SkieWhat is the panic lock and when should I use it?
Panic lock is an emergency control that locks managed devices straight away from the dashboard. Use it when something is going wrong right now, such as a security incident, a suspected breach of policy across many devices, or an evacuation. It is a deliberate, recorded action, and devices apply it as soon as they are online.
Most device management is calm and scheduled. Panic lock is the exception: a single action for the moment when you need devices locked and cannot wait for the usual process.
Think of the situations. A batch of tablets has gone missing from a charging room. A rule has been changed wrongly and is exposing students to something it should not. An incident in a building means you want screens locked and attention elsewhere. In each case the faster route is to lock first and sort out the detail afterwards.
A locked device stops being usable until you release it. Online devices respond quickly. Devices that are offline apply the lock when they next reach Skie, so the lock cannot be avoided by turning off the network in the long run, though a device with no connection will not hear the instruction until it reconnects.
The action is taken by people with the right role and is recorded in the audit log, so you can later show who pressed it and when. Because it is disruptive, limit it to a few trusted roles. For a wider sweep across the organisation, see lock all devices at once.
Panic lock stops use; it does not wipe or erase anything. Remote erase of a lost device is not available yet. For a single missing device, lost mode is the right tool, as it locks the device, shows a contact message, tracks it and gathers evidence for a police report. Practical tip: agree in advance who is allowed to press it and what the follow-up steps are.