Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service for managing the devices in your organisation — laptops, phones, and tablets — without needing a physical server on-site. If you’ve heard IT teams talk about “MDM” (Mobile Device Management) or “endpoint management,” Intune is Microsoft’s answer to that problem. This guide explains what it does, who it’s for, and whether your business needs it.
What Does Intune Actually Do?
Intune lets an IT administrator manage and secure company devices from a central web dashboard. In practical terms, this means you can:
- Enforce security policies across all company devices — require screen lock PINs, encrypt drives with BitLocker, block access from non-compliant devices
- Push software installations to devices remotely — install Microsoft 365 apps, antivirus, or any application without sitting in front of each PC
- Wipe a device remotely if it’s lost or stolen — protecting company data even if the hardware is gone
- Control what employees can and can’t do on work devices — restrict USB access, prevent certain apps from being installed
- Manage personal devices under a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy — keeping work data in a secured container separate from personal apps
How Intune Fits Into Microsoft 365
Intune is part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It’s included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium (£18.60/user/month in 2026) and can be added to lower tiers as an add-on. It works alongside Azure Active Directory (now called Microsoft Entra ID), which handles identity and sign-in, and together they form the basis of a modern cloud-managed IT setup.
For businesses already on Microsoft 365, enabling Intune is a natural next step when the team grows beyond the point where managing devices manually is practical.
Who Needs Intune?
Small businesses (under 10 staff)
Probably not yet — unless you handle sensitive data (financial, medical, legal) or have specific compliance requirements. The overhead of setting up and maintaining Intune outweighs the benefit at very small scale. Basic Microsoft 365 security (multi-factor authentication, conditional access) is usually sufficient.
Growing businesses (10–100 staff)
This is where Intune starts to earn its place. With more than 10 devices to manage, manual configuration becomes time-consuming and inconsistent. Remote work makes it harder to ensure all devices are patched and secured. If staff are accessing company data on personal phones, Intune lets you manage that without touching their personal apps. At this scale, the security and efficiency benefits are clear.
Regulated industries
For businesses subject to Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, or GDPR compliance requirements, Intune helps demonstrate control over company devices — a requirement auditors often look for. It can be the difference between passing and failing a certification audit.
What’s the Difference Between Intune and Traditional On-Premises Management?
Traditionally, businesses used Microsoft SCCM (now Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager) to manage devices — but this required an on-premises server and significant IT expertise. Intune does most of the same things from the cloud, with no server required. Setup is done through the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin centre at intune.microsoft.com, and devices are enrolled via a simple process that doesn’t require the IT team to physically touch each machine.
How Device Enrolment Works
Once Intune is configured, you enrol devices in one of several ways:
- Windows Autopilot — new PCs are shipped directly to employees and automatically configured when they first sign in with their work credentials. No IT setup required on-site.
- Manual enrolment — existing devices are enrolled by going to Settings → Accounts → Access work or school.
- Company Portal app — for iOS and Android, the Microsoft Company Portal app handles enrolment for mobile devices.
What Intune Cannot Do
Intune manages devices — it’s not a network security tool. It doesn’t manage your firewall, block malicious websites at the network level, or replace your endpoint security software. It works best as part of a broader Microsoft 365 security setup alongside Defender for Endpoint, conditional access policies, and MFA.
Is There a Cost?
Intune is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium (£18.60/user/month). It can also be licensed standalone as part of the Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) bundle, or as an add-on to lower Microsoft 365 tiers at around £6/user/month.
