macOS
TMA-MACOS14-2.1.1.3
Ensure iCloud Drive Document and Desktop Sync Is Disabled
Description
With macOS 10.12, Apple introduced the capability to have a user's Desktop and Documents folders automatically synchronize to the user's iCloud Drive, provided they have enough room purchased through Apple on their iCloud Drive. This capability mirrors what Microsoft is doing with the use of OneDrive and Office 365. There are concerns with using this capability. The storage space that Apple provides for free is used by users with iCloud mail, all of a user's Photo Library created with the ever larger Multi-Pixel iPhone cameras, and all iOS Backups. Adding a synchronization capability for users who have files going back a decade or more, storage may be tight using the free 5GB provided without purchasing much larger storage capacity from Apple. Users with multiple computers running 10.12 and above with unique content on each will have issues as well. Enterprise users may not be allowed...
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript <<'EOS'
$.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess').objectForKey('allowCloudDesktopAndDocuments').js
EOS- Expected output
false
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
Profile Method: Create or edit a configuration profile with the following information: 1. The PayloadType string is com.apple.applicationaccess 2. The key to include is allowCloudDesktopAndDocuments 3. The key must be set to <false/>
Properties
- Operating systems
- macos-14
- Tags
- macossonoma
- Reference
- CIS Apple macOS 14.0 Sonoma Benchmark v3.1.0 - 2.1.1.3 Ensure iCloud Drive Document and Desktop Sync Is Disabled
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target macos --level 2