What Is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that streamlines app and device management across numerous devices, including desktop PCs, virtual endpoints, and mobile devices, and controls user access to organizational resources.
Both users’ personal devices and those owned by the organization might have their access and data protected. Additionally, Intune supports the Zero Trust security architecture with its compliance and reporting tools.
How Microsoft Intune Works
Intune, a component of Microsoft’s mobile device management strategy, primarily employs protocols or APIs found in mobile operating systems to carry out operations like device enrollment. IT staff may keep track of the devices that can access enterprise services through enrollment. Configuring mobile devices, creating VPN and Wi-Fi profiles, and reporting compliance with company standards are additional duties. Azure AD interfaces with Intune to offer access control features. This gives you the set of tools you need to strive toward a zero-trust environment.
Microsoft’s Intune app management strategy, on the other hand, addresses things like distributing mobile apps to employees, setting them up with standard settings, and deleting company data from mobile apps. When combined with other EMS suite services, Intune enables a company to offer apps that have access to extra data protection and mobile app capabilities like multifactor authentication and single sign-on (SSO).
Microsoft Intune Features
Make endpoint management easier
Reduce expenses and complexity by using a single, integrated tool that is currently included in Microsoft 365 to manage any device. Get complete insight into the security, compliance, and health of your cloud and endpoints connected to it.
Protect a workforce that is hybrid
With a management solution that centralizes endpoint security and identity-based device compliance and increases resilience, you can strengthen your Zero Trust security architecture. Assist in safeguarding data on both company-owned and personal devices.
Improve user experiences
With zero-touch deployment, adaptable, non-intrusive mobile application management, and proactive suggestions based on Microsoft Cloud data, enable IT to provide the greatest endpoint experience possible.
A few of Microsoft Intune’s capabilities and advantages are listed in this article.
Important attributes and advantages
Among Intune’s primary attributes and advantages are:
Control devices and users
Devices that belong to your company and end users can both be managed using Intune. Microsoft Intune is compatible with Windows client devices, Linux Ubuntu Desktop, iOS/iPadOS, Android, Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and iOS. Using policies you set up with Intune, you can utilize these devices to safely access organizational resources.
Make managing apps easier
The deployment, updating, and removing of apps are all integrated into the Intune app experience. You could:
- Distribute apps from your private app shops by connecting to them.
- Turn on Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 apps.
- Install line-of-business (LOB) programs and Win32.
- Establish app protection guidelines to safeguard app data.
- Control who can access apps and their data.
Deploy policies automatically
Policies can be made for conditional access, apps, security, device settings, compliance, and more. You can distribute the policies to your device and user groups after they are prepared. The gadgets just need internet access to receive these policies.
Make use of the self-service tools
Employees and students can install apps, join groups, reset PINs and passwords, and more using the Company Portal app and website. The Company Portal can be altered to assist cut down on support calls.
Connect to mobile threat defense
Third-party partner services and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint are integrated with Intune. Endpoint security is the main emphasis of these services. You can automate remediation, perform real-time risk analysis, and develop rules that react to risks.
Make use of an online admin center
Data-driven reporting and endpoint control are the main topics of the Intune admin center. Any internet-connected device can be used by administrators to log into the admin center.
This admin center programmatically accesses the Intune service via Microsoft Graph REST APIs. In the admin center, every operation is a Microsoft Graph call.
Advanced security and control of endpoints
Among the many capabilities available in the Microsoft Intune Suite are Microsoft Tunnel for MAM, Endpoint Privilege Management, and Remote Help.
Use Intune’s Microsoft Copilot to generate analysis using artificial intelligence.
Copilot for Security powers the features and availability of Copilot in Intune.
Copilot can provide you with additional setting details, such as suggested values and possible conflicts, as well as a summary of current rules. Additionally, you can troubleshoot a device and obtain device details.
Microsoft Intune pricing
The cost of Intune is per user per month, and businesses can buy it as part of another subscription or as a stand-alone plan. The three separate plans are as follows:
Microsoft Intune plan 1
Subscriptions to Microsoft 365 E3, E5, F1, F3, EMS E3 and E5, and Business Premium plans all come with Plan 1, which has rudimentary UEM capability. Notably, the Microsoft Intune Suite’s additional tools can be purchased as Plan 1 add-ons. Plan 1 costs eight dollars a month per user.
Microsoft Intune plan 2
Additional technologies like Microsoft Intune Tunnel for MAM and endpoint management for specialized devices are included in Plan 2, which is an extension of Plan 1. In addition to the $8 monthly fee for Plan 1, the cost of Plan 2 is $4 per user.
The Microsoft Intune Suite
The most expensive package for Intune as a stand-alone service is Intune Suite. It is an addition to Plan 1 that has even more tools and all of the add-ons from Plan 2. Remote assistance, endpoint privilege management, sophisticated endpoint analytics, and other capabilities scheduled for release later in 2023 are among the other features included in the Intune Suite. In addition to the $8 monthly fee for Plan 1, Intune Suite costs $10 per user.
