Microsoft Intune is a modern tool that’s changing how businesses handle their devices and apps. In this blog, Gosoftware will look at how it works and its features and benefits, like increased productivity and data protection.
Besides, Gosoftware will explain the Microsoft Intune pricing to help you see how it fits your budget and helps your business. Let’s check!
What is Intune Microsoft?
Microsoft Intune is a handy cloud service that helps organizations manage mobile devices and apps. As a core component of the EMS suite, Intune focuses on keeping employees productive while keeping the organization’s data safe.
The cool thing about Intune is that it doesn’t matter what device your employees use or where they work from. It can handle all sorts of devices, like phones, tablets, and computers, no matter what operating system they run.
So, what notable features does Intune have? What does Microsoft Intune do to solve business problems? Let’s find out in the next sections of this blog!
What Are The Key Features Of Microsoft Intune?
Intune is a robust solution that offers several features to help businesses efficiently manage their devices, apps, and security. Below are 5 features that stand out among them. Let’s delve into these features in detail!
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Many people wonder “Is Intune a MDM platform?” Before answering this question, let’s check the definition of the MDM platform: a technology solution that enables organizations to manage and secure mobile devices remotely.
So, Intune is an MDM platform because it helps you take control of the smartphones and tablets your employees use. It allows them to set up, monitor, and manage these devices from a distance. This way, you can ensure they have strong passwords and encryption.
Mobile App Management (MAM)
Intune lets businesses manage how employees access and use company apps and data on their mobile devices.
In other words, only the right people can get to sensitive company info. It allows you to set rules like encrypting apps and preventing data loss. So, your company’s data and apps are protected on mobile devices.
Automated Policy Deployment
Intune automates setting rules for apps, security, device settings, and more. If you wonder how it does that, the mechanism is simple: it allows admins to create and configure policies for various aspects.
Once these rules are ready, you can easily send them to different groups of users and devices. All the devices need is an internet connection to receive and apply these rules.
Autopilot
Intune’s Autopilot feature makes setting up new Windows devices a breeze. By the way, Autopilot is a device enrollment and configuration system integrated with Intune.
Once a device is enrolled, it’s linked to the business’s Azure Active Directory. So, it ensures that these devices follow your security and company policies right from the start. This feature simplifies things for your employees, as they can quickly and easily start using their new devices.
Management Extension
What is Microsoft Intune Management Extension? It is a component of Intune that empowers admins to deploy and execute apps on managed devices.
This component extends the management capabilities of Intune, enabling automation, configuration, and software deployment, particularly on Windows 10 devices, As a result, it enhances device management and customization.
Now you know the key features of Intune. Let’s dive into how this service works so you can take full advantage of its benefits!
How Microsoft Intune Works?
As mentioned, Intune is a cloud-based platform that simplifies device management and security for organizations.
So, how does Microsoft Intune integrate with other applications? Through connectors and APIs! It seamlessly connects with Azure Active Directory, Microsoft 365 apps, Azure Information Protection, etc.
Administrators configure policies for security, app management, and compliance. These policies are assigned to specific user or device groups. Then, enrolled devices communicate with Intune to receive and enforce these policies, ensuring they stay secure and compliant.
The service automates app deployment, reduces IT overhead, and provides monitoring and reporting tools to track policy compliance and device status. Sounds very convenient, right?
And that’s how Intune works! To help you understand more about this service, Gosoftware will go through some of the benefits it brings to users. Keep scrolling!
Benefits Of Microsoft Intune
With helpful features, Intune brings many benefits that have been recognized by many users in many Microsoft Intune reviews, as follows :
- Enhanced security: One benefit of Intune is its ability to keep your company’s data secure while keeping your employees productive. To increase security, you can use both Intune and antivirus software.
- Control with Office 365: With Intune, you can set rules to control who can access your company’s data through Office 365 mobile app management. This way, you can decide who gets to see important information, adding an extra layer of security.
- Cross-platform support: Intune isn’t picky about the devices it secures. Instead, it works with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. For example, Intune can manage and secure the Office apps on macOS and other operating systems as well.
In simple terms, Intune maintains security on various devices, controls who accesses your data, and allows flexibility in managing security across platforms. This balance between security and productivity is crucial in today’s business landscape.
To learn more about this service, you can participate in Microsoft Intune training and gain a Microsoft Intune certification. You can easily find these on the Internet.
Microsoft Intune Solves 7 Common Business Problems
Microsoft announced that Intune will solve many business problems related to device and resource management. And it’s true! Here are seven problems this service helps businesses solve:
#1. Intune Provides A Secure Solution For Your Employees’ On-Premise Email And Data Access.
When a company uses on-site servers, like Microsoft Exchange, but employees need secure access to email and data, Intune offers a solution. It uses Intune-managed certificates along with a standard VPN proxy or gateway.
This setup allows safe access to mobile apps that connect to on-site data. After employees’ devices are enrolled in this service, the system ensures they follow company policies before accessing corporate data.
#2. Intune Helps Secure Mobile Devices For Remote Work
The rise of remote work has introduced the challenge of securing mobile devices. Employees often use personal smartphones and tablets to access company resources, posing security risks. Intune offers a comprehensive solution.
In such cases, Intune provides remote device management. It allows IT teams to enforce security policies, update software, and track device health.
#3. Intune Helps Office 365 Users Access Email And Data Securely.
Securing access to on-premise email and data, especially for Office 365 users, is tricky because it involves extra security steps like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and device registration.
To solve this, Intune, in collaboration with EMS, sets access conditions. Employees can only reach Office 365 data when meeting specific company requirements.
For instance, if conditions necessitate multi-factor authentication with Intune, employees must adhere to these criteria for accessing corporate data.
Besides Office 365, Intune can work with Office 2021 and Office 2019 (for both MAC and Windows). And if you managing Windows 10 devices within an organization, Intune can assist in deploying this operating system to devices by leveraging the Windows ISO 10.
#4. Intune Helps Issue Corporate-Owned Phones To Your Employees.
Intune simplifies the process of providing corporate-owned phones to your employees. It offers bulk provisioning and management solutions integrating device management platforms. How does this help businesses? It streamlines the setup for employees!
For example, when you give them a sealed device, they just need to power it on, and then follow a corporate-branded setup to authenticate. The device is automatically configured with security policies. Your employees can then access apps through the Microsoft Intune company portal app.
#5. Intune Helps Enable BYOD Policies For Your Staff Members.
BYOD policies are popular because employees prefer using their own devices. However, many employees are concerned about privacy and hesitate to let their employers manage their personal devices.
Intune solves this by managing only work-related apps, like Office apps, without interfering with personal stuff. This way, corporate data remains secure even when apps access work and personal data.
Also, Intune can stop employees from copying work-related data to their email profiles. It’s a balanced approach that keeps both employees and businesses happy!
#6. Intune Helps Protect Data On Lost Or Stolen Devices.
The problem of employees using public computers to access company data can lead to security risks if those devices get lost or stolen. Fortunately, Intune provides a solution.
With Intune, you can control who accesses company data. It allows conditional access, so data is only available on approved devices, whether company-owned or part of a BYOD program.
Intune also offers app-based access control. This way, you protect sensitive information on lost or stolen devices, reducing the risk of data breaches.
#7. With Intune, You May Provide Your Staff With Shared Tablets With Restricted Usage.
Intune also offers a solution for scenarios where employees require shared tablets for job-related tasks.
Imagine those used by retail employees to check inventory or assist customers. These tablets typically run in a limited-use mode, granting access only to essential apps for specific job functions. What can Intune do in such cases?
Like corporate-owned phones, Intune streamlines the provisioning, security, and management of iOS and Android tablets. They can be configured to operate in this limited-use mode, which is shared among employees.
As a result, everyone can access the necessary apps while maintaining security and control over the devices.
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How Much Is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune offers a range of licensing options to meet diverse organizational needs. The primary plans include:
Intune Plan 1 (2023) – $8.00/month: This plan encompasses the core capabilities of Intune, including:
- Cross-platform endpoint management
- MDM & MAM
- Built-in endpoint security
Extra features like Remote Help and Endpoint Privilege Management can be added as optional extras.
Intune Plan 2 (2023) – $4.00/month: As an add-on to Plan 1, Plan 2 offers specialty device management and Tunnel for MAM.
Intune Suite (2023) – $10.00/month: An extension to Plan 1, Intune Suite delivers:
- Advanced endpoint analytics
- Endpoint Privilege Management
- Remote Help
- Specialty device management
- Tunnel for MAM
- Integrating with Microsoft Security and Microsoft 365.
You can learn more about these plans at Microsoft’s website. With these three plans, you can completely choose the one that suits your needs and budget. After choosing, you can access the Microsoft Intune login page and use its functions.
Conclusion
In summary, Microsoft Intune is a valuable tool for businesses. It helps manage mobile devices and apps effectively. Its features, like device management, app control, and security tools, address common business challenges.
With Intune, businesses can handle mobile devices with confidence, improving their security and productivity.
See you again in the following blogs of Gosoftware!