A Major Role in Contemporary IT Management: Microsoft Intune

Managing many devices that access organizational resources has grown to be a major challenge in the age of hybrid and remote workforces. Workers and learners must cooperate, operate remotely, and connect and access these resources safely. Microsoft released a cloud-based endpoint management solution, called Intune, to assist with these issues.

What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is designed to control user access to organizational resources and streamline device and app management for a range of devices, including virtual endpoints, desktop computers, and mobile devices. It enables you to safeguard data and access on company-owned and individually owned devices. Additionally, Intune supports the compliance and reporting features of the Zero Trust security model.

Important Qualities and Advantages

Works Across Wide Range of Users and Devices: Intune works with both company-owned and end user-owned devices. Windows client devices, Linux Ubuntu Desktop, macOS, iOS/iPad OS, Android, and Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) are also all supported by Microsoft Intune. By using policies you create with Intune, you can use these devices to securely access multiple organization resources.

Streamline App Management: Intune comes with an integrated app experience that covers the installation, updates, and deletion of apps. You can set up and share apps from your app stores, activate Microsoft 365 apps, such as Microsoft Teams, install Win32 and line-of-business apps, establish app protection policies to safeguard data within apps, and control who has access to apps and their data.

Automate Policy Deployment: Policies for apps, security, compliance, device configuration, conditional access, and other areas can be created. The policies can be applied to your device groups and user groups. Internet connectivity is the only thing   required for the devices to accept these policies.

What is the significance of Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune serves multiple purposes. In addition to guaranteeing a safe and effective work environment, it also offers smooth control over business devices and apps. This is especially important in the current environment, where remote work is common.

Microsoft Intune is a useful tool for managing a distributed workforce and infrastructure as businesses negotiate the challenges of managing remote and hybrid workforces. Utilizing Intune, businesses can more easily strike a balance between security, user productivity, and operational efficiency.

A variety of devices and operating systems are supported by Microsoft Intune. The following are system prerequisites for Intune:

Supported Operating Systems

1. Apple: iOS 15.0 and later, iPadOS 15.0 and later, macOS 12.0 and later.
2. Android: Android 8.0 and later (including Samsung KNOX Standard 3.0 and higher).
3. Linux: Ubuntu Desktop 22.04 LTS with a GNOME graphical desktop environment.
4. Microsoft Windows: Windows 10/11 (Home, S, Pro, Education, Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise editions).

Additional Requirements

1. Microsoft Intune management extension is necessary for Win32 application management. The devices need to be connected to Azure Active Directory or Hybrid Azure Active Directory.
2. Devices: Microsoft Intune enrollment is required.

These are the minimum requirements; other requirements might be necessary based on your unique use case and configuration. Trained eMazzanti professionals can answer your questions about Intune.

Joining Azure Active Directory

The process of connecting a device to the Azure AD is called Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) join. It is meant for businesses who wish to go cloud-first or cloud-only. Here are some essential details regarding Azure AD join:

1. Cloud-first strategy: Azure AD join is intended for enterprises looking to use cloud computing. Through Direct device integration with Azure AD, enterprises can manage corporate-owned devices.
2. User authentication: Logins using the user’s Azure AD account are made possible via Azure AD join. Accordingly, users can log in to their devices using their Azure AD credentials.
3. Resource Access: Cloud and on-premises apps and resources are accessible through Azure AD join, even in a hybrid environment. This guarantees that users will always be able to access the resources they require, regardless of where they are hosted.
4. Device Management: Microsoft’s device management solution includes Azure AD join. It allows for complete device and app management, complementing programs like Microsoft Intune.
5. Joining a Device: Windows Settings => Accounts => Access work or school => Access work or school allows you to join a computer to the Azure Active Directory domain. A Windows 10 or 11 computer can also be joined to an Azure AD domain using PowerShell.

For businesses embracing a cloud-centric strategy, Azure AD join is an essential feature. Device management is made easier, and resources are accessed seamlessly and securely.

How does Azure AD join differ from conventional domain join?

Compared to the conventional domain join, Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) join has several benefits, especially when considering contemporary, cloud-centric IT environments. The following are some significant advantages:

1. Easier Device Provisioning and Management: Azure AD join makes enrolling and managing devices easier, especially for businesses that rely heavily on cloud resources.

1. Single sign-on: Azure AD join enables Single Sign-On (SSO), which improves user experience and productivity by enabling users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.
2. Enhanced Security: Azure AD offers strong security functionalities, such as multi-factor authentication. The Zero Trust security model — which verifies every request as if it were coming from an open network and assumes a breach– is also supported by Azure AD.
3. Optimized Remote and Hybrid Work: Azure AD join is designed to accommodate remote and hybrid work environments. Because it allows users to access resources securely from anywhere, it is especially advantageous for companies with a distributed workforce.
4. Access to Cloud Resources: Azure AD join is designed for users who primarily use cloud resources. The ability to use a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution to manage devices remotely, rather than Group Policy and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), is another fantastic feature.
5. Microsoft Intune Integration: Azure AD join integrates with Microsoft Intune without a hitch, enabling thorough device and app management.

Using Single Sign-On to your current on-premises AD infrastructure, traditional domain join is well-suited for situations where stringent control over group policies and resource access is required. But, compared to Azure AD join, it might not provide the same degree of flexibility and access to cloud resources.

What are the limitations of Azure AD join?

While Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) join is an effective tool, there are certain restrictions that must be considered:

1. Compatibility with Operating Systems: Only Windows 10 or later devices are compatible with Azure AD join. Its ability to work with other operating systems, such as macOS, iOS, and Android, is thus limited.
2. Device Restrictions: You may sign up for a limited number of devices with Microsoft Intune. The number of devices that you can sign up for or join Azure AD is also limited.
3. Schema Extensions: A string-type extension may contain up to 256 characters. The maximum size for binary-type extensions is 256 bytes. Only 100 extension values of all kinds and applications may be written to a single Azure AD resource.
4. Resource Restrictions: Users of the Azure AD Free edition are limited by default to creating 50,000 Azure AD resources in a single tenant. Your organization’s default Azure AD service quota is increased to 300,000 Azure AD resources if you have at least one verified domain.

5. Absence of Group Policy: Intune is the main tool used by Azure AD-joined devices to manage and deploy settings and policies. This can be more difficult to manage and secure devices for remote users, compared to traditional Group Policy,

What is the difference between Intune and other MDM solutions?

Despite being a powerful mobile device management (MDM) solution, it’s always helpful to know how Microsoft Intune stacks up against other MDM options. The following are some of the best substitutes for Microsoft Intune:

1. NinjaOne (formerly NinjaRMM): Giving IT teams visibility, security, and control over every endpoint, this platform automates the most difficult aspects of IT. Reviews have pointed out that, compared to Microsoft Intune, NinjaOne is simpler to administer, easier to set up, and offers better support.
2. ManageEngine Endpoint Central: This software helps manage servers, laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets from a single location. It is an integrated desktop and mobile device management tool. Although ManageEngine Endpoint Central’s return on investment may be longer than Microsoft Intune’s, reviewers have reported that it is simpler to set up and maintain.
3. BlackBerry UEM: BlackBerry UEM is a multiplatform EMM solution that offers content, app, and device management, along with integrated security and connectivity.
4. Absolute Secure Endpoint: This system provides methods for data risk visibility, self-healing endpoint security, and always-connected IT asset management.
5. IBM Security MaaS360: IBM MaaS360 with Watson is an intelligent method for managing apps, content, and device security. It is a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution.

The optimal option for you will rely on the requirements and conditions of your company. Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages. When selecting an MDM solution, keep in mind aspects like integration, security, administration ease, and your organization’s unique requirements.

Microsoft Intune is a valuable resource for contemporary IT administration. In today’s remote work environment, it offers a complete solution for managing a variety of devices and applications, guaranteeing security and productivity. Intune is the way endpoint management is going forward and will be essential to the development of IT infrastructure. eMazzanti trained professionals are available to help you with Intune and other matters.