Intune (Microsoft Intune)

What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution that allows organizations to manage devices, applications, and security policies across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux endpoints. Intune is part of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager ecosystem and integrates tightly with Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365.

Why Intune matters

Intune is critical for modern IT because it:

• Enables centralized device and application management
• Supports remote and hybrid work environments
• Enforces security and compliance policies
• Reduces dependency on on-premises infrastructure
• Plays a key role in Zero Trust strategies

It is widely used by enterprises, SMBs, and MSPs.

Key Intune capabilities

Microsoft Intune provides features such as:

• Device enrollment and lifecycle management
• Mobile Device Management (MDM)
• Mobile Application Management (MAM)
• Configuration profiles and policies
• Compliance and conditional access enforcement
• Application deployment and updates
• Endpoint security controls

These capabilities apply across multiple operating systems.

Intune and device management models

Intune supports different management scenarios:

• Corporate-owned devices (fully managed)
• BYOD devices (app-level management)
• Hybrid and cloud-only devices
• Autopilot-based provisioning
• Shared or kiosk devices

This flexibility supports diverse enterprise use cases.

Intune and security

From a security perspective, Intune enables:

• Device compliance enforcement
• Conditional Access integration
• Disk encryption (e.g., BitLocker, FileVault)
• Endpoint hardening and configuration baselines
• Application protection policies
• Remote wipe and selective data removal

Intune is often combined with Defender and Entra ID for layered security.

Intune vs traditional device management

Compared to legacy tools:

• Intune is cloud-native
• No on-premises infrastructure is required
• Policies are identity-driven rather than network-based
• Remote management is built-in
• Scalability is significantly improved

This makes Intune well-suited for modern workplaces.

Intune in enterprise environments

Organizations use Intune to:

• Manage laptops, desktops, and mobile devices
• Secure access to SaaS and cloud applications
• Standardize device configurations
• Support compliance and audits
• Reduce helpdesk overhead

Intune is often the backbone of Modern Workplace architectures.

Common misconceptions

• "Intune only manages mobile devices"
• "Intune replaces all endpoint security tools"
• "Intune requires on-prem Active Directory"
• "Intune is only for large enterprises"