Managing hundreds or thousands of Windows computers manually is not practical.
Imagine an organization with:
- 500+ laptops
- Multiple offices
- Remote employees
- Different Windows versions
- Business applications
- Security requirements
- Monthly Windows updates
An administrator cannot manually configure every laptop, install every update, deploy every application, or check every device.
This is where Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Configuration Manager (SCCM) come into the picture.
What is Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management service from Microsoft.
It helps administrators manage:
- Windows devices
- macOS
- iOS/iPadOS
- Android
- Applications
- Security policies
- Compliance
- Windows Updates
- Device configuration
You don't need to be physically connected to the corporate network to manage an Intune-enrolled device.
What is SCCM?
SCCM is the older name commonly used for Microsoft Configuration Manager.
It is primarily used for traditional, on-premises or co-managed endpoint management.
It can manage:
- Windows computers
- Applications
- Operating system deployment
- Software updates
- Hardware/software inventory
- Configuration
- Compliance
- Task sequences
SCCM is especially useful in organizations that have significant on-premises infrastructure and traditional datacenter/network dependencies.
The important point is that Intune does not simply replace every SCCM capability in every organization. Configuration Manager and Intune can also work together through co-management.
Why Do We Need Intune?
1. Centralized Device Management
2. Security
Modern organizations need more than antivirus.
Intune can help enforce security configurations such as:
- BitLocker
- Microsoft Defender
- Firewall
- Password requirements
- Device restrictions
- Security baselines
- Endpoint security policies
3. Compliance
Intune can evaluate whether a device meets organizational requirements.
Device must have:
✓ BitLocker
✓ Defender enabled
✓ Firewall enabled
✓ Supported Windows version
✓ Password/PIN configured
This information can also be used with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to control access to corporate resources.
4. Windows Update Management
This is one of the important Intune use cases.
Instead of asking users:
"Please install the Windows update."
IT can centrally manage Windows Update policies.
Intune can manage:
- Update Rings
- Feature Updates
- Quality Updates
- Expedite Updates
- Driver Updates
This allows a controlled patching strategy.
5. Application Deployment
Suppose your company needs:
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Teams
- 7-Zip
- VPN Client
- Company Application
Instead of manually installing them on every laptop:
The application can be deployed automatically.
6. Remote Workforce
This is one of the biggest reasons organizations adopt cloud endpoint management.
Traditional model:
Laptop
↓
VPN
↓
Corporate Network
↓
SCCM
Modern cloud model:
Laptop
↓
Internet
↓
Microsoft Cloud
↓
Intune
A remote employee can receive policies and applications without being physically present in the office.
Why Do We Still Need SCCM?
If Intune is cloud-based and modern, why do organizations still use SCCM?
Because many enterprises have existing infrastructure and workloads that depend on Configuration Manager.
For example:
- Large on-premises Windows environments
- Existing application packages
- Complex software deployment
- OS deployment/task sequences
- Internal distribution points
- Detailed hardware/software inventory
- Datacenter-dependent workloads
- Existing SCCM processes and investments
So organizations don't necessarily move everything to Intune overnight.
What is Co-Management?
This is where Intune + SCCM work together.
Microsoft Cloud
│
Intune
│
┌────────┴────────┐
│ │
Cloud Policies
│ │
└────────┬────────┘
│
Device
│
SCCM
│
On-Prem Infrastructure
A Windows device can be managed by both Configuration Manager and Intune.
This is called:
Co-management
Example: Real Enterprise Scenario
Imagine a company has 1,000 Windows laptops.
They already use SCCM.
The company wants to move toward cloud management.
Instead of immediately removing SCCM:
Phase 1
Existing SCCM
↓
1,000 Devices
Phase 2
Introduce Intune:
SCCM + Intune
↓
Co-management
Phase 3
Move workloads gradually:
Application Management
↓
Intune
Windows Update
↓
Intune
Endpoint Security
↓
Intune
Compliance
↓
Intune
SCCM can continue handling workloads that haven't yet been migrated.
Intune + Entra ID + Defender
Intune becomes even more powerful when integrated with other Microsoft services.
Microsoft Entra ID
│
│ Identity
▼
Intune
│
┌────────────┼────────────┐
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
Device Security Compliance
Config Policies
│ │ │
└────────────┼────────────┘
▼
Microsoft Defender
│
▼
Endpoint
This allows organizations to build a modern endpoint security architecture.
Simple Real-World Example
An employee receives a new company laptop.
With modern Microsoft management:
New Laptop
↓
Windows Autopilot
↓
Entra ID
↓
Intune Enrollment
↓
Configuration Policies
↓
Security Policies
↓
Applications
↓
Compliance Policy
↓
Windows Update
↓
Defender for Endpoint
↓
Ready for User
The administrator doesn't need to manually configure every setting.
When Should You Use Intune?
Intune is particularly useful when you have:
- Remote employees
- Cloud-first infrastructure
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Windows 10/11
- Mobile devices
- BYOD requirements
- Zero Trust security strategy
- Cloud-based endpoint management requirements
When Is SCCM Useful?
Configuration Manager remains valuable when you have:
- Large on-premises environments
- Existing SCCM infrastructure
- Complex application deployments
- Traditional OS deployment requirements
- Distribution points
- Detailed inventory requirements
- Datacenter/network dependencies
The Modern Microsoft Endpoint Model
A common modern architecture is:
Microsoft Cloud
│
┌─────────────────┼─────────────────┐
│ │ │
Entra ID Intune Defender
│ │ │
└─────────────────┼─────────────────┘
│
Devices
│
Windows 11
│
┌─────┴─────┐
│ │
Cloud On-Prem
│
Configuration
Manager
Key Takeaway
Don't think of Intune and SCCM simply as:
"New tool vs old tool."
Think of them as two endpoint-management platforms that can support different management models, and in many organizations can work together through co-management.
SCCM
↓
Traditional / On-Premises Endpoint Management
Intune
↓
Cloud-Based Endpoint Management
SCCM + Intune
↓
Co-Management
Intune + Entra ID + Defender
↓
Modern Cloud Endpoint Security
This foundation is important before learning the next Intune topics:
Enrollment → Configuration Profiles → Compliance → Conditional Access → Endpoint Security → Application Deployment → Windows Updates → Autopilot → Monitoring & Troubleshooting.
HandsOn
How to Create and Assign an Update Ring in Intune:
Step 1: Go to the Intune Admin Center https://intune.microsoft.com
Step 2: Navigate to: Devices > Windows > Manage Updates > Windows Updates rings for Windows 10 and later
Assignments determine which users or devices an Intune policy, application, compliance policy, or configuration profile applies to. I normally use Entra ID groups to control deployment scope and use include/exclude assignments for phased deployments and exceptions.
POLICY
"What?"
ASSIGNMENT
"Who?"
INCLUDE
"Apply to whom?"
EXCLUDE
"Don't apply to whom?"
- Deferral
- Restart
- Deadline
- Active hours
- Notifications
Tuesday
Microsoft releases update
↓
X
Not immediately installed
↓
7-day deferral
↓
Next Tuesday
↓
Device becomes eligible
↓
Download
↓
Install
↓
Restart according to policy
Feature updates are important because they:
FEATURE UPDATE
23H2 → 24H2
↑
New Windows Version
- Move devices to newer supported Windows releases
- Provide new Windows features
- Improve security
- Improve reliability and performance
- Keep devices within Microsoft's servicing lifecycle
For an organization, you don't want 500 laptops running different unsupported Windows versions.
Windows 11 23H2
↓
Feature Update
↓
Windows 11 25H2
A Quality Updateis a regular Windows update that mainly contains security fixes, bug fixes, reliability improvements, and other servicing improvements.
It normally does not change the major Windows version.
QUALITY UPDATE
24H2 → 24H2
↑
Security/Bug Fix
Driver Update Profile is an Intune policy used to control Windows driver updates on managed devices.
Windows
↓
Wi-Fi Driver
↓
Wi-Fi Hardware
↓
Internet
Think of Intune Windows Update management as 5 main areas:
Windows Updates
│
┌───────────────┼────────────────┐
↓ ↓ ↓
Update Ring Feature Update Quality Update
│ │ │
HOW / WHEN WHICH VERSION MONTHLY FIX
│ │ │
└───────────────┼────────────────┘
↓
Driver Updates
│
Hardware Drivers
- Update Ring = Update behavior
- Feature Update = New Windows version
- Quality Update = Security + bug fixes
- Driver Update = Hardware drivers
- Expedite = Urgent security patch
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