Benefits of Microsoft Intune for UK Businesses
The way businesses use technology has changed significantly. Employees are no longer working exclusively from desktop computers inside one office. They may be using laptops at home, mobile phones while travelling, tablets on customer sites and personal devices to access company email.
This flexibility can improve productivity, but it also creates a serious challenge: how do you keep every device secure, correctly configured and under control?
Microsoft Intune gives businesses a central platform for managing and protecting their computers, mobile devices, applications and company data.
What Is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management service. It allows businesses to enrol, configure, secure and monitor devices from a central management platform.
It supports a range of operating systems, including:
● Windows
● macOS
● iOS and iPadOS
● Android
● Linux
Intune can also manage access to business applications and information, helping organisations control how company data is used on both business-owned and personal devices. (Microsoft Learn)
For UK businesses managing remote workers, hybrid teams or multiple offices, this creates a much more consistent approach to IT management.
1. Manage All Your Devices Centrally
Without centralised device management, businesses often rely on staff manually configuring individual computers and mobile devices.
This can lead to different security settings, missing applications, inconsistent password requirements and devices that have not received important updates.
Microsoft Intune allows your IT provider to manage enrolled devices through one central system. Security settings, applications, Wi-Fi profiles, VPN configurations and other business policies can be deployed remotely.
This can significantly reduce the time required to prepare and maintain employee devices.
2. Strengthen Device Security
A company laptop or mobile phone can contain access to email, documents, customer information and cloud systems. If that device is poorly protected, lost or stolen, it could expose the business to a data breach.
With Intune, businesses can apply security policies such as:
● Requiring strong passwords or PINs
● Enforcing device encryption
● Configuring firewall and antivirus settings
● Blocking outdated operating systems
● Preventing access from compromised devices
● Requiring devices to meet defined security standards
Microsoft provides dedicated endpoint security controls within Intune, allowing administrators to manage areas such as antivirus protection, firewall policies, disk encryption and security baselines from one place. (Microsoft Learn)
3. Control Access to Microsoft 365
Having the correct username and password should not automatically mean that someone can access your business systems from any device.
Microsoft Intune can work with Microsoft Entra ID and Conditional Access to check the security status of a device before allowing it to access Microsoft 365 and other business applications.
For example, access could be blocked when a device:
● Is not enrolled with the business
● Does not have encryption enabled
● Is missing important security updates
● Has been rooted or jailbroken
● Does not have an approved antivirus configuration
● Has failed another compliance requirement
Intune compliance results can be used by Conditional Access to prevent non-compliant devices from accessing company resources. (Microsoft Learn)
This provides an additional layer of protection beyond passwords and multi-factor authentication.
4. Protect Business Data on Personal Devices
Many businesses allow employees to access Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and other work applications from personal phones or tablets.
However, the business may not want to take full control of an employee’s personal device.
Microsoft Intune includes mobile application management capabilities that can protect company information at the application level. This means policies can be applied to business applications without necessarily managing the entire device. (Microsoft Learn)
For example, a business could:
● Require a separate PIN to open Outlook
● Prevent company data from being copied into personal applications
● Restrict saving business files to personal storage
● Remove company data without deleting personal photos or messages
● Control how information is shared between managed applications
This can make Intune particularly useful for businesses operating a bring-your-own-device policy.
The National Cyber Security Centre recommends that organisations define clear access and security policies for personal devices, including the use of compliance policies and strong authentication. (National Cyber Security Centre)
5. Simplify New Device Setup
Preparing a new computer manually can take a considerable amount of time. An IT engineer may need to install software, configure email, apply security settings and connect the device to company systems.
Microsoft Intune can automate much of this process.
When combined with technologies such as Windows Autopilot, a new computer can be delivered directly to an employee. Once they sign in using their company account, the device can automatically receive the correct applications, policies and security settings.
This can provide a more consistent experience while reducing the time and cost associated with setting up new starters.
It is particularly valuable for businesses with remote employees, as devices do not always need to be delivered to the IT provider before being issued.
6. Deploy Business Applications Remotely
Intune allows approved applications to be installed, updated or removed remotely.
Applications can be assigned to specific users, departments or device groups. For example, accounting software could be deployed only to the finance team, while design applications could be provided to the marketing department.
This reduces reliance on users installing their own software and helps the business maintain a standard set of approved applications.
It can also reduce the number of support requests caused by incorrect installations or missing software.
7. Keep Devices Updated
Outdated software and operating systems can contain known security vulnerabilities. The NCSC advises organisations to keep devices and software updated so that security weaknesses are patched before they can be exploited. (National Cyber Security Centre)
Intune can help businesses control update policies across managed Windows devices. Administrators can define how and when updates are installed, monitor deployment progress and identify devices that are falling behind.
Updates can also be deployed in stages, allowing a smaller group of devices to receive them first before they are rolled out across the wider business.
This can improve security while reducing the risk of an update unexpectedly affecting every employee at the same time.
8. Respond More Quickly to Lost or Stolen Devices
A missing laptop, phone or tablet can quickly become a security incident.
With Intune, administrators may be able to remotely retire or wipe an enrolled device, depending on the device type, ownership and configuration.
For personal devices, business information can potentially be removed without deleting the employee’s personal information.
Remote actions can help reduce the risk of company information remaining accessible when a device is lost, stolen or retained by an employee who has left the business.
9. Improve Support for Remote and Hybrid Workers
Remote working can make traditional IT support more difficult. An employee may be working from home, visiting a customer or travelling when a problem occurs.
Because Intune is cloud-based, many device settings and applications can be managed without the device being connected to the company’s physical office network.
Your IT team can check device compliance, review configuration information, deploy applications and make policy changes remotely.
Microsoft also offers additional Intune capabilities such as Remote Help, which provides secure helpdesk-to-user connections. Some advanced features require additional Intune licensing. (Microsoft)
10. Apply Consistent Security Standards
As a business grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to ensure that every employee’s device has been configured to the same standard.
One user may have encryption enabled while another does not. Some devices may have strong password policies, while others have weak or outdated settings.
Intune allows security configurations to be applied consistently across groups of devices.
This can help businesses establish a documented security baseline and demonstrate that reasonable technical controls are being managed centrally.
For regulated businesses, this consistency may also support wider compliance and audit requirements. However, Intune does not automatically make a business compliant. Policies still need to be designed correctly, monitored and reviewed regularly.
11. Reduce the Risk of Excessive Administrator Access
Giving users local administrator rights makes it easier for them to install software and change settings, but it also increases security risk.
Malware operating through an administrator account may be able to make significant changes to a device.
Microsoft offers Endpoint Privilege Management as an additional Intune capability. It can allow approved applications or tasks to be elevated without permanently giving the user full administrator rights. (Microsoft)
This can help businesses move towards a least-privilege security model while still allowing employees to complete legitimate tasks.
12. Integrate With Microsoft’s Security Platform
One of Intune’s biggest advantages is its integration with the wider Microsoft ecosystem.
It can work alongside services such as:
● Microsoft Entra ID
● Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
● Microsoft 365
● Conditional Access
● Windows Autopilot
● Microsoft Purview
For businesses already using Microsoft 365, this can provide a more connected approach to identity, device, application and data security.
Device information gathered through Intune can contribute to access decisions, while Microsoft Defender can provide additional visibility into threats affecting managed endpoints.
Is Microsoft Intune Included With Microsoft 365?
Microsoft Intune Plan 1 is available as a standalone licence and is also included with several Microsoft licensing packages.
For many small and medium-sized UK businesses, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a particularly relevant option because it includes Intune alongside Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Defender and the familiar Microsoft 365 productivity applications. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is designed for organisations with up to 300 users. (Microsoft)
However, licensing can become complicated, particularly when combining standard Intune features with advanced services such as Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Cloud PKI or Enterprise Application Management.
It is important to confirm that each user has the appropriate licence before designing an Intune deployment.
Does Every Business Need Microsoft Intune?
Not every organisation will require every feature that Intune offers.
However, it is worth considering when your business:
● Uses Microsoft 365
● Has remote or hybrid employees
● Allows access from mobile devices
● Uses company-owned laptops
● Supports personal devices
● Needs stronger control over business data
● Has compliance or cyber insurance requirements
● Wants to standardise device security
● Is growing beyond manual IT management
Even a relatively small business may have dozens of devices accessing sensitive company information. Without central management, maintaining a consistent level of security can become extremely difficult.
Intune Must Be Configured Correctly
Simply purchasing Microsoft Intune does not automatically secure your business.
Policies need to be planned carefully to avoid disrupting users or leaving gaps in protection. Device enrolment, compliance rules, application protection policies, Conditional Access and update policies should all be tested before being deployed widely.
Businesses should also consider how Intune will work alongside their existing antivirus, endpoint detection, backup, email security and identity protection systems.
A well-planned implementation should improve security without making everyday work unnecessarily difficult.
How Hamilton Group Can Help
Hamilton Group can help your business plan, deploy and manage Microsoft Intune as part of a wider Microsoft 365 and cyber security strategy.
We can assist with:
● Reviewing your current devices and Microsoft licensing
● Configuring Intune enrolment
● Creating device compliance policies
● Deploying security baselines
● Setting up application protection
● Integrating Conditional Access
● Managing Windows updates
● Supporting Windows, Apple and mobile devices
● Monitoring and maintaining your Intune environment
Whether you are introducing hybrid working, improving cyber security or looking for a more efficient way to manage company devices, Microsoft Intune can provide the central control your business needs.
To discuss Microsoft Intune or managed IT support for your business, contact Hamilton Group on 0330 043 0069.