Azure vs Intune: A Guide to Microsoft's Cloud-Based Device Management

Microsoft offers two powerful cloud-based device management solutions: Azure and Intune. Azure is a comprehensive platform that provides a wide range of services, including computing, storage, and networking.

Intune, on the other hand, is a dedicated device management solution that allows organizations to manage and secure their mobile devices, desktops, and laptops remotely.

Both Azure and Intune are designed to help businesses manage their IT infrastructure and improve productivity, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features.

Azure offers a more extensive set of features and services, while Intune is specifically designed for mobile device management and is often used in conjunction with Azure.

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Role-Based Access Control is an approach to identity and access management that grants access to necessary users (or resources) according to their roles, allowing for precise and granular control over permissions.

Built-in roles are created by Microsoft and the Role Definitions cannot be modified, they are out of box roles that have a fixed set of permissions.

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Custom roles, on the other hand, are created and managed by your organization, allowing you to grant permission using custom roles by creating a custom role definition and assigning it using a role assignment.

To implement a combination of RBACs in certain scenarios, you may need to create custom roles, such as a custom Intune Role and a custom Entra role, to achieve desired security.

Conditional access policies can also be used to enable access control to corporate resources based on user identity, device compliance, and other factors, simplifying access when single sign-on (SSO) is enabled through an organization’s Microsoft Entra account.

In some instances, a combination of approaches is required, such as implementing a blend of a custom Entra role and a custom Intune role, to achieve the targeted security outcome.

By leveraging Microsoft Entra ID integration, Intune offers conditional access policies that enable access control to corporate resources based on user identity, device compliance, and other factors.

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Device enrollment and management are critical components of any cloud-based management solution. Microsoft Intune offers a robust enrollment process that allows devices to be easily managed and secured.

To enroll devices in Intune using Group Policy, you'll need a valid Intune license and to activate auto-enrollment for client devices. Windows devices with Windows 10 and later, and hybrid Azure AD-joined devices, are also required.

One of the key benefits of Intune is its ability to integrate with Group Policy Analytics, allowing for a smooth migration from on-premise to cloud-based management.

To auto-enroll devices in Intune, you'll need to follow these steps: click on Group Policy Management, right-click on the Group Policy object, and click New. Provide a GPO name to deploy client devices for enrollment, and then click on the policy nodes.

Here are the prerequisites for Intune enrollment with Group Policy:

Windows Autopilot with Azure AD Join is a cloud-native approach that allows devices to be "cloud-domain joined" to Azure AD, and automatically enrolled in Intune. This approach provides a secure and streamlined way to manage devices.

In contrast, Windows Autopilot with Hybrid Azure AD Join is a hybrid approach that requires a line-of-sight to the Domain Controller for provisioning to happen.

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Device compliance is a top priority for organizations, and Intune makes it easy to enforce. Intune's Compliance policies in Intune examine and configure managed devices to secure organizational data and applications.

With Intune, administrators can define and enforce security policies to protect corporate data and mitigate security risks across all managed devices. This ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.

If a device doesn't meet the configuration requirements, it can be isolated and quarantined from the organizational network. This prevents potential security threats from accessing sensitive data.

Conditional access policies in Intune enable access control to corporate resources based on user identity, device compliance, and other factors. This simplifies access when single sign-on (SSO) is enabled through an organization’s Microsoft Entra account.

Intune integrates the compliance results with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access for extra security. This ensures that only compliant devices can access organizational resources, data, and applications.

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The shift from AD to Intune can be complicated, but SecureW2's Managed Gateway APIs make it easier to switch to a cloud-based certificate-enabled solution to secure your network.

You can use your existing Azure AD credentials to enroll devices for certificate-based authentication, allowing for a seamless transition.

Larger organizations with stricter compliance may still need to benefit from legacy AD, but educational institutions with a mix of managed and BYOD devices can thrive with a cloud-based mobile device management solution like Intune.

SecureW2's Cloud RADIUS lets you implement diverse policies through its policy engine, ensuring your access rules are taken care of.

The auto-revocation of certificates, exclusive to Intune, helps you revoke unused certificates on time to avoid any unauthorized access.

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Microsoft offers a range of features and tools to help businesses modernize their IT infrastructure. AVD and Intune are two such services that play integral roles in this process.

AVD enables organizations to deliver virtual desktop environments to users regardless of their location, reducing complexity and cost associated with traditional on-premises infrastructure. This allows for seamless remote work experiences.

Intune, on the other hand, helps IT administrators manage all endpoint devices across their organization's network.

Microsoft is a tech giant that offers a wide range of features and tools.

The company's flagship operating system, Windows, is used by over 1 billion people worldwide.

Microsoft Office, a suite of productivity software, includes popular applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

These tools are used by individuals and businesses to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

The Microsoft Azure cloud platform provides businesses with a scalable and secure way to store and manage their data.

Microsoft Teams, a communication and collaboration tool, allows users to hold virtual meetings and share files with team members.

This platform has become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic, as remote work has become the new norm.

Microsoft's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, such as Azure Machine Learning, enable businesses to build and deploy AI models.

These models can be used to improve customer service, optimize business processes, and make data-driven decisions.

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Microsoft has a range of key features that make it a powerful tool for individuals and businesses alike.

One of the most notable features is Microsoft Office, a suite of productivity software that includes popular applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Microsoft 365, a subscription-based service, allows users to access these applications online, as well as additional features like cloud storage and security tools.

Another key feature is Microsoft Teams, a communication and collaboration platform that enables users to chat, video call, and share files with others in real-time.

Microsoft also offers a range of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools, including Azure Cognitive Services and Power Automate, which can be used to automate tasks and improve business processes.

Microsoft's cloud-based platform, Azure, provides users with a range of tools and services for building, deploying, and managing applications and services.

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With Intune, organizations can easily deploy, manage, and secure applications across a wide range of devices.

This means that employees can access the business tools and resources they need from anywhere, on any device, which can boost productivity and collaboration.

Intune makes it easy to deploy applications, so you can get started quickly and efficiently.

You can also use Intune to ensure that all devices are running the latest versions of applications, which can help prevent security risks.

Intune provides a single console for managing all your applications, making it easier to keep track of what's installed and what's up to date.

This can save you a lot of time and hassle, especially if you have a large number of devices to manage.

AVD allows organizations to deliver virtual desktop environments to users anywhere, reducing complexity and cost associated with traditional on-premises infrastructure.

Intune is designed to help IT administrators manage all endpoint devices across an organization's network.

AVD and Intune together enable businesses to create a modern, secure, and productive work environment that meets the demands of the modern enterprise.

One of the key features of this system is its ability to provide personalized recommendations based on user behavior and preferences.

This feature is made possible by the system's advanced data analysis capabilities, which allow it to identify patterns and trends in user behavior.

The system's user interface is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their experience to their individual needs.

Users can choose from a variety of layouts and design options to create a dashboard that suits their workflow.

The system's reporting and analytics features are highly detailed, providing users with a wealth of information about their performance and progress.

Users can generate custom reports and dashboards to track key metrics and KPIs.

The system's scalability and flexibility make it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.

It can be easily integrated with existing systems and infrastructure, reducing the need for costly upgrades and overhauls.

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AVD and Intune serve distinct purposes, with AVD delivering virtual desktop environments to users regardless of their location, and Intune managing all endpoint devices across an organization's network.

AVD reduces the complexity and cost associated with traditional on-premises infrastructure, enabling seamless remote work experiences.

Intune's primary goal is to help IT administrators better manage endpoint devices, ensuring a secure and productive work environment.

By leveraging both AVD and Intune, businesses can create a modern, secure, and productive work environment that meets the demands of the modern enterprise.

Together, AVD and Intune offer unparalleled capabilities to drive business success in an increasingly remote and connected world.

AVD and Intune enhance collaboration and productivity, strengthen security and compliance, and provide a flexible and cost-effective solution for modern IT infrastructure.

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