Which step is crucial for deploying Intune on an Apple device?

Obtaining an Apple push notification certificate and uploading it to Intune is a fundamental step in deploying Intune on an Apple device because this certificate enables communication between Apple's devices and the Intune service. The Apple push notification service (APNs) is essential for managing devices effectively as it allows Intune to send management commands to enrolled devices securely. This setup is necessary for features such as remote wipe, device lock, or pushing configurations and applications. Without the certificate, Intune cannot communicate with the devices, making it impossible to manage and secure them according to your organization’s policies.

In contrast, while installing the Intune Management App is part of the process for user enrollment, it cannot occur until the device is properly set up to communicate with Intune through APNs. Connecting to iCloud and ensuring the presence of an Apple ID are useful for personal device management and user experience but do not directly contribute to the deployment and management of Intune on an organizational level. Since the push certificate facilitates the fundamental link between Intune's management capabilities and Apple's infrastructure, it is a crucial step.