What Is Intune MDM? Why Should Businesses Use It?
What Is Intune MDM? Why Should Businesses Use It?
IT architectures have broadened over the years to include an ever-growing number of mobile devices and applications, including personal cell phones in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments. End-to-end management of these tools as they access corporate data is the only way to maintain enterprise-level security and operational efficiency.
As businesses adapt to hybrid work models and increasingly rely on mobile devices for day-to-day operations, mobile device management is crucial to our IT strategies. Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based service that provides mobile device and application management, is one of the most powerful tools for organizations looking to streamline their device management processes.
What is Intune MDM?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service offering Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM). It enables businesses to manage devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops regardless of their operating system — whether they run on iOS, Android or Windows. With Intune, IT administrators can control how devices access corporate data, enforce security policies and manage apps from a centralized console.
Intune MDM helps businesses configure, manage and protect mobile devices and their data. Whether an organization allows employees to BYOD or issues corporate-owned devices, Intune MDM ensures that all devices meet security and compliance standards.
Key Features of Intune MDM
Why is the Microsoft Intune device management platform so powerful and popular? The features make for a robust, secure and easy-to-use MDM tool.
Device Enrollment
The first step in mobile management with Intune is device enrollment. This feature allows IT administrators to register devices under corporate control for easier management. Devices can be enrolled in Intune via a few different methods, depending on whether they are corporate-owned or BYOD.
With BYOD, Intune offers flexible enrollment methods, ensuring employees can use their personal devices while maintaining a secure environment. Once enrolled, devices are monitored and managed, ensuring they comply with corporate security policies.
Device Configuration
Intune MDM allows businesses to configure settings on enrolled devices according to the organization’s needs. Administrators can apply different policies based on the type of device, the employee’s role or geographic location.
For example, businesses can:
- Configure Wi-Fi, VPN and email settings remotely, ensuring employees can connect to necessary corporate services quickly.
- Set up security policies like encryption, password complexity and screen lock requirements to minimize the risk of data breaches.
- Enable or disable specific device features (e.g., camera, Bluetooth, USB access) to align with internal security guidelines.
Security and Compliance
A significant benefit of Intune mobile device management is its robust security and compliance framework. Intune integrates with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to enforce identity and access management (IAM), ensuring that only authorized users and devices can access corporate resources.
Key security features include:
- Conditional access: Businesses can control access to corporate data based on various conditions, such as device compliance or location. For instance, an IT admin can deny a non-compliant device (e.g., one that lacks encryption) access to sensitive data.
- Remote wipe: IT administrators can remotely wipe a device to protect corporate data if it is lost or stolen. Depending on the situation, a full device wipe or selective wipe (which only removes corporate data) can be performed.
- Compliance policies: Administrators can define compliance policies that must be met before a device can access corporate resources. These policies may include device health checks, encryption status or the presence of security updates.
Application Management
Intune MDM goes beyond managing devices — it also offers comprehensive MAM. This feature lets businesses control corporate applications on mobile devices. Intune allows IT admins to manage corporate and personal applications on a single device without compromising corporate data security. For example:
- App protection policies: Intune can enforce app protection policies to prevent data leakage between corporate and personal applications. For example, data can be restricted to only flow between apps managed by Intune, ensuring sensitive information isn’t shared with unauthorized applications.
- Selective app wipe: Similar to device wipe, Intune allows administrators to remove only corporate applications and data from a device, leaving personal apps and data intact.
- App deployment: IT teams can deploy required apps to employees’ devices, ensuring they have the necessary tools to perform their job. Additionally, admins can manage app updates and licenses through the centralized Intune console.
User and Group-Based Management
Intune MDM makes it easy to manage devices on an individual user or group basis. Through integration with Azure AD, businesses can apply different policies to specific groups of users based on their roles within the organization. For example, the sales team may need access to different apps and data than the finance team.
Intune’s user-based management ensures that employees only have access to the data and apps necessary for their job, reducing the risk of accidental or intentional data breaches.
Cloud Integration and Scalability
Microsoft Intune scales effortlessly as a cloud-based service to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. There’s no need to invest in expensive on-premises infrastructure — organizations can manage everything from the cloud. Intune integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 services, such as Azure AD and Microsoft Endpoint Manager, to create a comprehensive device and application management solution.
Since Intune is part of the Microsoft cloud ecosystem, businesses benefit from continuous updates, ensuring they always have access to the latest security and management features.
Detailed Reporting and Analytics
One of the standout features of Intune MDM is its robust reporting and analytics capabilities. Intune provides IT administrators with detailed insights into the status of enrolled devices, compliance, security posture and application usage. Administrators can generate reports to identify non-compliant devices, detect potential security threats and track the performance of deployed applications.
These powerful analytics help businesses make data-driven decisions, optimize device management policies and proactively address security issues before they escalate. With real-time data at their fingertips, IT teams can ensure devices are secure, compliant and performing optimally.
By incorporating comprehensive reporting and analytics, Intune MDM empowers businesses with visibility into their mobile device ecosystem, enabling better decision-making and proactive management.
Why Should Businesses Use Intune MDM?
Intune mobile management is a standout application growing in popularity, particularly in enterprise organizations. Given that 80% of BYOD environments are not properly managed, this application is as necessary as it is effective.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
Data breaches and cyberattacks are on the rise, so businesses must prioritize security. Intune MDM provides a robust framework for securing mobile devices and data, ensuring that only compliant devices can access sensitive corporate resources. By enforcing encryption, password policies and conditional access, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches.
Intune’s ability to securely manage both corporate and personal devices is particularly beneficial for businesses that support BYOD. Corporate data is kept separate and secure on personal devices, while employees retain control over their personal apps and data.
Simplified IT Management
Manually managing a large fleet of mobile devices is time-consuming and inefficient. Intune MDM simplifies IT management by providing a centralized console where administrators can enroll devices, configure settings, deploy apps and enforce policies.
This centralized approach reduces administrative overhead and ensures consistency across all devices. By automating routine tasks like app updates and compliance checks, IT teams can focus on more strategic initiatives, improving overall efficiency.
Improved Employee Productivity
By using Intune MDM, businesses can ensure employees have the apps and data they need to work productively, regardless of location or device. With features like remote app deployment, employees can start using necessary tools immediately without navigating complex setup processes.
Additionally, by configuring Wi-Fi, VPN and email settings remotely, employees can easily connect to corporate resources without needing IT assistance. This feature boosts productivity and reduces help desk calls, further alleviating the burdens felt by IT teams.
Flexible Device Management for Hybrid Workforces
With hybrid work models becoming the norm, businesses need flexible solutions to manage corporate-owned and personal devices. Intune MDM excels in this area by providing different management options for both scenarios. Whether an employee works from home on their personal smartphone or in the office on a company-issued laptop, Intune ensures that corporate data is secure and accessible.
Cost-Effective Cloud Solution
Intune eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure as a cloud-based service, reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO). Businesses only pay for what they use, making Intune a cost-effective solution for organizations of any size. Additionally, because Intune is part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services, reducing complexity and delivering better value.
How Does Intune Compare to Other MDM Solutions?
With many MDM solutions available on the market, Intune stands out due to its deep integration with Microsoft services and its cloud-native architecture. Businesses that already use Microsoft 365 services will find that Intune complements their existing infrastructure, creating a seamless, integrated device and application management environment.
Intune also benefits from Microsoft’s continuous investment in cloud security, ensuring it remains at the edge of mobile management technology. However, for businesses that rely heavily on non-Microsoft platforms or require specific features outside of what Intune offers, it’s worth comparing other MDM solutions like VMware Workspace ONE or Cisco Meraki to determine the best fit for your organization.
Microsoft Intune for Device Management — an Essential Tool
Microsoft Intune MDM is essential for businesses looking to secure, manage and streamline their mobile device fleet. Intune MDM helps businesses ensure device compliance and security across all mobile network access tools. It’s a platform to support workforce productivity, regardless of where they work or their devices.
Red River and Microsoft Intune MDM
At Red River, we understand that effective mobile device management is critical to maintaining security, productivity and operational efficiency. As a trusted partner and Microsoft expert, Red River helps businesses implement Microsoft Intune MDM to optimize their device management strategy.
We provide end-to-end services that include consultation, deployment and ongoing support to ensure your Intune MDM setup aligns with your organization’s unique needs. Whether managing a hybrid workforce, implementing a BYOD policy or securing corporate-owned devices, Red River ensures that your Intune MDM deployment is seamless and customized to your requirements.
Why Choose Red River for Intune MDM?
Red River is the first choice for enterprise organizations seeking to protect and streamline their end-to-end architectures. Our clients can attest we offer:
- Expert consultation: Red River’s expert tech teams help organizations understand how Intune will best serve the business by analyzing your current device management landscape and offering tailored recommendations.
- Smooth deployments: Red River ensures a hassle-free deployment of Intune MDM, minimizing disruption to your business operations and quickly configuring your devices to meet security and compliance requirements.
- Ongoing support: We provide comprehensive post-deployment support, helping you troubleshoot issues, optimize policies and scale device management capabilities as your business grows.
By partnering with Red River for your Microsoft Intune MDM needs, your organization benefits from industry-leading technology and our proven expertise in delivering scalable, secure and efficient IT solutions. Contact us to explore your options.
Q&A
Why Do Companies Use MDM?
Companies use MDM (Mobile Device Management) to secure and manage mobile devices, applications and data across their organization. MDM helps businesses enforce security policies, control access to corporate resources and ensure compliance with regulations. It also enables IT teams to configure devices remotely, deploy necessary apps, and track device health. With the rise of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies and remote work, MDM ensures that personal and corporate-owned devices are properly managed, reducing the risk of data breaches and improving overall operational efficiency.
Is Intune Considered the Industry Standard for MDM?
Microsoft Intune is widely regarded as one of the leading solutions in the Mobile Device Management (MDM) space, particularly for organizations already using the Microsoft ecosystem. Its deep integration with Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory and other cloud services makes it a natural choice for businesses seeking seamless device and application management. While Intune is highly popular and often seen as a go-to solution for MDM, other strong contenders like VMware Workspace ONE and Cisco Meraki exist. While Intune is not the universal “industry standard,” it is certainly a top-tier choice for many organizations globally.
