November 19, 2024

As businesses increasingly turn to cloud-based solutions, Microsoft’s suite of tools, particularly Intune, has become essential for managing and securing devices in remote and hybrid work environments. Microsoft Intune offers seamless integration with tools like Azure Active Directory, Windows Defender, and Autopilot, providing a unified, efficient approach to device management and security. This ecosystem simplifies IT operations, enhances security, supports compliance, and boosts productivity, making it an ideal choice for modern organizations looking to streamline and secure their cloud infrastructure.

 Why Microsoft Intune Stands Out

A unique aspect of Intune is that many organizations already have access to it through their Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) licensing. Microsoft often bundles Intune Plan 1 with popular Microsoft 365 packages, so companies can activate it at no additional cost. Additionally, Intune integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, such as Windows Defender, Azure Arc, and Remote Help, giving it an edge over other mobile device management (MDM) platforms.

By offering integrated app protection policies within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Intune supports secure management of Microsoft apps, giving organizations comprehensive control over data access.

The Rise of Intune Adoption

Intune adoption has been rising for several key reasons. First, many businesses have already migrated to Microsoft 365 and realize they can use Intune as part of their existing licenses, potentially eliminating the need for a separate MDM provider and saving costs. Additionally, the shift to remote and hybrid work has underscored the benefits of Intune’s cloud-based management, which allows IT teams to manage devices without requiring them to connect to a corporate network or VPN.

Intune also supports co-management with traditional Group Policy, so organizations that rely on Active Directory can use both approaches as needed. This flexibility means that organizations can gradually transition to modern management without overhauling existing systems.

Security and Compliance with Intune and Microsoft Defender

Intune provides robust security features that are vital for modern organizations. It can push compliance and configuration policies to devices, enabling IT to harden operating systems, deploy application updates, and address security vulnerabilities. Through its integration with Microsoft Defender and Azure AD Conditional Access, Intune offers real-time threat detection and response, blocking device access to corporate resources if security issues arise. These protections extend to data and application control on mobile devices. Intune enables organizations to set policies that keep corporate data separate from personal data, ensuring that company information remains secure and compliant at all times.

Microsoft Defender is another significant asset, as it integrates smoothly with Intune to provide advanced threat protection across Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS platforms. Through Defender for Endpoint, organizations gain the added benefit of continuous threat monitoring and AI-based response options, which can reduce the time to remediate issues across the entire IT environment.

Industries Embracing Intune and Microsoft’s Ecosystem

Intune’s appeal spans multiple sectors, from finance and healthcare to manufacturing, with security-conscious industries being among the fastest adopters. Organizations with strict compliance standards—such as those following NIST guidelines—benefit from Intune’s capabilities to enforce and monitor regulatory policies across all managed devices.

Many businesses also benefit from using Microsoft’s broader suite, including Azure AD for identity management, Power BI for analytics, and Microsoft Teams for communication. Each tool integrates seamlessly within the Microsoft environment, creating a cohesive ecosystem that supports productivity and security. Azure Active Directory, for instance, simplifies identity management and conditional access, ensuring that only authenticated users and compliant devices access sensitive data.

Implementing Intune and Planning for Success

Deploying Intune is straightforward because it requires no on-premises infrastructure—ideal for cloud-first organizations. However, effective deployment requires thoughtful configuration, especially for organizations that are new to cloud-based device management. Important decisions include whether devices are joined via Azure AD or remain hybrid-joined with traditional Active Directory, as well as deciding on levels of control for corporate vs. personal devices.

For companies that also use Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM), Intune complements SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager), allowing IT teams to transition gradually to cloud-based management. Planning the setup and customization of policies is critical to ensure smooth deployment. Managed services providers, like Mindsight, can support this transition, helping organizations build a device management strategy that integrates seamlessly with existing Microsoft solutions.

Key Intune Features Worth Exploring

Autopilot for Streamlined Device Provisioning

Intune, combined with Windows Autopilot, allows organizations to manage the complete lifecycle of an endpoint. Autopilot can automate device setup, reset, and re-provisioning, even shipping new devices directly to employees from OEMs, without needing IT intervention. This eliminates the need for on-site setup and reduces the burden on IT, making it easy to onboard remote employees efficiently. 

Elevated Privilege Management

Through Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM), Intune gives organizations a middle ground between granting full administrative privileges and strict limitations. With EPM, users can request elevated access for specific tasks, allowing them to install necessary applications without compromising security. This on-demand approach supports productivity while maintaining control over device configurations.

Azure AD Conditional Access

Beyond Intune’s standalone capabilities, pairing it with Azure AD brings further security advantages through Conditional Access. This feature enforces policies that verify device health and user identity, allowing only compliant devices and users to access sensitive resources. Organizations can tailor these conditions to enforce multi-factor authentication or restrict access based on location, further enhancing security.

Maximizing the Microsoft Cloud Ecosystem

Intune’s functionality is amplified by integrating it with other Microsoft solutions, making it an invaluable part of a comprehensive cloud strategy. By combining Intune with tools like Microsoft Defender, Azure Active Directory, and Windows Autopilot, organizations can manage devices, protect data, and support productivity within a unified framework.

In today’s cloud-first, security-focused landscape, Microsoft’s ecosystem offers a robust and flexible foundation for IT management. As more organizations recognize the potential of the Microsoft stack, solutions like Intune are becoming essential components in modern IT strategies, helping businesses stay secure, compliant, and connected across distributed environments.

Mindsight provides enterprise managed services to the mid-market across a variety of industries including manufacturing, financial services, government, and education – just to name a few. Our solution architects and engineers are 100% expert-level and work as an extension of your IT team. Mindsight is headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

 

November 7, 2024

“In simplest terms, boards are on the hook for management, governance, and disclosure reporting.”

That was Keri Pearlson, executive director of the Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan Research Consortium (CAMS) explaining the impact of a fall 2022 SEC ruling. In short, as an MIT News story from earlier this year summarized, “The ruling requires public companies to disclose whether their boards of directors have members with cybersecurity expertise. Specifically, registrants are required to disclose whether the entire board, a specific board member, or a board committee is responsible for the oversight of cyber risks; the processes by which the board is informed about cyber risks, and the frequency of its discussions on this topic; and whether and how the board or specified board committee considers cyber risks as part of its business strategy, risk management, and financial oversight.”

But a September 2024 CIO.com story headlined “Do Boards understand their new role in cybersecurity?” asked if boards are taking cybersecurity seriously enough. “Most boards fall into the trap of thinking that cybersecurity is a technical issue and focus too much on technical protections and whether the right tools are in place to protect the organization,” former Navistar CIO Julie Ragland told the publication. “But we know that more than 90 percent of cybersecurity incidents start with human behavior error. Cyber incidents are as much a communications and legal challenge as they are a technical challenge, so when boards focus too much on the technical, they miss key areas of responsibility.”

Ragland added, “The dollar amount to cover the totality of a cyber landscape for an organization can be huge,” she says. “The board needs enough understanding of cybersecurity to help prioritize these big investments.”

Gartner concurs. Earlier this year, it called on boards to expand their competency in cybersecurity oversight. Said Richard Addiscott, a Gartner senior analyst, “SRMs leaders must encourage active board participation and engagement in cybersecurity decision making. Act as a strategic advisor, providing recommendations for actions to be taken by the board, including allocation of budgets and resources for security.”

By 2026, Gartner predicts, more than 70 percent of boards will have at least one member with cybersecurity expertise—expertise that companies can no longer afford to silo, effectively handing off responsibility to IT departments. “This enables organizations to move beyond reactive defense,” Forbes noted, “meaning that they can act on new business opportunities that come with being prepared.”

Because not being prepared comes with potential costs—financial, reputational and even criminal. And yet, it seems, not nearly enough companies and organizations are taking preparation seriously. Citing a 2023 Heidrick & Struggles Board Monitor Report, Cybersecurity Magazine revealed that “only 14 percent of non-executive director appointments at the largest publicly listed companies were issued to those with some level of cybersecurity acumen, a decline from 17 percent the year prior.”

It’s a dangerous backward trend in an era when cybercrime costs U.S. businesses alone hundreds of billions of dollars annually and is only getting worse. As the magazine wrote, “Cybersecurity initiatives can sometimes be seen as growth restrictors and barriers to efficiency and productivity, but boards need to recognize that reducing threat risk is an advantage, not only to the business at hand, but also to themselves.”

Remedying the situation, which involves internal education (about risk management, in particular) and external assessments, largely falls to CIOs and CISOs.

“With boards seeking external validation on risks, just as they would financial fiduciary through an audit, it’s the executive responsibility of CIOs to provide them with that information, as well as having a fresh set of eyes on an always changing landscape,” Ragland told CIO.com.

However, she added, security is only one area that requires more tech expertise. Another is “strategic opportunity.” In other words, “How are we using technology to advance our strategies, products, and customer engagements? As boards look to technology skills, they should look for someone who can bring both flavors into the board room.”

It’s also important to venture outside the boardroom, Ragland continued, to meet with members in more casual settings where they might absorb information differently than they do during, say, thrice-annual presentations.

“CIOs should find a few people with the highest technical acumen to meet in more conversational settings,” she said. “The chairs of the audit and risk committees are usually a good place to start, and CIOs can leverage their CEO to jumpstart those meetings.”

Mindsight delivers enterprise managed services to the mid-market across a variety of industries including manufacturing, financial services, government, education – just to name a few. Our solution architects and engineers are expert-level only and are an extension of your IT team. Mindsight is headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago.