Intune: Protect and manage corporate devices efficiently with Microsoft

Secures and manages connecting devices in a single space

In a connected and technology-dependent world, protecting corporate devices and data is crucial for businesses. The increase in devices and ever-evolving cyber threats make managing and securing connection points more challenging than ever.

Why is hotspot management important in business?

Connection point management is crucial today. It provides a better understanding of the devices used in your company. In addition, the surface area exposed to potential cyber attacks has increased due to the increase of devices used by people at work.

In addition, endpoint management provides tools to actively monitor and protect devices. Ensure they are up to date with the latest security patches and updates. As well as monitoring them for potential threats or suspicious behaviour. To be able to quickly stop attacks originating from the connection points.

This is where Microsoft Intune (formerly known as Endpoint Manager) comes in. A cloud-based solution that simplifies and centralises device management. At the same time it ensures the integrity of the associated data is protected.

In this article, we will explore what Microsoft Intune is and how it protects devices and safeguards corporate information against attacks.

Key features of Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Intune helps manage and secure devices efficiently in enterprises. Below, we explore some of the key features of this cloud-based solution:

Identity Management

Microsoft Intune allows you to manage user identities. It includes authentication and authorization to securely access organizational resources. This is achieved by establishing role-based access policies, ensuring that only authorized employees can access sensitive information. Intune’s identity management helps strengthen the security of corporate data.

Simplified application management

With Microsoft Intune, application management becomes more efficient. It allows applications to be installed, updated, and removed centrally, according to set requirements. This simplifies the application management process and ensures that employees always have access to the latest versions. This improves productivity and user experience.

Cross-platform device management

Provides the ability to securely manage devices from different operating systems, such as Android, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This allows organizations to control and enforce pre-defined policies across all devices, ensuring consistent and secure access to corporate resources, regardless of the device used. It thus reduces costs by improving performance across devices. This is thanks to the simplification of security and endpoint management providers.

Device management

Provides the ability to manage both organization-owned and personal devices. Includes mobile devices, desktops, and virtual hotspots.

Security and Compliance

Microsoft Intune provides compliance and reporting features that support the Zero Trust security model, setting alerts for potential incidents. It integrates with mobile threat defense services, such as Microsoft Defender, to detect and respond to on-device threats and enables real-time compliance policies and risk analysis to protect data and meet regulatory requirements.

Intune integrates with Microsoft applications and services for end-to-end management of endpoints. These integrations include:

• Configuration Manager
  Manages local endpoints, such as software updates, with a combination of web-based and cloud-based management.

• Windows Autopilot
  Provides the option to configure and push new devices directly to assigned users. Allows existing devices to be re-imaged for use with Windows Autopilot and upgraded to the latest version of Windows.

• Windows Copilot
  Helps you gain a better understanding of what is happening in your environment. Enables you to leverage available intelligence reports, connect threat activity and make decisions more effectively.

• Windows 365
  Makes it easy to deploy Microsoft 365 applications to users and devices in your organisation: Teams, Outlook, Sharepoint and OneDrive.

• Microsoft Defender
  Helps organisations detect, investigate and respond to potential security threats. You can establish a service-to-service connection between Intune and Microsoft Defender for point of connection. This allows you to create policies for file analysis, threat detection and risk level compliance.

• Windows Autopatch
  A cloud service that keeps software up to date, provides users with the latest productivity tools and minimises on-premises infrastructure. Combined with Intune, you can manage patches on enrolled devices and optimise their performance.

• Endpoint Analytics
  A tool that gives you visibility into the performance and reliability of your end-user devices. With it, you can identify and fix issues that slow down devices, improving the user experience and reducing the support burden.

These integrations extend the capabilities of Microsoft Intune and allow you to take full advantage of endpoint management in your organisation, providing a complete and unified management experience.

Microsoft Intune Integration with Third Party Applications and Devices

Microsoft Intune, apart from integrating with other Microsoft products and services, helps connect with various third-party applications and devices to make it easier to manage your devices. Some of the partner services it integrates with include:

• Google Play: When administrators connect to their managed Google Play account, they have access to their organization’s private shop, allowing them to install Android apps on their devices.

• Apple tokens and certificates: Once iOS/iPadOS and macOS devices are added, they can register with Intune and receive policies. Administrators can access iOS/iPad and macOS app licenses purchased in volume, and deploy these apps to the devices.

• TeamViewer: By connecting to your TeamViewer account, you can use TeamViewer to remotely support your devices.

These integrations allow Intune to provide administrators with simplified access to third-party application services. In addition, Intune is capable of managing multiple partner applications, including public shop applications, line-of-business (LOB) applications, private and custom applications, and more.

That’s why you shouldn’t miss out on the benefits of Microsoft Intune:

Microsoft Intune offers several key benefits that drive productivity and security in organizations:

Advanced Security

Protect all corporate data with mobile threat defense services and a focus on endpoint security. Keep your devices and data safe from potential attacks and cyber threats.

Simplified application management

Efficiently manage the installation, update, and removal of applications according to your requirements. Simplify the application management process and ensure your employees always have access to the latest versions.

Centralized user and device management

Securely control devices with different operating systems, such as Android, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, based on pre-defined policies. Ensure secure and consistent access to corporate resources for all your employees, regardless of the device they use.

Effective policy enforcement

Monitor and enforce policies on devices and user groups to ensure compliance and security. Establish security and configuration policies that are automatically enforced across your organization’s devices.

Customized experience

Tailor the enterprise portal to the needs of your users for greater convenience and productivity. Give your employees a personalized Intune portal experience, with quick access to the applications and resources most relevant to them.

Hotspot Management Operations Centre

Easily access from any location, making it easy for administrators. Centrally manage all of your organization’s devices and endpoints, regardless of your physical location.

Integration with the Microsoft ecosystem

Integrates natively with Microsoft services and applications, providing complete and unified management. Leverage integration with Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory, and Microsoft Defender for more efficient management of your devices and endpoints.

Support for third-party applications and devices

Integrate with third-party services and devices such as Google Play and Apple tokens/certificates, expanding management options. Centrally manages Android apps and leverages iOS and macOS app licenses purchased in volume.

These benefits ensure data protection, management efficiency, and cross-device and cross-platform compatibility, boosting productivity and security in your organization. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make the most of Microsoft Intune.

If after reading the article you would like to implement the new Microsoft Intune solution for your company, click on the following link to contact one of our experts.