Microsoft Intune for Business: How to Start Without a Massive Project

Microsoft Intune for Business is a cloud service for mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM). It sounds like a project for IT giants, but for SMEs, it can be introduced in small steps to show concrete results within weeks. This article shows the most sensible place to start.

What Intune Actually Does

• Device Policies (MDM): Disk encryption (BitLocker), required PIN, USB blocking, installation restrictions.
• Application Policies (MAM): Control of data in Outlook/Teams even on personal phones, without managing the entire device.
• Compliance: Checks that the device is healthy; otherwise, it restricts access to M365.
• Autopilot: New computers are automatically configured for the user without IT intervention.
• App Deployment: Office, Teams, VPN clients, and business apps are installed automatically.

Which Policies to Start With (Week One)

1. Compliance policy for Windows: Encrypted disk, MFA, no rooted/jailbroken devices.
2. Conditional Access: Access to M365 only via compliant devices.
3. MAM policy for mobile devices (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive).
4. Basic configuration policy: Firewall, SmartScreen, BitLocker.

Within this scope, there is no risk to users, yet the security level is raised by a whole class.

Autopilot: Why You Won't Want to Go Back After the Pilot

Autopilot makes a new computer out of the box feel like a new phone for the user: power on, sign in with a corporate Microsoft account, and the device configures in the background, joins the domain (Entra ID), and installs apps and policies. IT has zero physical contact with the device.

We Help with Microsoft 365 and Intune SetupWe prepare policies, Autopilot, and application packages so you can deploy devices without intervention.

What You Need to Get Started

• Microsoft 365 Business Premium or an Intune standalone license.
• Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) organized with users in the correct groups.
• MFA enabled for administrators.
• A test group of 3–5 users for the pilot.

Does Intune also manage Mac and Linux?

Yes for Mac (macOS), with a similar set of policies. Linux support exists but is limited – usually not critical for SME environments.

What about personal employee phones (BYOD)?

For BYOD, we recommend MAM (App Protection) instead of full MDM: it protects corporate data in Outlook/Teams without managing the entire phone. Users are generally more satisfied.

Does Intune conflict with Group Policy from Active Directory?

On hybrid devices, both can work simultaneously; by default, Intune does not override in a conflict. We recommend a gradual migration of policies from GPO to Intune.

How much does implementation for 30 users cost?

A Business Premium license (includes Intune) is ~22 EUR/user/month. One-time setup and migration depend on complexity; for an SME, it typically involves 30–50 hours of consulting work.