Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that helps organizations manage and secure the devices and applications their employees use for work. Think of it as a digital gatekeeper for your company's data.

It operates in two main ways: Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM). With MDM, Intune can manage the entire device, setting security rules for company-owned phones, tablets, and laptops. For personal devices people use for work, known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Intune uses MAM. This approach manages and protects only the work-related applications and data, leaving personal photos, apps, and information untouched.

Intune doesn't work alone. It partners closely with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) to create a secure environment. This partnership is key to modern security.

Microsoft Entra ID is all about identity. It answers the question, "Who is trying to access our resources?" It manages user accounts and passwords, ensuring that only authorized people can sign in.

Intune, on the other hand, is about the devices and apps. It answers the questions, "Is the device they're using secure?" and "Are they using approved applications?" Intune checks if the device meets company security standards before it's allowed to access sensitive data.

Together, they form a powerful security duo. A user might have the correct password (verified by Entra ID), but if their device is missing critical security updates (checked by Intune), they won't be able to open that confidential report.

Organizations use Intune for several key reasons, all centered on security and control in a world where work happens everywhere.

Enforce Security Policies: You can set rules that all managed devices must follow. This includes requiring a PIN or password to unlock the screen, enforcing data encryption to protect stored information, and even remotely wiping a lost or stolen device to prevent data breaches.

Manage Applications: Intune gives administrators control over which apps can be installed and used for work. They can push required apps to devices automatically, make optional apps available in a company app store, and ensure that apps are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Ensure Compliance: Intune constantly checks if devices are compliant with your company's security policies. A device that is "non-compliant" might be jailbroken, have a forbidden app installed, or be running an outdated operating system. Intune can block these non-compliant devices from accessing company resources until the issue is fixed.

Before you can start managing devices, a few prerequisites need to be in place. This isn't a deep technical guide, but an overview of the foundational pieces.

First, you must set the Mobile Device Management (MDM) authority. This is a one-time setting that tells your system which service is in charge of managing devices. For nearly all modern setups, you'll set this to Microsoft Intune. This tells all the connected Microsoft services that Intune is the boss when it comes to device management.

Second, users need the right licenses. A standard Intune license is typically included in bundles like Microsoft 365 E3, E5, or Business Premium. You must assign an Intune license to each user whose devices you want to manage. If a user doesn't have a license, Intune won't be able to see or manage their devices.

Once these two steps are complete, the foundation is laid. The system knows who is in charge of device management and which users are part of the program. From there, an organization can begin the process of enrolling devices and creating policies.

With a solid grasp of what Intune is and how it works with Microsoft Entra ID, you can better understand its role in securing modern workplaces.