Explainer
What Is Microsoft Intune and Who Needs It?
If your business is handing out laptops and phones without any way to secure or wipe them remotely, Intune is the tool that closes that gap.
The short version
Microsoft Intune is a device management platform — it lets your business enroll company and personal devices, enforce security requirements (encryption, PIN, OS version), and remotely wipe corporate data from a lost or stolen device.
What it actually does
- Enrolls company-owned and personal (BYOD) devices
- Blocks devices that don't meet security requirements from accessing company data
- Wipes corporate data remotely without touching personal content on BYOD devices
- Pushes required apps and configuration automatically to enrolled devices
Who actually needs it
Any business where employees access company email, files, or systems from laptops or phones — which is most businesses — benefits from Intune. It matters even more once you have any BYOD policy, remote or hybrid workers, or handle data that would be a real problem if a device were lost.
Who can skip it, at least for now
A very small team with fully controlled, office-only company devices and no sensitive data exposure might reasonably delay this — but the risk grows quickly as headcount and remote work increase.
What Intune Solves
| Problem | How Intune Helps |
|---|---|
| Lost or stolen laptop/phone | Remote wipe of corporate data |
| Employees using personal devices for work | App-level protection without full device control |
| Devices without basic security (no PIN, outdated OS) | Compliance policies block non-compliant devices from company data |
| Manually configuring every new device | Automated app and policy deployment on enrollment |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Intune work on personal phones?
Yes, app protection policies can secure corporate data within specific apps on a personal device without managing the entire device.
Which Microsoft 365 plans include Intune?
Business Premium and Enterprise plans (E3, E5) include Intune; it's not included in Business Basic or Standard.
Do small businesses really need device management?
Any business handling sensitive data on laptops or phones — which is most businesses — benefits from being able to enforce security policies and remotely wipe a lost device.
Can Intune manage both Windows and Mac devices?
Yes, Intune supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, though policy options vary somewhat by platform.
Related Guides
Conclusion
Intune closes a gap most businesses don't think about until a device goes missing — the ability to enforce security policies and remotely wipe corporate data from company and personal devices alike. It's included in Business Premium and Enterprise Microsoft 365 plans.
Rua Technologies can assess your current device landscape and set up Intune with policies that match your actual risk, not generic defaults.
