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Writer's pictureAakash Rahsi

Chapter 1: Mastering Microsoft Intune: A Comprehensive Guide to Device Management and Security

Updated: Oct 11


Mastering Microsoft Intune: A Comprehensive Guide to Device Management and Security
Mastering Microsoft Intune: A Comprehensive Guide to Device Management and Security

Level : Intermediate and Beginner

Chapter 1: Mastering Microsoft Intune: A Comprehensive Guide to Device Management and Security

1.1 What is Microsoft Intune?

Overview of Microsoft Intune and Its Purpose

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service within the Microsoft Endpoint Manager that focuses on Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM). It allows organizations to manage devices and applications, ensuring secure access to corporate resources while maintaining compliance across various platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what Microsoft Intune does:

  1. Manage Devices: It provides the ability to manage and secure devices used by employees, whether they are company-owned or personal (Bring Your Own Device - BYOD). You can enforce policies and settings across different devices to ensure security and compliance.

  2. Control Applications: Intune allows you to control how applications are used on managed devices. You can deploy applications, set app protection policies, and control access based on compliance requirements.

  3. Ensure Security and Compliance: By using Intune, organizations can define compliance policies that devices must adhere to and use Conditional Access to restrict access to corporate resources based on device compliance status.

Understanding Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)

Mastering Microsoft Intune: A Comprehensive Guide to Device Management and Security will help in Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) is a modern approach that combines traditional client management with modern device management, providing a single platform to manage all endpoints, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.

  1. Provide a Single Management Platform: UEM simplifies management by consolidating multiple management tools into a single platform, allowing administrators to manage all devices, whether they are on-premises or remote, from a single console.

  2. Simplify Device Onboarding and Management: UEM provides streamlined onboarding for new devices, making it easier to configure, secure, and deploy devices across the organization.

  3. Enhance Security Across All Endpoints: UEM enhances security by applying consistent security policies across all managed endpoints, reducing the attack surface and ensuring compliance with organizational policies.

1.2 Benefits of Using Intune for Device Management and Security

  1. Cloud-Based Management: Intune eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure by providing a cloud-based solution for device management, reducing costs and complexity associated with maintaining physical servers.

    • Step-by-Step Process:

      • Step 1: Sign up for Microsoft Intune via the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin Center.

      • Step 2: Configure your organization's tenant settings and branding.

      • Step 3: Assign appropriate licenses to users for Intune management.

  2. Seamless Integration: Intune integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services like Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for identity and access management and Microsoft 365 for productivity tools.

    • Step-by-Step Process:

      • Step 1: Ensure your Azure AD is correctly set up with users and groups.

      • Step 2: Sync your on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD if needed using Azure AD Connect.

      • Step 3: Use Conditional Access policies to secure access to Microsoft 365 resources.

  3. Enhanced Security: Intune allows you to enforce compliance policies and use Conditional Access to ensure that only compliant devices can access corporate resources.

    • Step-by-Step Process:

      • Step 1: Create and configure compliance policies in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

      • Step 2: Assign compliance policies to users or devices.

      • Step 3: Set up Conditional Access policies in Azure AD to control access based on compliance.

  4. Flexible Management: Intune supports both corporate-owned devices and BYOD scenarios, allowing organizations to manage devices across different ownership models.

    • Step-by-Step Process:

      • Step 1: Set up device enrollment policies for both corporate-owned and BYOD devices.

      • Step 2: Create device profiles to enforce settings and configurations.

      • Step 3: Monitor compliance and apply remediation actions if necessary.

1.3 Key Features and Capabilities

  1. Mobile Device Management (MDM)

    • Device Enrollment: Register devices for management through various enrollment methods such as automatic enrollment, Apple Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), and Windows Autopilot.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Access the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin Center.

        • Step 2: Navigate to "Devices" > "Enroll devices."

        • Step 3: Choose the appropriate enrollment method (e.g., automatic enrollment, Apple ADE, Windows Autopilot) and configure enrollment settings.

        • Step 4: Deploy the enrollment profile to users or devices.

    • Policy Enforcement: Configure security settings, compliance policies, and device restrictions.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to "Devices" > "Compliance policies" > "Create policy."

        • Step 2: Select the platform (Windows, iOS, Android, macOS) and configure compliance settings.

        • Step 3: Assign the policy to users or devices and monitor compliance status.

    • Remote Actions: Perform actions such as wiping, locking, or resetting devices remotely to protect corporate data.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to "Devices" > "All devices."

        • Step 2: Select the device and choose the desired remote action (e.g., "Wipe," "Lock," "Retire").

        • Step 3: Confirm the action and monitor its progress.

  2. Mobile Application Management (MAM)

    • App Deployment: Distribute apps to managed devices through the Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to "Apps" > "All apps" > "Add."

        • Step 2: Select the app type (Store app, LOB app, etc.) and configure deployment settings.

        • Step 3: Assign the app to users or devices and monitor installation status.

    • App Protection Policies: Control how data is used within apps to ensure that corporate data is protected, even on unmanaged devices.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to "Apps" > "App protection policies" > "Create policy."

        • Step 2: Select the platform and configure data protection settings.

        • Step 3: Assign the policy to users and monitor policy enforcement.

    • Conditional Launch: Set conditions for app access, such as requiring device encryption or blocking access from jailbroken devices.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Configure app protection policies with conditional launch settings.

        • Step 2: Define conditions for app access (e.g., device compliance status).

        • Step 3: Apply the policy to target users or groups.

  3. Compliance Policies and Conditional Access

    • Compliance Policies: Define rules for device compliance, such as requiring a password or device encryption.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to "Devices" > "Compliance policies" > "Create policy."

        • Step 2: Select the device platform and configure compliance rules.

        • Step 3: Assign the policy and monitor compliance status.

    • Conditional Access: Restrict access to resources based on compliance status, location, and device type.

      • Step-by-Step Process:

        • Step 1: Go to Azure AD > "Security" > "Conditional Access."

        • Step 2: Create a new policy and define conditions for access (e.g., device compliance, location, etc.).

        • Step 3: Assign the policy to users or groups and monitor access control.

1.4 Intune Licensing and Requirements

  1. Licensing Options

    • Intune Standalone: A standalone Intune license provides full access to all Intune features and capabilities.

    • Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS): Intune is included in the EMS suite, which provides additional security and management features such as Azure Information Protection and Advanced Threat Analytics.

    • Microsoft 365 Plans: Intune is also available as part of certain Microsoft 365 plans, such as Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, providing a comprehensive suite of productivity and security tools.

  2. Prerequisites for Setting Up Intune

    • An Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Tenant: You need an Azure AD tenant to manage user identities and devices. If you don't have one, you can create a free tenant via the Azure portal.

    • Appropriate Intune Licenses Assigned to Users: Ensure that each user you want to manage has the appropriate Intune license assigned via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

    • Supported Devices and Operating Systems: Verify that all devices you intend to manage are supported by Intune. This includes Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, and Android devices.


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