How to Monitor Staff Device Security Remotely Using Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Manager

In today's hybrid and remote working environments, one of the most pressing concerns for IT departments is device security. Whether employees are working from home, in the field, or even on different continents, business data is constantly being accessed from endpoints that may or may not comply with your organization’s security policies.

As an IT decision-maker or systems administrator, you may have asked: “Can I monitor staff device security remotely?” The answer is a resounding yes — and the most effective way to achieve this is by leveraging Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Endpoint Manager (now known as Microsoft Intune and part of Microsoft Entra ID).

What Is Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

Microsoft Endpoint Manager is a unified management platform that includes services like Intune and Configuration Manager. It helps IT departments manage user access and devices, enforce compliance, deploy updates, and monitor data security — all from a cloud-based interface.

Combined with Microsoft 365, Endpoint Manager allows administrators to implement security baselines, manage device configuration, and gain valuable insights into the security posture of corporate and personal devices alike.

Why Remote Device Monitoring Matters

With employees using a mix of company-owned and personal devices, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer sufficient. Remote monitoring of endpoint devices helps you:

• Ensure devices meet security compliance requirements.

• Deploy security patches and updates consistently.

• Detect potential vulnerabilities or unauthorized applications.

• Control access to corporate resources based on device health.

• Reduce the risk of data breaches and compliance violations.

How to Monitor Staff Device Security Remotely with Microsoft 365

Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up remote device monitoring using Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Manager for your organization.

1. Enroll Devices into Microsoft Intune

Device enrollment is the foundation for remote monitoring. Microsoft Intune supports device enrollment for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

• Windows: Devices can be auto-enrolled using Azure AD Join or Hybrid Azure AD Join.

• macOS/iOS/Android: Use Apple Business Manager or Android Enterprise for streamlined enrollment.

Once enrolled, devices check-in regularly with Intune, allowing you to push policies, monitor compliance, and receive alerts.

2. Define Compliance Policies

Compliance policies allow you to define the minimum security configuration needed for a device to be considered “compliant.” These can include:

• Antivirus and firewall requirements

• Operating System version

• Disk encryption (e.g. BitLocker or FileVault)

• Minimum or maximum OS versions

• Passcode requirements

If a device does not meet the compliance criteria, you can block or restrict its access to Microsoft 365 services using Conditional Access.

3. Set Up Conditional Access

Conditional Access is a powerful tool that allows or blocks access based on user, device, location, and risk. For example:

• Only compliant and domain-joined devices can access SharePoint Online

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is required when accessing from unmanaged devices

• Block access altogether from high-risk user sessions detected by Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

This ensures that only secure and trusted devices can access critical corporate resources.

4. Monitor with Device Compliance and Endpoint Analytics

From the Endpoint Manager admin center, IT admins can review:

• Compliance status: Track which devices are compliant or at risk

• Risk reports: View security risks per device/user

• Endpoint Analytics: Gain deeper insights into device performance, app crashes, and user experience data

These dashboards give IT real-time visibility and help prioritize remediation actions without ever needing physical access to the device.

5. Respond with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Integrate Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for advanced threat detection and response (XDR).

Defender helps you:

• Detect malware or suspicious activity on enrolled devices

• Automate investigations and recommended actions

• Contain compromised devices by isolating them from the network remotely

• Generate security alerts that integrate directly into Microsoft Sentinel if desired

This adds an extra layer of intelligence and control to your remote security monitoring toolkit.

Best Practices for Remote Security Monitoring

• Standardize baseline policies: Create pre-configured baselines that can be deployed across departments.

• Notify end users: Keep users informed about compliance expectations and self-service remediation options.

• Log and audit everything: Enable auditing via Microsoft Purview to track user actions and configurations.

• Review compliance reports weekly: Schedule regular reviews to address trending issues proactively.

• Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Limit admin access based on roles to reduce risk.

Key Benefits of Monitoring with Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Manager

• Centralizes control of your security infrastructure

• Empowers IT teams with automation and live telemetry

• Reduces security threats before they escalate

• Enables BYOD policies without compromising data

• Aligns with regulatory and cybersecurity frameworks like ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials

Start Monitoring Your Devices Remotely Today

So, back to the question: Can I monitor staff device security remotely? Yes — elegantly and effectively using Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Manager. From enforcing device compliance to analyzing endpoint health and securing data, Microsoft’s cloud-native tools enable complete visibility and peace of mind for IT leaders in today’s mobile-first world.

Whether your business is scaling a hybrid work model or tightening data security controls, Circuit Minds can assist you in configuring Endpoint Manager, writing compliance scripts, deploying Conditional Access, and auditing your current M365 environment.

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