iOS 9.3 will let IT managers define home screen layout, hide and blacklist apps
For businesses and other organizations, Apple's forthcoming iOS 9.3 update will let them lock the layout of a device's home screen -- and exert more control over apps in general.

Layout lock requires OS X Server, Profile Manager, and supervision configured on a device, according to official documentation highlighted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith on Tuesday. With the option in force, apps can't be rearranged, for example allowing a company to ensure that apps it wants workers to use can't be moved into a folder or a different page.
Organizations will moreover be able to hide apps, or blacklist or whitelist specific ones, determining what can be downloaded to an iPhone or iPad in the first place.
Administrators will lastly be able to enforce notification settings, which may help them in circumstances where it's critical that some app notifications come through.
iOS 9.3 is still in beta testing. Large-scale deployments are a particular focus in the update, but mainly for schools, which will for instance have a universal management hub and a Classroom app so teachers can exercise more control over student iPads.

Layout lock requires OS X Server, Profile Manager, and supervision configured on a device, according to official documentation highlighted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith on Tuesday. With the option in force, apps can't be rearranged, for example allowing a company to ensure that apps it wants workers to use can't be moved into a folder or a different page.
Organizations will moreover be able to hide apps, or blacklist or whitelist specific ones, determining what can be downloaded to an iPhone or iPad in the first place.
Administrators will lastly be able to enforce notification settings, which may help them in circumstances where it's critical that some app notifications come through.
iOS 9.3 is still in beta testing. Large-scale deployments are a particular focus in the update, but mainly for schools, which will for instance have a universal management hub and a Classroom app so teachers can exercise more control over student iPads.
Comments
Also, parents should love these features.
Nope, nope and nope. iOS 9.3 enables just 4-5 new features that are part of the enormously complex Profiles and Supervision installation process. Unless you want to invest in an OS X server and a publicly exposed network infrastructure, MDM server and a degree in Computer Science, this not for individuals or parents. As far as IT administrators and security is concerned these new Profile entries do not affect any of the exiting security features in Profile Manager and if the iPhone is locked or encrypted they still can't retrieve any data from it unless they know the passcode. Follow the link in the article to the documentation for more information. BTW many of the Profiles management values are supported by OS X as well.
Maybe these types of features will help OS X Server become a bit more common. Would need to come a long way to compete with its competitors though. I'm a big fan of it though.
Good feature but this won't be available to the public. Would be nice to hide those annoying default apps we don't use though.
You want independence? Buy your own phone!
Sorry, what the fuck are you even talking about?
Why can't I encrypt my phone against IT access then?
Seems a double standard.
My mon and all 4 of my siblings and 5 out of 9 kids are iOS users, nothing to report from a any of them. I can't speak for all of them but maybe it could be because I grab my phone by the side edges and not by pinching the home button or screen and back. I also tap on the icons intently rather than loiter on them before releasing.
However my mom's 94 year old Italian friend did delete a Safari Home Screen shortcut I had prepared for him pointing to his Italian newspaper website back home, it was only his third time using any computing device though and I think he was a bit nervous with slightly shaky hands.
OT, who's iPad is that with all the Google crap on it, why not just get an Android tablet. Maybe they just wanted a secure encrypted device.
Seems like a double standard only because you don't understand the issue.
IT has total control on phones given to employees by the company. The phones are owned by the company, so obviously they have total control over it. These are work phones we are talking about, not personal phones.
In the case of the FBI, the phone is not owned by them.