Intune basics for SMBs: device management without overengineering

Intune is Microsoft's MDM platform. For SMBs, you only need 20% of its features to get 80% of the value. Here's what you actually configure.

Intune (part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium) is the MDM layer for your company laptops and phones. It's feature-rich, but for SMBs there's a minimal setup that delivers plenty of value.

What you should do at a minimum

1. Require enrollment. Company laptops must be registered with Intune before they can access company data (via Conditional Access).
2. Compliance policies. At a minimum: disk encryption enabled, password lock screen, OS version within 6 months.
3. Remote wipe. In case of loss or offboarding: factory-reset the device remotely.
4. Basic software push. Office, browser, Slack/Teams, and 1Password automatically deployable.

What can wait

• App protection policies (mobile-specific: how Outlook on a personal phone handles company data).
• Windows Autopilot (zero-touch provisioning for new laptops).
• Defender policies (endpoint security enforced through Intune).

BYOD: what do you need to arrange?

Personal laptop, company email: App Protection Policies are the answer here. You can configure Outlook so that data protection happens at the app level — without managing the entire device. That's usually the practical middle ground.

See also: M365 pillar, laptop theft response.