Microsoft Intune is Microsoft’s cloud device management and endpoint security configuration platform.
If Entra ID manages who signs in, and Microsoft Defender protects against threats,
Intune controls whether the device itself is trusted.
It manages company laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones — whether they are owned by the business or by the employee (BYOD).
In simple terms:
Intune decides if a device is secure enough to access company data.
It allows organisations to secure users without relying on an office network, VPN, or on-premises servers.
Why This Matters to Admins
The traditional IT model was simple:
Office network = trusted
Outside network = untrusted
That model no longer exists.
Users now:
- check email on phones
- open SharePoint files at home
- use Teams on personal tablets
- sign into Microsoft 365 from anywhere
Without device management, your only protection is a password.
That means:
A compromised or stolen device can still access company data.
Intune changes this by enforcing security requirements before access is allowed.
What Microsoft Intune Actually Does
Intune lets administrators centrally configure devices without physically touching them.
Once a device is enrolled, Intune can automatically:
- Configure Outlook and Microsoft 365 apps
- Require screen locks and PINs
- Enforce disk encryption (BitLocker/FileVault)
- Enforce OS updates
- Verify antivirus health
- Restrict access to corporate resources
- Protect company data inside mobile apps
- Remove company data remotely
Intune provides two key management models:
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Controls the device itself.
Examples:
- security settings
- updates
- compliance
- device restrictions
Mobile Application Management (MAM)
Protects company data inside apps even on personal devices.
Examples:
- protect Outlook mobile
- prevent copy/paste to personal apps
- block saving files to personal storage
This is how businesses can secure personal phones without taking over the whole phone.
How Intune Works With Microsoft 365 Security
Intune integrates directly with Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access.
Instead of only checking a username and password, Microsoft evaluates:
- user identity
- device compliance
- location
- risk signals
This follows Microsoft’s Zero Trust model.
Access is granted only when both the user and the device are trusted.
Example
A user signs into Outlook from an outdated laptop.
Intune detects:
- no encryption
- missing security updates
Conditional Access automatically blocks access to email until the device is secured.
No admin intervention required.
Licensing
Intune is user-licensed, not device-licensed.
A license is required for any user whose device is managed or protected by Intune.
Included with:
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Microsoft 365 E3
- Microsoft 365 E5
- Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3/E5
Common mistake
Businesses assign one Intune license to IT and enroll every device.
This is not compliant.
Each user with a managed device requires a license.
Enrolling Devices (How Devices Get Into Intune)
Devices must be enrolled before Intune can manage them.
There are multiple onboarding methods.
Windows Devices
- Windows Autopilot (recommended)
- Manual enrollment
- Azure AD Join
Mobile Devices
- Company Portal app
- QR code enrollment
- Apple Automated Device Enrollment (ADE)
- Android Enterprise enrollment
Macs
- Apple Business Manager integration
- Company Portal enrollment
Once enrolled, the device receives company configuration automatically.
Compliance Policies (The Most Important Feature)
Compliance policies are the real power of Intune.
They define the minimum security standard required before a device can access Microsoft 365.
You can require:
- encryption enabled
- OS version minimum
- passcode/PIN
- antivirus active
- device not jailbroken/rooted
If the device fails → access is blocked automatically via Conditional Access.
This is what prevents data breaches from insecure devices.
Real-World Scenario: Lost or Stolen Device
If a device is lost or an employee leaves:
IT can remotely:
- wipe the entire company laptop
- or remove only company data from a personal phone
This is called Selective Wipe.
Personal photos and apps remain untouched on BYOD devices.
This protects both company security and employee privacy.
What This Actually Means in a Real Tenant
After deploying Intune you gain:
- device compliance enforcement
- automated onboarding of new computers
- standardised security settings
- remote support capabilities
- controlled access to Microsoft 365
But more importantly:
You can now block risky devices from accessing company data automatically.
Admins are no longer manually policing devices.
Security becomes policy-driven.
How Intune Fits Into Microsoft Security
Intune works as part of the Microsoft security stack:
- Entra ID → identity
- Intune → device trust
- Defender → threat detection
- Conditional Access → access decisions
Together they create a full Zero Trust security model.
When You Should Deploy Intune
You should deploy Intune if you:
- allow remote work
- use laptops outside the office
- allow mobile email access
- store files in SharePoint/OneDrive
- need cyber-insurance compliance
- want to replace on-prem Group Policy
Especially important for businesses moving away from on-premise domain controllers.
Overall Notes
Microsoft Intune is Microsoft’s modern device management platform.
It:
- manages company and personal devices
- enforces security standards
- integrates with Conditional Access
- protects Microsoft 365 data
Instead of trusting the network, organisations now trust verified devices.
Intune is the system that decides whether a device is safe enough to access company resources.
