Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that provides unified endpoint management (UEM). In simpler terms, it's a tool that helps organizations manage and secure a wide range of devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and computers, whether they are company-owned or personally-owned (BYOD - Bring Your Own Device).
It's a key component of the broader Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite, which also includes Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM) for on-premises device management. The combination of Intune and Configuration Manager allows for a hybrid management approach, which is useful for organizations that are transitioning from on-premises to cloud-based management.
Key
Features and Capabilities
- Device Management: Intune allows you to enroll, configure, and manage
devices across different platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and
Android. This ensures devices comply with your organization's security and
policy requirements.
- Application Management: You can deploy, update, and manage applications on
devices. This includes not only Microsoft 365 apps but also custom
line-of-business (LOB) apps, store apps, and Win32 apps.
- Security and Compliance: Intune helps enforce security policies, such as
requiring strong passwords, encrypting data, and controlling access to
corporate resources. It integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to
provide threat protection and can be used to set compliance policies that
determine whether a device is "healthy" enough to access
corporate data.
- Identity and Access Control: Intune works closely with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly
Azure Active Directory) to manage user identities and control access to
applications and data. You can set up conditional access policies to
ensure that only compliant and authorized devices can access sensitive
information.
- Remote Work Support: It's designed to support a modern, remote workforce by
providing features like VPN profile configuration and secure remote access
to corporate resources. You can also perform remote actions like locking
or wiping a lost or stolen device.
- Reporting and Analytics: Intune provides dashboards and reports that give
administrators visibility into device status, compliance, and user
activity, which helps in making informed security and management
decisions.
Common
Use Cases
- Securing a BYOD Program: Organizations can use Intune's Mobile Application
Management (MAM) to protect corporate data within specific apps on
personal devices without taking full control of the entire device.
- Deploying Applications and
Updates: IT can automatically push out
required applications, security patches, and operating system updates to
all enrolled devices.
- Enforcing Security Policies: It allows for the creation of policies that, for
example, disable a device's camera in a secure area or ensure that all
devices have a minimum level of security, such as an active antivirus
program.
- Onboarding New Employees: With Windows Autopilot, Intune can automate the
provisioning of new devices, allowing a device to be shipped directly to a
new employee who can then have it automatically configured with all the
necessary applications and settings.
Licensing and Pricing
Microsoft
Intune is available through different plans, which can be purchased as
standalone licenses or as part of a Microsoft 365 or Enterprise Mobility +
Security (EMS) subscription. Pricing typically depends on the level of functionality
required, with add-ons available for advanced features like Remote Help and
Endpoint Privilege Management.
Relevant Link
- Methods to Enroll Windows 10/11 Devices in Microsoft Intune
- How to manage and protect your device in Intune policies?
- List of the top 20 interview questions about Microsoft Intune
- List of top 20 interview questions about Microsoft Autopilot