Various aspects directed towards automating an onboarding procedure are disclosed. In a first aspect, an administrative communication associated with onboarding an onboardable device is received by an access point (AP) device, such that the administrative communication originates from a device different than the onboardable device. The AP device then enables the onboardable device to access a secure network based on the administrative communication. In another aspect, an identifier is transmitted from an onboardable device while the onboardable device operates in an AP mode. The onboardable device then receives credentials associated with accessing a secure network via an AP device. Here, the credentials received from the AP device are in response to an authentication of the identifier by an administrator. The onboardable device then connects to the secure network by utilizing the credentials.