance to be seamlessly synchronized via the CardDAV protocol.

Aim

Implementation

Note! In our article How to make contact data available on a fully managed iPhone/iPad, we show you how to provide your users with contact data easily and in a privacy-compliant manner, without the need for additional software solutions.

Registering accounts with Nextcloud

• You need appropriate software to store and maintain your contact data. For our scenario, we use the Nextcloud solution as an example. However, you can also use comparable tools.
• Either register for a Nextcloud cloud solution or set up a Nextcloud server. The latter gives you better control over data and data protection. Detailed information on installation and configuration can be found on the Nextcloud help pages.
• You also need the Nextcloud contacts app for the server version. This is not activated by default. Install it as well. You can find the app in the Nextcloud App Store.

You need two Nextcloud accounts to provide your users with read-only contact data.

• Log in to account 1 Import your contact lists, e.g. via a .vcf file. To do this, click on Contacts settings→ Import contacts.
• All contacts are stored in account 1 and will be maintained in the future.
• Now share the contacts from account 1 with account 2, but only grant account 2 read permission!
• Account 2 will be shared with the users in a later step.

Note! If only one account is used, changes made to the contacts by one user are automatically synchronized for all other users. 

Copy URL at Nextcloud

To configure the profile in the Apple Configurator, you need your Nextcloud URL of the corresponding address book. The next step is to copy this to the clipboard as follows:

• Log in with account 2.
• Open the contacts settings (left arrow in illus.).
• Then click on the three-dot icon behind the address book to be shared (lower right arrow in illus.).
• Then click on Copy link (upper right arrow in illus.).

Create a new profile in the Apple Configurator

• Download the Apple Configurator to your Apple Mac. The Configurator can be downloaded free of charge from the Mac App Store.

• Start the Apple Configurator and click on File and select New profile (upper arrow in illus.).

• Switch to General and fill in the mandatory fields. 

• Under Security, select the option Always. Under Automatically Remove Profile, select Never (lower arrows in illus.).

• Then select Contacts in the left-hand column.
• Enter a name in the account description (e.g. CardDAV account).
• Add the host name or the IP address and port of your Nextcloud instance (example in the image)
• Under Principal URL, add the link to Nextcloud that you copied to the clipboard in the previous step (arrow in illus.).
• Also enter the user name and password of your Nextcloud account (example in illus.).

• Finally, save your new profile (.mobileconfig file).

Upload and assign profile

• Now open the Cortado administration portal and select Administration→ Policies. 
• Add a new policy by clicking on the plus button (upper arrow in illus.). 
• Then select iOS/iPadOS when using Apple Configurator (lower arrow in illus.).

• Upload your saved configuration profile (*.mobileconfig) (arrow in illus.).

You can now assign the new policy to the users/groups/devices.

• Select the appropriate policy (left arrow in illus.) and click on Assign (right arrow in illus.).
• Now select the users, groups or devices to whom you would like to assign the policy.

Users can then find the contacts from the CardDAV account on their devices in the Contacts app.