Endpoint Services, Adobe Creative Cloud, Removing Unauthorized Versions
Overview
Information about removing unauthorized Adobe Creative Cloud application versions from managed endpoints.
Systems
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), formerly SCCM
Munki Mac Endpoint Management
Affected Customers
University of Illinois IT Pros leveraging MECM and/or Munki endpoint management systems (hosted by Technology Services' Endpoint Services team), who are using Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Actions
General Information
Adobe has announced that as of May 8, 2019, specific older versions of some Creative Cloud applications are now considered to be "unauthorized". All use of unauthorized versions is to be discontinued, and they are to be replaced with authorized versions. According to Adobe, continued use of unauthorized Creative Cloud versions puts the University "at risk of potential claims of infringement by third parties".
Adobe has provided a list of authorized and unauthorized CC versions; the table below provides year-of-release versions (e.g. 2017 or 2018) for convenience. Only the applications listed below are subject to Adobe's new authorized version restrictions, so if an application isn't in the list, all versions of it continue to be authorized by Adobe (although legacy versions may no longer be supported by Endpoint Services.)
| Adobe Product | Minimum Authorized Version | Maximum Unauthorized Version |
| After Effects | 2018 | 2017 |
| Animate | 2018 | 2017 |
| Audition | 2018 | 2017 |
| Bridge | 2018 | 2017 |
| Captivate | Patched 2017 (10.0.1) | Unpatched 2017 (Authorized versions available from the Webstore) |
| InDesign | 2015 | 2014 |
| Lightroom Classic | Patched 2017 (6.1.4) | Unpatched 2017 |
| Media Encoder | 2018 | 2017 |
| Photoshop | Patched 2017 (18.1.7) | Unpatched 2017 |
| Premiere Pro | 2018 | 2017 |
| Prelude | 2018 | 2017 |
| SpeedGrade | All versions are discontinued | N/A |
Removing Unauthorized Versions
The EPS service provides up-to-date versions of Creative Cloud applications; EPS stakeholders can leverage Munki and MECM in order to install authorized versions and keep them updated.
- MECM-provided packages will continue to replace previous versions as in the past, where the superseded version is also available.
- Munki-provided packages will allow side-by-side installations with previous versions, with the exception of Dimension, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Rush, and XD, which will replace previous versions.
Adobe has created a specialized uninstaller that detects and removes unauthorized app versions. The uninstaller performs satisfactorily in the EPS test environment, so we have packaged it for stakeholder use, although we cannot guarantee that it will perform the same in all environments. Also note that some older versions can't be uninstalled by the uninstaller package, and will therefore require manual removal.
- For MECM stakeholders, the uninstaller package is located at ‘\Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Packages\Adobe CC Uninstallers for Unauthorized Versions’.
- For Munki stakeholders, the uninstaller package is called Adobe Uninstall Unauthorized Versions. Please ensure that you also remove unauthorized versions from your manifests so that Munki doesn't try to reinstall them.
Unit IT Pros are responsible for ensuring that their Adobe Creative Cloud deployments adhere to Adobe's restrictions and are therefore legal.
Getting Help
For MECM- or Munki-related questions, contact the EPS team; for questions about the Adobe changes, email webstore@illinois.edu.