How to Manage Company Devices with Microsoft Intune: A Step-by-Step Guide for IT Teams

Managing devices at scale presents significant challenges for modern IT departments. As remote and hybrid work models expand, the need for secure device management from anywhere has never been more critical. Microsoft Intune addresses this requirement as a robust solution for device administration across distributed workforces.

This guide walks IT teams through enrolling, configuring, monitoring and securing organisational devices — whether corporate-owned or BYOD (bring your own device).

What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that enables IT departments to manage users' access, applications and devices across desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones. The platform integrates with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for centralised control and compliance maintenance.

Step-by-step guide: how to manage company devices with Microsoft Intune

Step 1: Set up Microsoft Intune

1. Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center using admin credentials
2. Ensure your tenant has the correct Microsoft Intune licensing (part of Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Enterprise Mobility + Security)
3. Navigate to Devices > Enroll devices to begin setup
4. Configure platform-specific enrolment options for Windows, iOS, macOS and Android devices

Step 2: Configure the MDM authority

Before enrolling devices, establish Intune as the Mobile Device Management (MDM) authority:

1. Go to Tenant Administration > MDM Authority
2. Select Intune MDM Authority
3. Confirm and save the configuration to enable device management via Intune

Step 3: Device enrolment

Device enrolment brings devices under management. For Windows 10/11 devices:

1. Use Azure AD Join or Hybrid Azure AD Join to auto-enrol corporate-owned devices
2. For BYOD, instruct users to manually enrol via Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Connect
3. For iOS/Android, configure and deploy the Company Portal app as part of enrolment
4. Monitor enrolment status from the Intune portal under Devices > Enrollment status

Step 4: Create and assign configuration profiles

Configuration profiles enforce policies like Wi-Fi settings, VPN, encryption and compliance baselines:

1. Navigate to Devices > Configuration profiles
2. Select Create profile and choose the platform (e.g. Windows 10 and later)
3. Choose the profile type, such as "Endpoint protection" or "Device restrictions"
4. Define settings like BitLocker encryption, password complexity, screen lock and so on
5. Assign the profile to user or device groups via Microsoft Entra ID

Step 5: Deploy apps to devices

Microsoft Intune streamlines deploying business-critical applications to managed devices:

• Microsoft Store apps
• Line-of-business (LOB) apps
• Win32 applications
• Web apps and Managed Google Play apps for Android

To deploy apps:

1. Go to Apps > All apps > Add
2. Select the app type and follow the prompts to upload or link to the package
3. Set assignment groups for installation

Step 6: Configure compliance policies

Compliance policies define conditions that devices must meet. Non-compliant devices can be blocked from accessing corporate resources:

1. Navigate to Endpoint Security > Compliance Policies
2. Create a policy by selecting the platform and policy settings (e.g. OS version, PIN, encryption)
3. Assign to targeted user or device groups

Connect these policies with Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID to enforce security requirements.

Step 7: Monitor and report

Intune provides rich dashboards and reporting capabilities:

• Review device compliance trends
• Audit device health over time
• Export device inventory to CSV/PDF
• Receive alerts for policy violations and app failures

Navigate to Devices > Monitor to access key insights and reports.

Best practices for managing devices with Microsoft Intune

• Group devices intelligently: use dynamic membership groups in Microsoft Entra ID for automated targeting
• Start with pilot groups: before wide-scale deployment, test configurations with smaller user groups
• Document your Intune architecture: maintain system diagrams and policy catalogues for internal reference
• Regularly review policies: security standards evolve — adjust compliance and configuration profiles periodically
• Automate remediation: use remediation scripts and Endpoint Analytics to resolve common device issues

Conclusion

Microsoft Intune offers a powerful, secure and scalable framework for managing company devices — whether your team operates in one office or across the globe. By following this step-by-step approach, IT teams can confidently manage device provisioning, security, compliance and lifecycle management.

For expert assistance, book a free consultation with Circuit Minds, or explore our Microsoft Intune consultancy.