In today’s business world, employees access corporate data through laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even personal devices. This creates significant security and management challenges for IT administrators. Microsoft Intune, as a cloud-based endpoint management solution, enables organizations to manage all their devices from a single center, enforce security policies, and protect corporate data.
Microsoft Intune, a core component of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager family, offers comprehensive management capabilities for both company-owned and employee personal devices (BYOD). Combining Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) features, Intune supports all major platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. As of 2026, support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 LTS and RHEL 10 LTS has also been added.
What Is Microsoft Intune and How Does It Work?
Microsoft Intune is Microsoft’s cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution. Its primary purpose is to control all endpoints within organizations — computers, mobile devices, virtual desktops — through a centralized management console. Intune works in integration with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) to enforce authentication and conditional access policies.
Intune’s working principle is straightforward: devices are enrolled in Intune, and then configuration profiles and compliance policies defined by IT administrators are automatically applied to the devices. This entire process occurs through the cloud and requires no on-premises infrastructure. During device enrollment, Intune evaluates the device’s operating system, version, and security status, checking compliance with established standards.
Core Components of Intune
Intune consists of three core components. The first is the Device Management (MDM) module, which covers device enrollment, configuration profiles, compliance policies, and remote wipe capabilities. The second is the Application Management (MAM) module, encompassing app deployment, app protection policies, and app configuration policies. The third is the Endpoint Security module, providing security baselines, disk encryption, firewall rules, and Microsoft Defender integration.
Device Enrollment Methods with Microsoft Intune
Intune offers various device enrollment methods for different scenarios. Choosing the right enrollment method is the first step toward a successful deployment.
Enrollment for Windows Devices
Windows Autopilot is the most popular method, enabling zero-touch configuration of new devices. When the device is first turned on, it automatically enrolls in Intune, required applications are installed, and security policies are applied. With the 2026 update, the Managed Installer policy is now also supported during the Autopilot device preparation process. This means applications deployed through Microsoft Intune are automatically trusted even before users reach the desktop.
Bulk Enrollment is preferred when large numbers of devices need to be enrolled simultaneously. Devices can be quickly configured by creating provisioning packages. Hybrid Enrollment with Group Policy is a transitional method preferred by organizations using existing Active Directory infrastructure.
Enrollment for Apple Devices
For Apple devices, Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager integration is used. With Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices are brought under corporate management right out of the box. In 2026, iOS and iPadOS line-of-business apps now report installation status proactively whenever changes occur. Additionally, on macOS devices, you can configure a recovery OS password to prevent users from booting into recovery mode and bypassing remote management.
Enrollment for Android Devices
Android devices use the Android Enterprise framework. Options include Work Profile, fully managed device, and dedicated device (kiosk mode). Work Profile enables secure separation of personal and corporate data on the same device and is ideal for BYOD scenarios.
Compliance Policies and Conditional Access
One of Intune’s most powerful features is its ability to bring the Zero Trust security model to life by combining compliance policies with conditional access. Compliance policies require devices to meet specific security standards.
Typical compliance requirements include minimum operating system version, encryption requirements, PIN or biometric authentication, absence of jailbreak or root access, and Microsoft Defender risk score thresholds. Devices that fail to meet any of these requirements are marked as non-compliant, and conditional access policies take effect to block access to corporate resources.
Conditional access, working in integration with Microsoft Entra ID, evaluates multiple signals including user identity, device status, location, risk level, and application sensitivity to make access decisions. For example, access to Microsoft 365 applications from a non-compliant device is automatically blocked, while the user is provided with instructions to bring their device into compliance.
Application Management and Deployment
Intune provides a comprehensive application management infrastructure for deploying, updating, and securing corporate applications on devices. Microsoft 365 apps, line-of-business (LOB) apps, web apps, and store apps can all be centrally managed through Intune.
App Protection Policies (APP)
App Protection Policies are the most effective way to protect corporate data at the application level without requiring device enrollment. These policies allow you to apply copy-and-paste restrictions, block screenshots, prevent corporate data from being transferred to personal apps, enforce app-level PIN or biometric authentication, and automatically wipe corporate data after a specified period. This approach is particularly critical in BYOD scenarios, where employees can keep corporate data protected without having to fully enroll their personal devices in Intune.
Microsoft Intune Updates in 2026
Microsoft has brought significant updates to Intune in 2026. These innovations improve both the management experience and security capabilities.
Hotpatch Updates: Starting with the May 2026 Windows security update, hotpatch updates are enabled by default for all eligible devices managed through Windows Autopatch. These updates install faster and require fewer restarts.
Scope Tags Enhancement: Intune now allows administrators to keep scope tags from different role assignments separate rather than merging them. The new Permissions Assessment Report helps teams evaluate the impact of permission changes.
Improved Remote Help: Connectivity improvements have been made for the Launch Remote Help capability, with updated firewall rules recommended.
Licensing Changes: Starting July 2026, advanced Intune capabilities that were previously licensed separately will be included within Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans. This change will enable organizations to benefit from comprehensive device management features at no additional cost.
Security Baselines with Intune
Security baselines are pre-configured groups of settings that contain Microsoft’s recommended best security practices. These baselines are used to quickly standardize security configuration across devices.
Intune offers different baseline templates such as Windows security baseline, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint baseline, Microsoft Edge baseline, and Microsoft 365 Apps baseline. Each template contains hundreds of settings reflecting Microsoft’s best security practices for the relevant product or platform. IT administrators can apply these settings directly or customize them according to organizational needs.
The greatest advantage of security baselines is that they help IT administrators who are not security experts create security configurations that meet enterprise standards. Baselines are regularly updated to provide protection against emerging security threats.
Zero Trust Architecture with Microsoft Intune
The Zero Trust security model is based on the principle of never trusting any user or device by default. Microsoft Intune is a critical component that forms the device management pillar of this model.
Intune’s role in the Zero Trust architecture can be summarized as follows: device compliance is verified with every access request, device health status is continuously monitored, the principle of least privilege is enforced, and all access events are logged. Intune works in integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to assess device risk levels in real time. Access to corporate resources from devices with detected high risk is immediately restricted, and the IT team is alerted.
Best Practices for Intune Deployment
For a successful Intune deployment, thoroughly assess your existing infrastructure during the planning phase and create a device inventory. Form a pilot group to test your policies with a small user group first. Apply compliance policies gradually and give users adequate transition time.
Invest in user training. Inform your employees about the device enrollment process, Company Portal app usage, and the purpose of security policies. A well-designed communication strategy minimizes user resistance and increases adoption rates.
Organize configuration profiles into logical groups. Create profile groups by platform, department, and security level. Use dynamic groups to ensure devices are automatically assigned to the correct profiles. Regularly check monitoring and reporting dashboards to identify non-compliant devices and take necessary actions.
Conclusion
Microsoft Intune is a powerful and comprehensive solution that brings enterprise device management into the cloud era. With mobile device management, app protection, security baselines, and Zero Trust architecture support, Intune forms the security foundation of the modern workplace for organizations of all sizes. Combined with the licensing changes and new features coming in 2026, Intune continues to be an indispensable part of the Microsoft ecosystem. We recommend evaluating Microsoft Intune to modernize your organization’s device management strategy and strengthen your security posture.
For detailed information about Microsoft Intune and enterprise security solutions, to request a custom demo for your organization, or to get a free quote, contact the Xen Bilişim expert team. As Turkey’s trusted Microsoft partner, we are by your side on your digital transformation journey.