Rolling Out Intune: Process, Prerequisites and Common Mistakes

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Microsoft Intune manages devices and apps in Microsoft 365. It governs which devices may sign in, which settings apply and how company data is protected on personal devices. An Intune consultant guides the rollout from planning to deployment.

This article describes the typical process and the mistakes that occur most often in practice.

Prerequisites: licence and goal

Intune is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3 and E5, among others. Before you start, define which device types (Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android), whether corporate or personal devices, and which protection goals apply.

Step 1: Control enrollment

Enrollment restrictions define which device types and platforms may enroll, for example whether personal devices are blocked. This keeps uncontrolled devices out of your inventory.

Step 2: Windows Autopilot for new devices

With Windows Autopilot, new Windows devices are provisioned without manual setup: the device signs in, receives policies and apps, and is ready after sign-in. Existing devices can be registered and reprovisioned.

Step 3: Compliance policies

Compliance policies define when a device counts as compliant, for example encryption, minimum OS version or active firewall. Review the setting for devices with no assigned policy: it can be configured so that such devices are treated as non-compliant.

Step 4: Connect Conditional Access

Only the link to Conditional Access makes compliance effective: access to company data can be limited to compliant devices. New policies should run in report-only mode and with a test group first.

Step 5: App protection for personal devices

App protection policies protect data inside apps, for example by requiring a PIN and preventing copying into personal apps. They work without full device management and suit personal smartphones.

Common mistakes

  • Rolling out policies to all users without a test group.
  • Defining compliance but not enforcing it through Conditional Access.
  • No plan for exceptions and devices that cannot be enrolled.
  • Missing documentation, so nobody can trace changes.

Key takeaway

An Intune rollout works with a clear order: control enrollment, set up Autopilot, define compliance, enforce it through Conditional Access and protect personal devices with app protection – each first with a test group.

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