International Travel - Cell Phone Management Guide

Guidelines for Departments Managing Mobile Devices for International Travelers

Departments that purchase and maintain mobile phones for international travel should follow these best practices to ensure smooth setup and usage. Please note that KU IT does not provide support for external services or account registrations related to international travel.

General Recommendations

  • Do not share phone numbers between users.
    Sharing numbers can interfere with a user's ability to register for services others have already setup.

Inventory Tracking

  • Label the device:
    Use a label maker to print the serial number and phone number, and place it on the back of the phone. This helps in case the PIN is forgotten and is required by KU IT if a device wipe is requested.

  • Keep the original box:

    • Label it with the same serial and phone number information.
    • It also serves as a protective storage option for the device.

Device Setup

  • During setup, the device will automatically enroll into KU IT’s management platform.
  • The user will be required to set a PIN code—this is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
  • All other setup question should be addressed based upon personal or departmental preferences 

Duo Support

  • Users may want to temporarily register the device’s number with their Duo account.
  • Visit the Duo support page and look for “Enrolling Additional Devices.”
  • For assistance, users can contact KU IT at 785-864-8080.

Software Installation

  • The App Store is disabled by default on KU IT-managed devices.
  • To install apps from the pre-approved list, open the Self Service app on the device.
  • If additional software is needed:
    • For accommodations: Visit the Human Resources Employment Accommodations page.
    • For travel-related requests: Contact the Global Risk and Security team.
      • If approved, Global Risk will notify KU IT directly.
      • Any approval from the user is not sufficient for KU IT to process software changes.

Post-Travel Device Actions

  • All devices must be wiped after international travel.
  • The returning user may need to update or reset the PIN before returning the device.
  • Once accessible, follow Apple’s official instructions to erase the device:
    Erase iPhone – Apple Support
    (Make sure to select the correct iOS version at the top of the page.)
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