What is Microsoft Intune for?: Complete guide and real-world uses

Hybrid and remote work The number and variety of devices accessing enterprise resources has skyrocketed, forcing IT to orchestrate frictionless access, application, and security policies. In this scenario, Intune has established itself as the central control element in the cloud for managing endpoints, protecting data, and reducing operational complexity.

Beyond a classic MDM, Intune combines device management (MDM), management of apps (MAM), conditional access, and advanced security, analytics, and automation capabilities. Powered by Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android (including AOSP) and Ubuntu Desktop, and natively integrates with Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Security ecosystem to drive a Zero Trust model.

What is Microsoft Intune and what is it for?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management platform. It unifies security policies, application deployment and lifecycle, device configuration, and access control. Its main objective is twofold: to protect the organization's critical information while allowing people to work flexibly, whether they use corporate-owned equipment or personal devices (BYOD).

Intune Suite Adds premium features that strengthen your security posture and IT operations: Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, Enterprise App Management, Microsoft Cloud PKI, and Plan 2 capabilities. All of these integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Security. An Intune Plan 1 subscription is required to use the suite.

The value for IT and Security This translates into simplification (a single console and unified workflows), improved compliance, and reduced costs by consolidating vendors and licenses. The benefit for users: a consistent experience, reduced access friction, and always-available and up-to-date apps.

Key features and benefits

• User and Device ManagementManage corporate and personal devices with broad platform support (Android, Android AOSP, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu Desktop). Apply policies that restrict secure access to resources based on user profile and device status.
• End-to-end application management: Deploy, update, and retire apps; connect to private stores; enable the Microsoft 365 suite (including Teams); publish Win32 and line-of-business apps; and enforce protection policies to prevent data leakage between personal and corporate contexts.
• Policy Automation- Create and assign configuration, security, compliance, or conditional access policies to user or device groups. ADMX Group Policy Templates to expand the possibilities. Endpoints only need an internet connection to receive them, accelerating standardization and governance at scale.
• Self-service with Company Portal: Allow people to reset PINs or passwords, install corporate apps, join groups, or manage their profile. Customize the portal to reduce support calls and improve the experience.
• Alliance with Mobile Threat Defense- Integrate Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and third-party services for real-time risk analysis, automated threat response, and policies that react to device risk levels.
• 100% web-based administration centerManage Intune from any browser with data-driven reporting. Each console action executes calls to Microsoft Graph, enabling standardized API-based automation and orchestration.
• Advanced endpoint features with Intune Suite: remote assistance, controlled privilege escalation, Microsoft Tunnel for MAM, advanced analytics, and other add-ons that increase security, efficiency, and specialized support.
• Copilot in IntuneGenerative analytics to summarize policies, propose recommended configurations, detect potential conflicts, and assist with device-level issue resolution. Integrates Security Copilot capabilities to accelerate decision-making.
• Additional essential controls: data encryption, remote wipe, password policy, and device inventory maintenance—critical for robust governance and compliance with security regulations.

Integration with Microsoft services

• Configuration managerCombine on-premises and cloud management through co-management or tenant association. Take advantage of the web console and Intune cloud capabilities without losing control over advanced server and PC scenarios.
• Windows Autopilot: Provision new equipment directly from the OEM to the end user or reprovision existing equipment to a modern state, with less IT intervention and a guided employee experience.
• Endpoint analytics: gain visibility into performance, reliability and end-user experience. Identify policies or hardware that degrade productivity and act proactively to reduce tickets.
• Microsoft 365: implement the productivity apps and manage your identity-linked lifecycle in Microsoft Sign In ID, with SSO and unified data access control.
• Defender for Endpoint: Create service-to-service connections to assess risk, scan files, and enforce compliance based on threat level. Combined with Conditional Access, block access from non-compliant devices.
• Windows Autopatch: Automate patching of Windows, Microsoft 365 Apps, Edge, and Teams using Intune as the engine, either with direct enrollment or co-managed with Configuration Manager Windows Update for Business.

Integrations with third parties

• Google Managed Play: Connect your corporate account to manage your private Android app store and distribute apps in a controlled manner to Android Enterprise devices.
• Apple (tokens and certificates): Integrate Apple Business Manager to enroll iOS/iPadOS and macOS, distribute volume licenses, and enable monitoring modes that expand IT control.
• TeamViewer: Provide secure remote support by linking your account to assist managed devices remotely without losing traceability.
• Identity and ZTNA: Integrate with providers like Okta, Ping, or Workspace ONE Access for advanced authentication, and Zero Trust access solutions (e.g., Okta Access Gateway, Zscaler, F5, CrowdStrike) that prioritize identity and risk posture over network location.
• Provisioning portals: Support for Android Enterprise, Google Zero Touch, and Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment, facilitating large-scale enrollments with minimal friction.

Management models: MDM, MAM, or both

• MDM (Mobile Device Management)For corporate devices, enroll in Intune and comprehensively manage identity, apps, settings, security, and compliance. Enforce policies from enrollment so your device arrives ready to work.
• MAM (Mobile Application Management)Ideal for BYOD. Protects data within apps without managing the entire device. Publish apps, configure settings, force updates, and get usage and app inventory reports.
• MDM + MAM: Combine both when you need extra security on certain enrolled device applications, applying data protection MAM policies above device control.

Data protection on any device

• Managed Devices: Enforce security policies, password requirements, certificates, mobile threat defense, compliance metrics, conditional access, and remote wipe. The goal is to isolate and protect corporate information without sacrificing productivity.
• Personal devices: Offer options. Full opt-in for full access, or if only email or Teams is required, app-level protection with MFA and policies that prevent copying/pasting corporate data into personal apps.
• Security applied to applications: Use MAM on devices with third-party MDM, too. Combine it with Conditional Access to restrict which apps can open corporate email and files, with the ability to perform selective data wipes within the app.

Simplify user access

• Windows Hello for business: Replace passwords with locally stored PINs or biometrics, reducing phishing risks and speeding up logins to devices and apps.
• VPN CorporateCreate profiles with Check Point, Cisco, Microsoft Tunnel, NetMotion, Pulse Secure, or others for secure remote access. Use certificates for password-free authentication, improving security and the experience.
• Managed Wi-Fi: Publish networks, authentication methods, proxies, and auto-connect. Integrate certificates to eliminate the need for manual credentials and secure local access.
• Single sign-on (SSO): On Windows, integrate with Sign-in ID and can be extended to VPN and Wi-Fi; on Apple, use the Enterprise SSO plugin; on Android, adopt the MSAL library for frictionless sign-in.

Application Management: Capabilities by Platform

• Publication and assignment: Add and assign apps to users or devices on Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, and Android. On iOS/Android, you can also assign them to unenrolled devices; this doesn't apply to macOS/Windows.
• App settings: Apply configuration policies to control behavior Boot and app settings on iOS/Android; manage provisioning profiles in iOS to renew certificates before they expire.
• Data protection in apps- Apply MAM policies for iOS/Android and, where applicable, Windows. For Windows scenarios, consider Windows MAM or Microsoft Purview (Information Protection and DLP) for advanced and simplified policies.
• Selective erase- Remove only corporate data from an app without affecting personal information. Monitor app assignments, installation statuses, and protection compliance at the user level.
• Volume purchases and types of appsManage VPP licenses on iOS and Windows, distribute internal (LOB) apps, web links, and store apps. In Android Enterprise, LOB apps are published privately to managed Google Play. Creating web links varies depending on the dedicated Android device mode.
• Updates and conversion: Automate app updates. On iOS, native conversion to a managed app is available, allowing Intune to take control of a previous installation outside of MDM/MAM.

Where is everything in the Intune console?

• Access to Application WorkloadSign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center and go to Apps. From there, you'll see the essentials for setup, assignment, security, configuration, and monitoring.
• General Information and All Applications: View tenant data, MDM entity details, and the status of installations and policies. Review the app catalog, their status, and assignments, and add new ones as needed.
• Supervise: Monitor volume licensing, detected apps, installation status, app protection status, and user-level configuration settings to ensure compliance and environmental health.
• Digital Platforms: Filter by Windows, iOS, macOS, or Android to view and manage the specific set of apps by operating system.
• Managed Applications: Define protection (MAM policies), configuration (per-app settings), iOS provisioning profiles, supplemental policies for S mode on Windows, specific policies for Microsoft 365 apps, selective wipe, and app quiet time.
• Organize apps: Create assignment filters to segment, manage app categories, and manage eBooks and volume purchases from Apple or Microsoft as appropriate.
• Help and Support: Diagnose, request support, and review Intune service status from the same console, speeding up incident resolution.

Additional elements related to apps

• Signature certificates- Manage Windows certificates (Enterprise and Symantec) required to distribute signed LOB apps to managed devices.
• Sideloading Keys- Add keys to install apps directly on Windows devices when the workflow requires it.
• Configuration Manager Connector: Check status, last sync, and hierarchy details (2006 or later) for consistent co-management.
• Apple Business Manager Tokens: Apply and view volume licenses for iOS/iPadOS and macOS, simplifying the governance of your Apple app fleet.
• Google Play Managed- Manage Android Enterprise app origins from Intune for a secure and traceable publishing flow.
• Customizing Company Portal: Tailor the portal to your brand to improve adoption and clarity, and reduce support tickets.

EMM benefits and real-life scenarios

• Unified mobility governmentManage both company-owned and BYOD devices with a single console. Users enroll, install apps, receive email, Wi-Fi, and VPN profiles, and communicate with support via the Company Portal.
• MAM leak prevention controls: Set per-app policies that limit unwanted transfer actions, enforce encryption at rest, enforce access, and allow corporate data wipes per app.
• PC ManagementManage devices with EMM or using the Intune agent where applicable; complement with Configuration Manager for more sophisticated server and PC needs.
• Conditional Access: Define device- or app-based policies, supported by compliance policies. Use it to allow or block access to Exchange, control network access, or integrate with Mobile Threat Defense.

Testing, onboarding, and role best practices

• 30 day trial: Start with a free trial that includes up to 100 user licenses to validate management and security scenarios in your environment.
• Less privilegeUse roles with minimal permissions. Reserve the global administrator role for initial setup or emergencies when a specific role isn't suitable, reducing the risk surface.
• Incorporation benefitAccess Microsoft specialists to prepare your Intune environment if your plan supports it; accelerate deployment with expert remote support.

How to keep up with service updates

• Monthly news- Check the Intune What's New portal frequently (updated monthly, and sometimes weekly, for example after new versions of Company Portal are released).
• Microsoft 365 Message Center: Receive notifications targeted to your subscription, which also expire when they are no longer relevant. The mobile management app allows you to view and forward notifications, and preferences will include an Intune-specific filter.
• Official blogsMicrosoft uses blogs to announce features, improvements, and usage recommendations. Follow these channels to anticipate changes and adopt best practices.

Types of notifications and common deadlines

• Changes in user experience: These are typically announced 7-30 days in advance and documented in What's New, so you can update internal guidance before deployment.
• Changes that require action (Change plan): Communicated about 30 days in advance, with a specific label and action deadline in the Message Center to facilitate planning.
• Suspensions and withdrawalsThe goal is to provide 90 days' notice for suspensions and 12 months for service withdrawal. When relying on third parties, the notice period may vary depending on the external provider's announcement.
• Exceptional communications: Following actions taken following high-impact incidents or changes, emails are sent to administrators based on their preferences in Microsoft 365, provided a valid contact address exists.

Language Support

• Azure portal: Supports German, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Czech, Spanish, French, English, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), Russian, Swedish, and Turkish.
• Intune Admin Center and Mobile Apps: They also include support for Danish, Greek, Finnish, Norwegian, and Romanian, improving adoption across global teams.

In short, Microsoft Intune brings together device and application management, data protection, intelligent access, and analytics in a single platform, with deep integrations across both the Microsoft ecosystem and third parties. By combining MDM and MAM, conditional access, threat defense, and automation, organizations can standardize operations, reduce their risk surface, and give people the freedom to work from anywhere with the security their business demands.

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Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.