A managed device policy defines which devices are authorized to access your organizational data and what security requirements they must meet. Without one, any device with a user's credentials can access your Microsoft 365 environment. Microsoft Intune is the tool that makes this policy enforceable.
What Is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based management service for both organizational and personally-owned devices that access business resources. It lets administrators implement policies that control how devices are used and what they can access. Intune integrates with other Microsoft 365 security services, including Azure Active Directory and Azure Information Protection, providing a centralized view of device compliance across your organization.
Adding Devices to Intune
To enroll devices in Intune:
- Navigate to endpoint.microsoft.com
- Select Devices, then All Devices
- Select Windows enrollment, then Automatic enrollment
- Configure automatic enrollment for users signing in with their work account
Users must have an Intune license assigned, and devices must be registered or joined to Azure Active Directory.
Actions You Can Take on Managed Devices
Once enrolled, administrators can perform several remote actions:
- Retire: Removes the device from Intune and deletes associated data and profiles while preserving personal data
- Wipe: Performs a factory reset, removing all accounts, data, and settings
- Delete: Removes the device from the Intune portal
- Reset passcode: Resets the device access passcode remotely
- Restart: Restarts the device remotely
- Remote lock: Locks the device immediately
Monitoring and Reviewing Managed Devices
The Monitor section in Intune provides visibility into each device:
- Hardware: Device specifications and operating system version
- Discovered apps: Applications installed on the device
- Device compliance: Whether the device meets your compliance policies
- Device configuration: Applied configuration policies
- App configuration: Application-specific policy settings
Other Security Practices That Work Alongside Intune
Managed devices are one layer of a complete security posture. Additional measures that work well in combination with Intune include:
- Multifactor authentication for all users
- Guest access controls to manage external user permissions
- Security awareness training for end users
- Microsoft Defender for endpoint protection
If you are setting up Intune for the first time or reviewing an existing device management configuration, we can help you design a policy that fits your organization's security requirements without creating unnecessary friction for users.