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

Managing devices at scale is one of the biggest challenges faced by modern IT departments. As remote and hybrid work models become more common, the need for secure device management from anywhere has never been more critical. This is where Microsoft Intune steps in as a robust solution. If you're wondering how to manage company devices with Microsoft Intune, you're in the right place.

This comprehensive guide will walk your IT team through the process of using Microsoft Intune to enroll, configure, monitor, and secure your organisation’s devices—whether they’re 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. It integrates tightly with Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory, making it a powerful tool for centralising control and maintaining compliance.

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 your 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 enrollment options for Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android devices.

   
   

   

Step 2: Configure MDM Authority

Before enrolling devices, you need to set Intune as the Mobile Device Management (MDM) authority. This is usually prompted during setup:

1. Go to Tenant Administration > MDM Authority.

2. Select Intune MDM Authority.

3. Confirm and save the configuration. This enables device management via Intune.

Step 3: Device Enrollment

Device enrollment allows you to bring devices under management. Here’s how to do it for Windows 10/11 devices:

1. Use Azure AD Join or Hybrid Azure AD Join to auto-enroll corporate-owned devices.

2. For BYOD, instruct users to manually enroll via Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Connect.

3. For iOS/Android, configure and deploy the Company Portal app as part of enrollment.

4. Monitor enrollment status from the Intune portal under Devices > Enrollment status.

Step 4: Create and Assign Configuration Profiles

Configuration profiles help enforce policies like Wi-Fi settings, VPN, encryption, and compliance baselines. Here’s how to create one:

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, etc.

5. Assign the profile to user or device groups via Azure Active Directory.

Step 5: Deploy Apps to Devices

Microsoft Intune simplifies deploying business-critical applications to managed devices. You can deploy:

• 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 app type and follow prompts to upload or link to the package.

3. Set assignment groups for installation.

Step 6: Configure Compliance Policies

Compliance policies define the conditions that devices must meet. Devices not adhering to these rules can be blocked from accessing corporate resources.

1. Navigate to Endpoint Security > Compliance Policies.

2. Create a policy by selecting platform and policy settings (e.g., OS version, PIN, encryption).

3. Assign to targeted user or device groups.

You can then connect these policies with Conditional Access in Azure AD to enforce security requirements.

Step 7: Monitor and Report

Intune provides rich dashboards and reporting capabilities. Use it to:

• 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 Azure AD 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 guide, your IT team can confidently take control of device provisioning, security, compliance, and lifecycle management.

Need expert help to configure or optimise your Microsoft Intune environment?

👉 Book a free consultation to learn how Circuit Minds can help you.