Getting Started with Microsoft Intune: MDM, MAM, Licensing, and Supported Platforms

What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based unified endpoint management (UEM) service. It helps organizations enroll, configure, secure, and update devices while protecting corporate apps and data.

Fully cloud-native (no on-premises infrastructure needed), it supports the Zero Trust model and manages the full device + app lifecycle from one console.
MDM vs MAM

MDM (Mobile Device Management): Full device control. Ideal for company-owned devices. Enrolls the device into Intune to enforce settings, compliance, remote wipe, etc.

MAM (Mobile Application Management): App-level protection only. Perfect for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Uses App Protection Policies to secure corporate data inside apps (e.g., Outlook, Teams) without controlling the entire device.

Use MDM + MAM together on corporate devices; MAM-only for personal devices.

• Microsoft Entra ID Integration
• Intune deeply integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for identity and access management.

Key benefits:

• Automatic device enrollment (especially Windows via Autopilot)
• Conditional Access policies (e.g., block access from non-compliant devices)
• User and group-based targeting
• Seamless single sign-on and security
• Entra ID acts as the identity backbone for Intune.

Intune Licensing

Intune offers flexible plans (user-based, with device options):

• Intune Plan 1 — Core UEM (included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5, EMS, Business Premium).
• Intune Plan 2 — Advanced features (add-on).

• Intune Suite — Premium bundle with Remote Help, Advanced Analytics, etc.

• Device-only licenses available for shared/kiosk scenarios.

• Supported Platforms

• Intune supports a wide range of devices:

1. Windows (10/11)
2. macOS
3. iOS / iPadOS
4. Android
5. Linux (limited, e.g., Ubuntu, RHEL)
6. Others: tvOS, visionOS, Chrome OS (with limitations)

Management depth varies by platform.

Access everything at intune.microsoft.com — the central web console.

Key sections:

Home/Dashboard: Overview, alerts, and Copilot AI assistance
Devices: Enrollment, compliance, configuration profiles
Apps: Deploy and protect applications
Policies: Compliance, configuration, app protection
Reports: Detailed analytics
Tenant admin: Roles, licensing, connectors

Every action is backed by Microsoft Graph API for automation.

Microsoft Intune as a cloud-based solution to manage and secure devices and apps across platforms. You saw how Intune uses two main approaches—MDM for full device control and MAM for app-focused data protection—so you can handle both corporate and BYOD scenarios effectively.