In an increasingly digital and mobile world, managing and securing end-user devices is more important than ever. With remote work becoming the norm, organizations are now tasked with the challenge of managing a multitude of devices, each with their own unique configurations and security needs. Enter Microsoft Intune, previously known as Microsoft Endpoint Manager, a cloud-based service that offers comprehensive, flexible, and intelligent solutions for device management and security.
Time-Saving Benefits of Windows Autopilot
Device deployment has traditionally been a time-consuming task for IT departments. Legacy imaging methods, such as PXE boot and USB imaging, required manual efforts from IT to build, maintain, and apply images for different hardware models and configurations. Each device had to be manually set up by an IT administrator, a process that could take several hours per device.
In this context, Microsoft Intune’s Windows Autopilot emerges as a game changer. Autopilot is a suite of capabilities designed to simplify the entire process of setting up and pre-configuring new devices, transforming what used to be a complex, manual process into a seamless, automated one.
With Windows Autopilot, devices are ready for productive use right out of the box, with minimal IT intervention. When a new device is turned on for the first time, Autopilot guides the user through a streamlined set-up process. During this process, Autopilot automatically applies settings and configurations as defined by the IT department, installs necessary applications, and ensures the device is ready for use.
The result is a dramatic reduction in the time IT administrators need to spend on each device. Instead of manually configuring each new device, as required with PXE boot or USB imaging, administrators can focus their efforts on other important tasks. This has the potential to save up to 3 hours per device provisioned. For large organizations that regularly deploy new devices, this time saving can have a significant impact on operational efficiency, freeing up IT resources and reducing costs.
Moreover, Windows Autopilot not only saves time but also improves the end-user experience. Users no longer need to wait for IT to configure their devices and can start being productive right away. In addition, by automating the setup process, Autopilot ensures consistency in device configuration, reducing potential issues caused by manual errors.
Deployment of Custom Applications and Configuration Profiles
One of the standout capabilities of Microsoft Intune is its robust application management. The platform is not limited to simply deploying Windows Store apps. It extends its functionality to include the deployment of custom applications, giving administrators the flexibility to meet the unique needs of their organization. Administrators can package their own applications, set necessary dependencies, and distribute them during the device provisioning process. This ensures each device is equipped with the necessary software for the end-user, right from the start.
Additionally, Intune provides a powerful tool for device configuration management. Traditional Group Policy can be cumbersome and limiting, especially in modern, diverse device environments. To overcome this, Intune uses Configuration Profiles, a more dynamic and flexible solution. Configuration Profiles can define how devices in your organization are configured, and can be created and deployed with ease. They ensure all devices have consistent settings that comply with your organization’s policies, providing a more streamlined and effective way to manage device configurations.
Security Hardening with Security Baselines
In the realm of device security, Microsoft Intune provides comprehensive hardening capabilities using Security Baselines. These baselines are essentially a set of default security settings recommended by Microsoft, based on their latest security research and best practices.
One key feature of Security Baselines is Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) policies. These are a set of rules that minimize the areas in a system that are vulnerable to attacks. For example, an ASR rule can block potentially malicious scripts, or prevent Office apps from creating executable content. By applying these rules, you can reduce the attack vectors that threats can exploit, thereby increasing your overall security posture.
Additionally, Security Baselines include BitLocker configuration, a volume encryption feature in Windows that protects data from unauthorized access. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive, so anyone who tries to access the system without the necessary credentials will be unable to read the data, providing an additional layer of security.
In essence, with Microsoft Intune’s Security Baselines, you’re implementing a set of robust security settings that harden your devices, protecting them against potential threats and unauthorized access.
Device Compliance Policies and Integration with Azure AD Conditional Access
Security is a paramount concern in today’s digital landscape. With Microsoft Intune’s Device Compliance Policies and integration with Azure AD Conditional Access, you can create a powerful security framework that ensures only compliant devices can access your organization’s data.
Device Compliance Policies in Microsoft Intune allow you to define the baseline security requirements for devices in your organization. These might include running the latest security updates, having antivirus software installed and up-to-date, ensuring disk encryption is enabled, and more. Once these policies are defined, Intune continuously checks the compliance status of each device against them. If a device is found to be non-compliant, remediation actions can be taken automatically, or the device can be denied access to corporate resources until the issue is resolved.
But what happens when a compliant device tries to access your data? This is where Azure AD Conditional Access comes in. With Conditional Access, you can enforce further checks at the point of access. For example, you might require multi-factor authentication, or you might only allow access from devices that are not only compliant with your policies, but also are registered with Azure AD. This means that even if a device is compliant, it must also meet other conditions you set before it can access your data.
These features are integral parts of the Microsoft Zero Trust security model, which operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify”. In this model, every access request is fully authenticated, authorized, and encrypted before granting access, regardless of where the request comes from. By verifying the security status and health of a device before granting access, including checks on whether the device is running the latest security updates, has a firewall enabled, and is not jailbroken or rooted, you can ensure that all devices accessing your network are trusted and secure.
Where to start?
Ready to explore these features in your own environment? We invite you to our free Microsoft Intune Proof of Concept Workshop. This 4-6-hour workshop offers a hands-on demonstration of Microsoft Intune in your own environment. It will provide you with real-time insights about your users’ endpoints and their compliance with your IT policies.
You will experience firsthand how to manage and secure your devices, apps, and users. Understand how to formulate management policies that protect your users, business data, and devices. Discover how to secure your endpoints by enforcing robust policies and deploying potent security tools. Learn how to fortify your users’ identities with multi-factor authentication and conditional access from any device. See how you can enable your users to be productive with their essential applications, on their preferred devices.
After this workshop, we offer you the option to further enhance your security and productivity with our customizable paid offerings. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to see Microsoft Intune in action in your own environment. Contact us today to get started!
As Forrester noted in their 2020 Microsoft 365 Enterprise Total Economic Impact Study, “Modern device management encompasses a wide range of areas including user protection, adding/removing devices, managed applications, end user support, and rolling out new capabilities.” Embrace this modern approach to device management with Microsoft Intune and revolutionize the way you manage and secure devices in your organization. Start saving time, enhance your security, and streamline your device management now!
