Why companies choose Microsoft Intune – a look at its features and latest updates
What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a modern MDM (Mobile Device Management) and MEM (Mobile Endpoint Management) tool that allows organizations to centrally manage their endpoint devices – both physical and virtual. It’s an integral part of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite, bringing together device management, app control, and security policies in one unified platform.
This solution is designed for companies that want to manage employee devices effectively – whether their teams work from the office, from home, or remotely across the globe. Microsoft Intune addresses key challenges faced by today’s IT departments, such as data protection, compliance enforcement, and managing users and applications in a distributed work environment.
How does Microsoft Intune work?
Microsoft Intune runs on the Microsoft Azure, cloud, which means there’s no need for on-premises infrastructure or local management servers. Devices can be enrolled and configured remotely—even before a user turns them on for the first time—thanks to the Windows Autopilot feature. Intune also integrates smoothly with other Microsoft 365 services, including Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Defender for Endpoint, Purview, and Cloud PKI.
What are the benefits of Microsoft Intune?
From an organizational perspective, Microsoft Intune provides a single, consistent environment for managing device security and productivity. Key benefits include:
- Controlling access to data and apps based on risk level
- Quickly deploying new devices without involving on-site IT
- Instantly enforcing security policies (like disk encryption, password rules, or MFA)
- Remotely wiping lost or stolen devices
- Monitoring device compliance and reporting on security status
Why use MDM in your organization?
Centralized management and automation
With Microsoft Intune, all devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets, and workstations – are managed from a single, intuitive cloud-based admin portal. IT teams no longer need to switch between systems, configure each device manually, or rely on having physical access to equipment.
This not only saves time but also significantly lowers operational costs and reduces the risk of human error.
Support for multiple systems and work models
Microsoft Intune offers full support for devices running:
- Windows (including kiosk and shared device modes)
- Android (both corporate-owned and BYOD)
- iOS/iPadOS
- macOS
and increasingly, Linux as well
No matter if your company follows a hybrid work model, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), or COPE (Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled) – Intune can handle it all without the need for exceptions.
Security comes first
Security today goes far beyond just having antivirus software. Microsoft Intune enables a layered approach to protecting devices and data, including:
- enforcing security and encryption policies
- access control based on device compliance status
- integration with Defender for Endpoint and Entra ID (Conditional Access)
- remote data wipe in case of device loss
certificates and SSO — with full access audit trails
This isn’t just about protecting systems – it also supports compliance with GDPR, ISO, NIS2, and other regulations that demand concrete data protection measures.
Scalability and future-readiness
Microsoft Intune grows with your business – from a small team to a global organization. Fully cloud-based on Azure, it requires no costly infrastructure expansion or large in-house IT departments.
What’s more, many Intune features – like Autopilot, Hotpatch, and Proactive Remediation – support automation that scales operations without the need to add more administrators.
Microsoft Intune – overview of features and what’s new
MDM solutions only make sense when they solve real IT challenges. Microsoft Intune offers not only a wide range of capabilities, but also deep integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, Defender, and Entra ID — leading to better efficiency, security, and ease of management. Below, we highlight the key functional areas worth knowing.
Conditional access
Conditional Access is one of the most important features of Microsoft Intune. It allows organizations to control access to corporate resources based on predefined conditions, such as:
- device compliance with security policies,
- the user’s geographic location,
- the application used for sign-in,
the authentication status (MFA, certificate, password).
This means you can, for example, block access to a business app from an unregistered phone in another country, or allow access only from encrypted, up-to-date devices.
This feature is fully integrated with Entra ID and forms the foundation of the Zero Trust Security Model.
Compliance policies for Windows
Compliance policies allow you to define criteria that every device must meet to gain access to organizational resources. Examples include:
- the device must have disk encryption enabled (BitLocker),
- antivirus and firewall software must be installed,
the system must be updated to the latest version.
If a device doesn’t meet these conditions, it is automatically marked as non-compliant and access is blocked. This is a very effective way to enforce security requirements without user intervention.
Cloud-native endpoints + Windows Autopilot
This is one of the most revolutionary features of Microsoft Intune. Thanks to integration with Windows Autopilot, organizations can:
- deliver devices directly to employees (e.g., via courier),
- remotely configure them with predefined settings, apps, and policies,
allow users to start working right after their first login — without IT involvement.
The result? Maximum productivity from the very first minutes, while maintaining compliance and security.
Entra ID Join (formerly Azure AD Join)
Microsoft Intune features full integration with cloud identity. Entra ID Join enables devices to:
- join the cloud from anywhere in the world,
- automatically enroll in Intune,
- use SSO for cloud applications,
securely sign in using methods like Windows Hello for Business.
Entra ID Join is the foundation for remote and hybrid work – no VPNs, no complex setups, just full control.
Digital certificate management
Microsoft Intune enables centralized management of digital certificates, which are essential for encrypted communication, authentication, and compliance. It supports, among others:
- Cloud PKI (Microsoft Intune Cloud Certificate Connector),
- S/MIME certificates for email,
VPN and Wi-Fi certificates.
From a single console, you can automatically distribute and renew certificates on dozens or even hundreds of devices.
App configuration policies
This feature allows administrators to enforce specific application settings, such as:
- which account should be used for login,
- which app features are available to a given user,
whether data can be copied to other applications.
It works particularly well with Microsoft Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, as well as third-party apps integrated with the Intune SDK.
Proactive Remediation (automatyczne naprawianie)
Zaawansowana funkcja, która pozwala wykrywać i rozwiązywać problemy na urządzeniach zanim użytkownik je zauważy. Działa na bazie:
- skryptów PowerShell uruchamianych cyklicznie,
- logiki wykrywania i remediacji (detect & remediate),
- pełnych raportów i historii zmian.
Idealne narzędzie do walki z typowymi problemami IT, jak np. brak klienta Teams, nieaktualny certyfikat, wyłączona zapora itp. Zmniejsza ilość zgłoszeń, odciąża helpdesk i poprawia user experience.
Windows Hotpatch (no restart)
One of the more innovative features — security updates without restarting. Thanks to integration with Windows Autopatch and Defender for Cloud, it allows:
- installing critical OS patches in the background,
- without interrupting the user’s work,
with full compliance reporting and update status monitoring.
This applies to both workstations and servers. Less downtime, more stability.
Implementing microsoft Intune in your company
In summary, Microsoft Intune is not just a device management tool – it’s a central control point for security, compliance, and productivity within your organization. Its features address the needs of modern companies operating in hybrid, remote, and distributed work models.
What you gain by implementing Intune
- Full visibility and control over endpoint devices — regardless of their location or operating system,
- Automation of IT processes — from onboarding, through updates, to incident prevention,
- Data consistency and security, compliance with regulations, and resilience against the most common threats,
Efficient collaboration with other Microsoft 365 services — no silos, no integrators, no patchwork system fixes.
Ready to start working with Microsoft Intune?
At Trek2Summit, we can audit your needs, advise on the best implementation approach, assist with tool configuration, and train your team.
We’ll help you deploy Microsoft Intune securely and for the long term.
Krzysztof Popek
Microsoft Technology Consultant
He has over five years of experience, specializing in Microsoft 365 Security (Intune, Defender, Entra ID, Sentinel). His goal is to help clients effectively use Microsoft services and optimize their implementation.