The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the landscape of numerous industries, rapidly advancing the adoption of mobile devices as remote work became essential. This shift has led companies to prioritize mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enhance control over security features and protect sensitive data, reducing risks associated with remote access and dispersed teams. This reliance on mobile devices in the workplace, combined with heightened data security requirements, has significantly driven growth in the MDM market over recent years. The rising demand for these security capabilities has positioned MDM as an integral technology in modern workplaces, supporting both productivity and data protection in today’s mobile-driven business landscape.
Microsoft Intune is one of the most popular mobile device management (MDM) solutions available today, providing essential tools for device management and security. The admin center facilitates centralized management and enhances control over security features, offering data-driven reporting, user account management, policy deployment, and service integrations. As a cloud-based service, Microsoft Intune supports both mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) capabilities, making it a top choice for businesses seeking secure, remote management of devices.
What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based unified endpoint management (UEM) solution that enables businesses to keep their workforce productive while securing company data. It provides mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) capabilities, allowing organizations to control how devices and apps access corporate data, including email. App protection policies are essential for balancing employee productivity with data protection. Intune integrates with other Microsoft products like Entra ID and Microsoft Purview Information Protection (MIP), offering a comprehensive security approach. Whether employees are working in-office, remotely, or on the go, Intune ensures consistent management, making it a critical tool for businesses prioritizing cybersecurity, data protection, and seamless device management within their Microsoft 365 environment.
How Does Microsoft Intune Work?
Microsoft Intune leverages mobile OS protocols and APIs for app and device management, beginning with device enrollment. This process ensures that devices are properly configured and integrated into Intune’s management, enabling IT administrators to enforce security policies and maintain an up-to-date inventory of devices accessing enterprise resources. Intune allows organizations to specify policies and rules for specific devices, ensuring compliance with security standards and controlling access to sensitive content. With Intune’s application management capabilities, businesses can remotely deploy applications and updates to mobile hardware, including both in-house and third-party apps across various platforms, including android devices. The platform also supports mobile device configuration, the deployment of certificates, Wi-Fi and VPN profiles, and compliance reporting aligned with corporate standards. Integrated with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), Intune provides enhanced access control and supports a zero-trust security model. Comprehensive monitoring and reporting tools enable organizations to verify that devices meet security standards and track compliance, providing an extra layer of protection for mobile devices and enterprise data.
Microsoft Intune Integration with Microsoft 365
The integration of Microsoft Intune with Microsoft 365 enhances device management, app security, and data protection. By using conditional access policies, organizations can ensure that only compliant devices access Microsoft 365 services. The Company Portal app empowers employees to manage their mobile needs, such as resetting PINs/passwords, installing applications, and joining groups, thereby enhancing overall user experience and reducing support calls. Intune extends its app management to secure Microsoft 365 apps on user devices, while a unified management console allows administrators to easily manage settings, deployment, and monitoring. This seamless integration between Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365 offers businesses a complete solution that boosts productivity while ensuring strong security and compliance across their digital environment.
Microsoft Intune Features and Benefits
Microsoft Intune is a powerful mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) solution that enables organizations to safeguard sensitive data and enhance operational efficiency through various Microsoft Intune features. Intune’s endpoint security features protect both company-owned and personal devices, ensuring compliance and secure access to organizational resources. By providing comprehensive controls over devices and applications, Intune ensures that your business stays secure while empowering employees with the tools they need to be productive.
- Device Management: With Microsoft Intune, managing both corporate and personal devices becomes seamless. Intune helps organizations protect their corporate data by enforcing security measures on managed devices. Companies can take full control of company-owned devices or limit management on personal devices, offering flexibility in your approach to security. Key features include:
- Device Enrollment: Easily track how many devices are enrolled and monitor what resources they can access.
- Compliance Reporting: Generate detailed compliance reports to assess whether devices are meeting security standards.
- Remote Security Management: Push security certificates to enrolled devices remotely, ensuring secure access to company VPNs and other sensitive infrastructure.
Benefit: Simplified management of both company-owned and personal devices, reducing the risk of data breaches and enhancing security across your organization.
- Conditional Access: Intune enforces conditional access policies that limit access to company resources based on device compliance. Whether its ensuring devices are secure or limiting access based on user location, Intune helps prevent unauthorized access.
- Policy Enforcement: Define policies that only allow compliant devices and applications to access corporate data.
Benefit: Strengthen security by ensuring that only trusted devices and users can access critical company resources.
- App Management: Microsoft Intune provides robust mobile application management (MAM), extending control to not only company apps but also custom and third-party store apps. IT administrators can:
- Configure App Settings: Tailor applications to company-specific settings.
- Track App Usage: Monitor which apps are being used, as well as the time spent on them.
- App Assignment: Easily assign apps to user groups or specific devices.
Benefit: Improve efficiency by managing app usage and ensuring that employees use apps that meet corporate standards, all while providing flexibility for custom or third-party apps.
- Compliance Policies: Intune enables organizations to define and enforce strict compliance policies for all devices, ensuring that only devices meeting your security criteria can access sensitive data. Policies can restrict access from jailbroken or rooted devices to reduce vulnerabilities.
Benefit: Enforce consistent security standards and reduce the risk of compromised devices accessing corporate networks.
- Analytics and Reporting: Intune offers intuitive dashboards and detailed reports, allowing IT administrators to gain insights into device compliance, app usage, and security posture. This data helps in making informed decisions to improve your organization’s security stance.
- Real-Time Insights: View up-to-date compliance status, app usage statistics, and device security reports.
Benefit: Empower IT teams with actionable insights that lead to better security decision-making and improved overall compliance.
With Microsoft Intune, businesses can streamline device management, enhance security, and optimize productivity across mobile environments. Its comprehensive features ensure that data remains secure while offering the flexibility needed to manage modern workforces effectively.
Zero Trust Security Model
In today’s digital landscape, businesses are encouraged to adopt the zero-trust model. Intune supports this model by assuming that all users, devices, and applications are untrustworthy until proven otherwise. This approach requires rigorous authentication and authorization for all access requests, ensuring that only verified devices and applications can access corporate resources. Intune’s conditional access policies, device compliance controls, and application protection policies are integral to this model, providing multiple layers of security. By implementing a Zero Trust security model with Microsoft Intune, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect their sensitive data more effectively.
Advanced Features and Integrations
Microsoft Intune offers a range of advanced features and integrations that enhance its capabilities in managing and protecting endpoints. Integration with Microsoft 365 services, such as Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, allows for seamless management and enhanced security. Additionally, Intune supports integration with third-party services like Managed Google Play and Apple Certificates, providing flexibility in managing diverse device ecosystems. Advanced analytics and reporting capabilities offer IT professionals valuable insights, enabling data-driven decision-making to improve security and compliance. These advanced features and integrations make Microsoft Intune a versatile and powerful tool for endpoint management.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Microsoft Intune provides a variety of tools and resources to assist IT professionals in troubleshooting common issues. Diagnostic reports can help identify problems with devices, policies, or applications, offering detailed insights for resolution. The troubleshooting portal provides solutions and guidance for frequently encountered issues, while the community forum allows IT professionals to ask questions and share knowledge. Additionally, online documentation and training resources offer comprehensive information on using Intune effectively. By leveraging these tools and resources, IT professionals can quickly resolve issues and ensure smooth operation of their endpoint management system.
How PSM Partners Can Help Your Company with Intune Mobile Device Management & Implementation
PSM Partners offers managed Microsoft 365 services helping businesses and institutions maximize the value of their Microsoft 365 subscriptions. As a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner, we provide a range of services including Microsoft Endpoint Management, Microsoft Managed Desktop, Microsoft 365 Identity and Security Assessments, Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams (formerly SharePoint), Windows Autopilot, and Microsoft Intune. Our expert Microsoft 365 consultants can assist in implementing Microsoft Intune for comprehensive mobile device management and security, while also guiding you in selecting and deploying the most efficient and cost-effective apps and solutions. We ensure your organization leverages Microsoft 365 to improve productivity, security, and operational efficiency. To learn more about our Microsoft Solutions, contact us today.