| Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that helps businesses secure devices, protect company data, and simplify IT operations, giving employees the flexibility to work from anywhere while reducing the burden on internal IT teams. |
What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune brings endpoint management into one cloud-based platform, helping IT teams maintain control without having to configure every device individually.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- One place to manage business devices: IT teams can remotely configure devices, deploy updates, and apply consistent security policies, spending less time on repetitive administration.
- Support for the devices employees actually use: Whether employees work on Windows laptops, Macs, or mobile devices, Intune helps IT maintain oversight across different operating systems. Available management capabilities vary by platform.
- Protection that respects personal devices: Through Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM), businesses can manage enrolled devices or protect company data within supported apps without necessarily managing an employee’s personal phone.
- Security that goes beyond the office: Intune helps enforce device compliance policies and works with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to manage access to company resources based on security requirements.
- More time for work that moves the business forward: By automating routine device management, Intune can reduce manual IT workloads and make it easier to support employees wherever they work.
The Hidden Complexity of Managing Business Devices
Remember when managing business devices meant keeping track of computers in the office? Now, employees work from just about anywhere, often switching between company laptops and personal devices throughout the day.
For IT teams, that flexibility comes with a challenge: keeping company data secure when the devices accessing it are constantly changing.
Personal devices make things even trickier. Employees want the freedom to work from their own phones without giving IT access to everything on them. Meanwhile, businesses need to protect sensitive information. Finding that balance isn’t always straightforward, especially when IT has limited visibility into how personal devices are configured.
Without centralized management, the workload can pile up quickly. Every new hire needs a configured device, and every software update adds another task to the list. When IT teams are already stretched thin, keeping up with routine maintenance can leave little room for projects that actually move the business forward.
The stakes are higher for Canadian businesses facing growing expectations around cybersecurity. Executives want clearer visibility into risk, while cyber insurers increasingly examine security controls.
In regulated industries, requirements can be even more specific. For example, OSFI’s Guideline B-13 sets technology and cyber risk management expectations for federally regulated financial institutions.
That’s why a more centralized approach to endpoint management matters. Rather than managing devices individually, IT teams can apply consistent policies and identify compliance gaps from one place.
Microsoft Intune makes that possible, helping growing businesses maintain oversight without adding the same amount of manual work every time their workforce expands.
Microsoft Intune Management in Practice
Microsoft Intune management brings everyday device administration into one cloud-based platform. Instead of chasing down individual devices to make changes, IT teams can apply policies remotely and maintain a more consistent approach to endpoint security. Here’s how that works in practice.
Centralized Device Management Across Your Organization
Setting up a new employee’s laptop shouldn’t take hours of hands-on IT work. Microsoft Intune lets IT teams remotely enroll and configure supported devices, making it easier to maintain consistent settings across the organization.
Whether employees use Windows, macOS, or mobile devices, administrators can manage supported configurations from one platform. Available capabilities vary by operating system.
For Windows devices, Intune works with Windows Autopilot to make onboarding even easier. Imagine a new employee receiving a laptop at home and signing in to find their work environment being configured automatically.
IT doesn’t need to handle every device before it reaches an employee, freeing up time while making the onboarding experience smoother.
Application Protection That Extends Beyond Company-Owned Devices
Employees shouldn’t have to choose between working conveniently and keeping company information secure. Microsoft Intune helps businesses protect data within supported applications, even when employees use their personal devices.
Through MAM, IT teams can apply protection policies to supported Microsoft 365 apps without requiring employees to enroll their entire device.
That distinction matters for employee privacy. For example, IT can restrict company information from being copied into an unmanaged app without controlling someone’s personal photos or messages.
If an employee leaves the organization, Intune can selectively remove business data from supported managed apps while leaving personal information intact.
Security Policies That Follow Every Managed Endpoint
A device that met your security requirements last month might not meet them today. Software can become outdated, security settings can change, and IT teams may not notice until something goes wrong.
Microsoft Intune helps address this by applying consistent security configurations and monitoring whether managed devices continue to meet organizational policies.
When integrated with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, Intune can also help determine whether a device should access protected company resources.
If a managed device falls out of compliance, configured access policies can block it until the issue is resolved. And if an enrolled laptop goes missing, IT may be able to remotely lock or wipe it, depending on the device and its enrollment method.
When Your Organization Needs Microsoft Intune
There comes a point when managing business devices starts taking more time than anyone expected. What once worked for a handful of employees becomes harder to maintain as your organization grows. IT teams spend more time keeping devices running and less time improving the systems your business depends on.
Microsoft Intune becomes worth considering when these challenges stop being occasional headaches and start affecting everyday operations.
Signs Your Existing Endpoint Management Is No Longer Enough
Your IT team might be doing everything right and still struggling to keep up. When employees work across different locations, configuring devices individually becomes increasingly difficult. New hires wait longer for equipment, and inconsistent settings create more troubleshooting work than anyone has time for.
Visibility is another concern. If IT can’t easily identify which devices meet security requirements, problems can go unnoticed. Microsoft Intune helps bring that information into one place, making it easier to spot compliance gaps and apply consistent policies without manually checking every endpoint.
The warning signs aren’t always dramatic. Sometimes, they’re the small inefficiencies your team has learned to live with.
| Warning Sign | What It Means for Your Organization | How Intune Can Help |
|---|---|---|
| Device setup takes too long | Slower onboarding and more IT workload | Automated enrollment and standardized configurations |
| Limited device visibility | Difficulty identifying security gaps | Centralized inventory and compliance reporting |
| Remote support keeps growing | More pressure on internal IT resources | Cloud-based administration and remote configuration |
| Inconsistent security settings | Greater exposure to unmanaged risk | Centralized security policies and compliance monitoring |
Microsoft Intune Limitations Worth Understanding
Microsoft Intune can simplify endpoint management, but it isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Someone still needs to design policies and make sure those policies work as intended.
A poorly planned configuration can unintentionally block employees from accessing the applications they need, which is why testing matters before rolling out changes across the business.
Not every operating system offers the same management capabilities either. Windows devices generally support more extensive provisioning and configuration options, while certain Linux management features are more limited. Businesses with a mix of devices need to understand those differences before deciding what to standardize.
There are also ongoing responsibilities that don’t disappear after implementation. IT teams still need to investigate compliance issues and maintain policies as technology changes. Some advanced capabilities require additional licensing, making it important to understand both the technical requirements and the people needed to manage them.
Microsoft Intune Licensing and Getting the Right Capabilities Without Unnecessary Costs
The good news is that your organization may already have access to many of the Intune capabilities it needs. The challenge is knowing what’s included before spending more.
Microsoft Intune Plan 1, Plan 2, and Intune Suite
Microsoft offers different levels of Intune licensing, depending on how much endpoint management functionality your organization needs. Plan 1 covers foundational device and application management. Plan 2 extends those capabilities for more specialized scenarios, while Intune Suite brings together advanced management and security tools.
The important distinction is that Plan 2 and Intune Suite build on Plan 1 rather than replacing it. Some advanced capabilities can also be licensed separately. That means organizations don’t necessarily need the full Suite to solve a specific endpoint management problem.
| Licensing Option | What’s Included | Best Suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Intune Plan 1 | Device enrollment, application management, configuration policies, and compliance monitoring | Businesses needing centralized endpoint management for office, remote, or hybrid employees |
| Microsoft Intune Plan 2 | Plan 1 capabilities plus Microsoft Tunnel for MAM, specialty device management, and Firmware-over-the-Air updates | Organizations managing specialized endpoints or more complex mobile access requirements |
| Microsoft Intune Suite | Plan 2 capabilities plus advanced tools such as Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, Enterprise Application Management, and Cloud PKI | Organizations that need several advanced management, support, or security cap |
There’s no reason to pay for features your business won’t use. An organization with straightforward device management requirements may find Plan 1 sufficient. Another business supporting specialized devices or more demanding security requirements might benefit from advanced features, particularly if those capabilities replace existing tools.
Making More of Your Existing Microsoft 365 Investment
Here’s something worth checking before approving another Microsoft subscription: your organization might already be paying for Intune. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Plan 1, while Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 provide broader capabilities.
Microsoft expanded its advanced Intune entitlements in July 2026, giving eligible E3 and E5 customers access to additional endpoint management tools. For organizations already using these plans, the changes may create opportunities to get more value from their existing subscriptions.
| Microsoft 365 License | Included Intune Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Business Premium | Intune Plan 1 for foundational device and application management |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | Plan 1, Plan 2, Remote Help, and Advanced Analytics |
| Microsoft 365 E5 | E3 capabilities plus Endpoint Privilege Management, Microsoft Cloud PKI, and Enterprise Application Management |
For example, an organization already using Microsoft 365 E5 should review its entitlements before purchasing separate advanced Intune add-ons. It may also be worth checking whether existing third-party management tools duplicate functionality already available through Microsoft.
The True Cost of Endpoint Management Goes Beyond Licensing
It’s tempting to compare Microsoft Intune plans by their monthly subscription costs. But the lowest license price doesn’t always mean the lowest overall cost. Implementing Intune takes planning, particularly if your business is moving away from an existing device management platform.
Then there’s the ongoing work. Your IT team will still need to troubleshoot enrollment problems and respond when devices fall out of compliance. While Intune can reduce repetitive tasks, the time required to maintain policies and support employees should be part of the financial picture.
There’s also potential value in what Intune could help your organization stop paying for. If existing software overlaps with features already included in your Microsoft licensing, consolidating tools may reduce expenses. But replacing a familiar system only makes sense if the alternative meets your operational requirements.
| Cost Consideration | What to Evaluate |
|---|---|
| Licensing | Existing Microsoft 365 entitlements and additional Intune subscriptions |
| Implementation | Device assessment, configuration, testing, and migration effort |
| Ongoing administration | Policy maintenance, compliance monitoring, and troubleshooting |
| IT support | Employee assistance and technical expertise required |
| Tool consolidation | Existing software that may overlap with Intune capabilities |
| Business impact | Device provisioning time, support workload, and endpoint reliability |
The best way to understand Intune’s value is to measure what changes after implementation. If your IT team spends less time preparing devices or resolving routine configuration issues, those improvements have operational value beyond the subscription price. Establishing a baseline before deployment makes that value easier to demonstrate.
Microsoft Intune in the Bigger Microsoft Security Picture
Managing devices is only part of keeping your business secure. What really matters is how those devices connect to the applications and information your employees rely on every day. That’s where Microsoft Intune becomes more valuable as part of the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Think about an employee accessing SharePoint from a laptop that hasn’t received a critical security update. Intune can identify when a managed device doesn’t meet your organization’s compliance requirements.
When connected to Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, that information can help determine whether the device should be allowed to access company resources.
It’s a practical example of Zero Trust security, where access depends on meeting defined security requirements rather than simply being connected to the company network.
Intune also works alongside Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which identifies security threats and assesses device risk. While Defender focuses on detecting and responding to threats, Intune helps enforce device management policies.
For organizations still using Microsoft Configuration Manager, co-management allows IT teams to gradually move selected workloads to the cloud without immediately replacing existing infrastructure.
Other Microsoft tools can make that connected approach even more useful. Windows Autopilot helps automate device provisioning, while Microsoft Graph supports administrative automation. Microsoft Security Copilot can also assist with analyzing configurations and troubleshooting devices, subject to the appropriate licensing and access requirements.
These capabilities can reduce repetitive work, but IT teams remain responsible for reviewing the results and making security decisions.
Microsoft Endpoint Management and Security Solutions Compared
| Microsoft solution | Primary purpose | How it works with Intune |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Intune | Cloud-based device and application management | Applies endpoint configurations and monitors device compliance |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Threat detection and response | Shares device risk information that can inform Intune compliance policies |
| Microsoft Configuration Manager | Traditional Windows endpoint administration | Supports co-management and gradual migration to cloud-based management |
| Microsoft Entra ID | Identity and access management | Uses compliance signals through Conditional Access to help control access to business resources |
Measuring Microsoft Intune’s Business Value
Implementing Microsoft Intune is one thing. Knowing whether it’s making life easier for your employees and IT team is another. And if you’re investing in endpoint management, you should be able to show what that investment is accomplishing.
Start by looking at your current environment. How many business devices are actively managed? How long does it take IT to prepare a laptop for a new employee? Establishing a baseline before implementation gives you something meaningful to compare against later.
Device compliance is an important place to start. Intune provides reporting that helps IT teams identify managed devices that don’t meet security requirements. Tracking compliance rates over time can reveal whether policies are improving consistency across your organization.
Keep in mind that a compliant device isn’t necessarily free from cyber threats. Compliance is one measure of security, not the whole picture.
Then there’s the financial side. Reviewing existing Microsoft 365 entitlements and overlapping management tools may uncover opportunities to reduce unnecessary software spending. Any potential savings should be weighed against implementation and ongoing administration costs to understand Intune’s true return on investment.
Stronger Microsoft Intune Management Starts with the Right IT Support
Microsoft Intune can simplify endpoint management, but keeping everything running smoothly still takes time and expertise. As your business grows, maintaining security policies and managing device compliance can stretch an already busy IT team.
F12 helps Canadian businesses get more from their Microsoft investments. Our Microsoft-first, security-first approach connects licensing, endpoint configuration, and ongoing governance to your business priorities.
Let’s make sure your Microsoft environment is working as hard as your team does.
Frequently Asked Questions About Microsoft Intune
Is Microsoft Intune Included with Microsoft 365?
Yes, Microsoft Intune is included in certain Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but not all. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Intune Plan 1, which covers essential device and application management. Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 also include Intune, with additional advanced capabilities introduced in July 2026.
If your business already uses Microsoft 365, you might have access to endpoint management tools you’re not taking full advantage of. Before purchasing additional licenses, review your existing subscriptions to see what’s included.
Understanding your current entitlements can help you avoid unnecessary spending while getting more value from your Microsoft 365 investment.
Can Microsoft Intune Manage Personal and Company-Owned Devices?
Yes, Microsoft Intune can manage both company-owned and personal devices, helping businesses support flexible work without compromising employee privacy.
For company-owned devices, Intune uses Mobile Device Management (MDM) to configure settings, enforce security policies, and monitor compliance. For personal devices, Mobile Application Management (MAM) can protect company information within supported apps without requiring employees to enroll their entire device.
