What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is Microsoft's cloud service for managing devices and the applications on them. It enrolls Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, pushes configuration and security settings, installs and updates software, enforces compliance rules, and can wipe a device that is lost or belongs to someone who has left. All of this is done from a web console with no on-premises server.
A device is enrolled by signing in with a work account, either during Windows setup through Autopilot or afterward through the Company Portal app. Once enrolled, Intune applies profiles: disk encryption on, screen lock after a set time, a specific antivirus configuration, Wi-Fi and VPN settings, and the list of applications the user should have. Compliance policies define what a healthy device looks like, and Entra ID Conditional Access can refuse Microsoft 365 access to any device that fails the check. For personal phones, Intune's application protection policies can secure the work data inside Outlook and Teams without managing the phone itself, which is the usual answer to bring-your-own-device questions.
For a small or mid-sized business Intune replaces the manual setup that used to eat a day per new hire and the uncertainty about which laptops are encrypted or patched. It is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, so many companies already own it without having turned it on. The effort is in the initial design: deciding on the baseline settings and testing the policies on a pilot group before enrolling everyone.
NetSys deploys and operates Intune through its Intune management service, building the configuration profiles, compliance policies, application packages, and update rings, then managing them as part of the ongoing agreement. Devices enroll through Windows Autopilot so a new laptop can be shipped directly to an employee. The firm ties Intune compliance to Conditional Access so an unmanaged or unhealthy device cannot reach company data.
Why it matters for a small business
Every laptop your staff carry is a copy of your business. Intune is how you know each one is encrypted, patched, running the right security software, and recoverable if it is left in a taxi. It also makes onboarding and offboarding mechanical: a new hire gets a configured machine without a technician touching it, and a departing employee's device is wiped remotely the same afternoon. Most companies on Microsoft 365 Business Premium are already paying for it. Leaving it unused means managing devices by hope, which works until the day it does not.
Microsoft Intune: FAQs
What is Microsoft Intune used for?
Intune is used to manage and secure the computers, phones, and tablets a business relies on. Administrators use it to enroll devices, enforce settings such as disk encryption and screen lock, deploy applications, control Windows updates, and check that each device meets compliance rules before it is allowed to access company data. It also handles remote wipe for lost devices and application-level protection for personal phones that access work email.
Is Intune included in Microsoft 365?
Intune is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium and in the enterprise E3 and E5 plans. It is not part of Business Basic or Business Standard, though it can be added as a standalone subscription. Since Business Premium also includes Entra ID P1 and Defender for Business, it is the plan most small businesses choose when they want device management and endpoint protection from a single license rather than several separate subscriptions.
What is the difference between Intune and MDM?
MDM, or mobile device management, is the general category of tools that enroll and control devices. Intune is Microsoft's MDM product, and it also covers application management and Windows update control, which some older MDM tools do not. Because it is built into Microsoft 365 and connects directly to Entra ID and Defender, Intune is usually the natural choice for a business already on that platform, while companies on other ecosystems may prefer a vendor-neutral MDM.
More terms
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a sign-in method that requires a second proof of identity, such as an app prompt or security key, beyond the password.
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID is Microsoft's cloud identity service, formerly Azure Active Directory, that manages user accounts and controls sign-in to Microsoft 365.
Network Segmentation
Network segmentation is the practice of dividing a network into separate zones with controlled traffic between them so an intruder cannot spread freely.
Microsoft Defender for Business
Microsoft Defender for Business is an endpoint security service for smaller companies, combining antivirus with detection, response and automated fixes.
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