Setting up iPad to Access Windows Server File Share

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Level 1

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Setting up iPad to Access Windows Server File Share

Hello,

I'm an IT managed service provider for a small, but profitable business. Recently, in the wake of both wanting to become more mobile and also work from home, they've decided to experiment with the iPad as their mobility solution. One of their team members bought, I believe, the 12" model with a keyboard to get a feel for how the iPad might prove a viable solution for their company.

A number of years ago, I had implemented an OpenVPN server so that their laptops could have access to their files on a Microsoft Windows Server (2012 R2 Essentials). This requires the use of a TAP device (bridge mode as opposed to routed mode). This has been, heretofore, a most successful endeavor. They were able to access everything they needed from anywhere in the world--even if "anywhere in the world" was limited to a twenty mile radius of the "getting off point" that is...the city we live in.

When I dutifully imported the ovpn file into OpenVPN on the iPad, however, I was dismayed to find that iOS doesn't support TAP devices.

Since requesting the architects of iOS to please include TAP devices in their software seems an exercise in futility, I'm wondering if anyone knows how one goes about connecting an iPad to a Windows Server file share remotely and securely.

Thank you for your kind replies.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch, 3rd Gen, Wi-Fi

Posted on May 27, 2020 9:02 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

celliott147

Level 6

12,582 points

May 28, 2020 8:19 AM in response to Mar_Komus

If this is to be the new norm, I would look into a dedicated firewall with VPN. Meraki, Sonicwall, and Fortinet are all vendors I've used, and I would recommend any of them. With a dedicated firewall appliance, you can move to an IPsec or SSL VPN (layers 3 and 4 respectively) from TAP (layer 2). Most larger orgs use a layer 3 or 4 VPN both of which Apple supports natively.

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Answer 2

David_231

Level 2

232 points

May 28, 2020 5:18 AM in response to Mar_Komus

Hi! There are plenty of hacks around connecting an iPad to a Windows Server file share. But I feel what you need for your use case of going remote is more than file sharing. Of course as you roll out more iPads for your employees, you would want to make them functional as well as secure. If this is going to a employee-owned setup, you will have to carefully install business apps on these devices and ensuring data security within those devices without hampering your employees' native user experience. Or if you are planning the roll out by purchasing devices, you need to manage and monitor it. Hence I recommend signing up with an MDM implementation partner like Scalefusion. You can provision your iPads, secure the data and make remote working highly productive.

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Setting up iPad to Access Windows Server File Share

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