Microsoft Intune Review: Endpoint Management and Security in 2026

Is managing every laptop and phone in your business a pain?

Keeping track of all those devices is a huge job.

It is hard to keep everything safe from new online threats.

You feel like you are always chasing security updates and lost equipment.

We dive deep into the features of Intune.

That is where Microsoft Intune steps in. This tool promises to simplify device security and management.

Microsoft Intune

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What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service.

Think of it as your single control center for all the devices people use for work and personal use.

This includes all your laptops and phones, whether they are company-owned or personal.

Intune helps your business with endpoint management and security.

The service is available through the Microsoft Intune plan.

It even features endpoint privilege management to provide you with better control.

Who Created Microsoft Intune?

The company that created this product is Microsoft.

They first launched the service in 2010 under the name Windows Intune.

Microsoft’s big idea was simple.

They wanted a way to manage and protect devices from the cloud, not just from the office.

This became even more important as people began using a variety of mobile devices for work.

This helps keep company data secure while allowing employees to work efficiently.

Top Benefits

• Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Intune provides a single, unified platform, the Intune Admin Center, for managing devices and apps across your entire IT environment. It brings together PC management and mobile management into a unified endpoint management solution.
• Strong Security Solutions helps enhance security and protect corporate data using tools such as app protection policies and device compliance rules. Intune works closely with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and other Microsoft security tools.
• Support for Many Devices and Operating Systems. You can manage devices such as Windows devices, Android devices, iOS devices, and desktop computers from a single console. This broad support makes it easy to handle your diverse many devices and different devices.
• Simplified App Management and Deployment: The Intunestream app delivers, tracks app usage, and manages updates. It handles app deployment and helps manage software on devices, which is great for remote workforces.
• Secure UserAccess. It manages user access to your organizational resources using powerful to, such as conditional access. This ensures that only safe and compliant devices can obtain remote access, helping you manage end-user access.
• Better Management for Personal Devices (BYOD)- The service supports Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios by utilizing mobile application management. This allows you to protect corporate data without taking full control of personal devices.
• Seamless Integration with Microsoft Services Intune seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Configuration Manager, and other Microsoft services in your Microsoft environment. This provides a complete set of management and security solutions.

Best Feature

Microsoft Intune is packed with key features that change how you manage security and devices.

These unique tools are built to work together.

This enables you to manage your endpoints more efficiently and quickly.

Here is a look at some of the best features for 2026.

1. Core Capabilities

Intune now uses Advanced Analytics to help you stay ahead of device issues.

It gathers data on device health, app crashes, and boot times.

This helps you spot problems before employees even become aware of them.

You can use these insights to improve the overall virtual endpoints and user experience.

2. AI-Powered Cybersecurity

This is a game-changer for security.

Intune leverages AI-powered cybersecurity through its integration with Microsoft Security Copilot.

Accelerates threat analysis and recommends optimal security policies.

It takes away the guesswork and speeds up your response to problems.

3. Endpoint Management

At its core, Intune is a powerhouse for Endpoint Management.

It provides a single console for setting up.

Securing and monitoring all your devices, from laptops to phones.

This central control is crucial in ensuring that every device adheres to your company’s guidelines.

It is a main reason why the product is also known as Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

4. Defender for Cloud

Intune works hand-in-hand with Defender for Cloud.

This connection makes sure security policies on your devices align with your cloud security rules.

It provides a more comprehensive.

Unified view of security across your entire digital landscape, protecting servers and cloud workloads.

5. Entra ID

The deep integration with Entra ID(formerly Azure Active Directory) is critical for access control.

Intune verifies identity and device security before granting access.

This is how you enforce a strong Zero Trust security model.

6. Entra Internet Access

This feature is part of Microsoft’s Security Service Edge solution.

Entra Internet Access acts as a secure web gateway.

It protects users from internet threats and malware even when they are not in the office.

It applies your security policies to all their internet traffic.

7. Security Exposure Management

Security Exposure Management helps you identify where you are most vulnerable across your environment.

It collects data from all Microsoft security tools, including Intune.

To identify and prioritize your most significant security gaps.

It helps you focus on fixing the issues that matter most.

8. Attack Surface Management

Connected to exposure management.

Attack Surface Management works to reduce the ways an attacker can gain entry into your network.

It helps you find forgotten systems, unpatched software, or misconfigured settings.

By shrinking your attack surface, you make your organization a much harder target.

This is included with certain business premium plans.

9. DDoS Protection

While Intune itself focuses on device and application security.

The entire Microsoft Security ecosystem, including Azure.

Offers DDoS Protection (Distributed Denial of Service).

This is often included in comprehensive business premium plans.

Pricing

Pros and Cons

Choosing the right tool means considering the entire picture.

Let us weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using Intune.

Alternatives to Microsoft Intune

If you decide that Microsoft Intune is not the perfect fit, you have many options.

Other strong unified endpoint management (UEM) tools offer different strengths.

Especially if your company does not heavily rely on Microsoft products.

• Atera: This is an all-in-one platform that is popular among Managed Service Providers (MSPs). It combines RMM, helpdesk, and AI-powered automation, like its IT Autopilot and AI Copilot features, to help IT teams run more autonomously.
• NinjaOne: This is another highly-rated automated RMM and UEM platform known for its ease of use and strong customer support. It is a good choice for those who require simple yet powerful monitoring and patch management.
• VMware Workspace ONE: This platform is a major competitor that excels in providing a flexible, cross-platform UEM solution. It is known for its strong Zero Trust security model and great support outside of the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Jamf Pro: If your business uses mostly Apple devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone), Jamf Pro is the leading specialized management tool. It offers the deepest integration and best features for Apple’s operating systems.
• ManageEngine Endpoint Central: This solution is renowned for its comprehensive feature set and competitive pricing, providing robust patch management and asset management capabilities through a user-friendly interface.
• BlackBerry UEM: This is often chosen by highly-regulated businesses because it provides government-grade security and strong encryption for all devices and communications.

Personal Experience

Our team came to Intune because we needed a single.

Reliable way to manage devices for our growing, remote staff.

Intune gave us the tools to get control and feel secure, finally.

Here is how Intune helped us achieve better results:

• Streamlined Policy Deployment: We utilized policy deployment to push out security and settings updates automatically. Instead of fixing 50 different laptops one by one, we established a single policy in Intune, which was applied uniformly across all devices.
• Organized Device Groups: We created custom device groups for various teams, such as Sales and Accounting, which have distinct security requirements. This meant we could apply strict compliance policies to the Accounting team’s devices only.
• Enforced Advanced Endpoint Management: We utilized Intune’s advanced endpoint management features to ensure that features such as disk encryption and strong passwords were always enabled. If a device did not meet these rules, it was flagged and blocked from accessing company files.
• Improved Visibility: The dashboard provided a clear view of our device health. We could see the compliance status of every device in real-time, which allowed us to fix problems quickly.

Final Verdict

Microsoft Intune is a very strong choice for managing your devices.

It ties perfectly into the Microsoft 365 environment you may already use.

Including securing remote workers and managing personal devices.

If your business heavily relies on Microsoft products.

Intune offers unbeatable integration and centralized control.

It is a powerful investment in a secure and efficient digital workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Facts about Microsoft Intune

• Cost of extras: Microsoft Intune can get expensive because you often have to pay extra for special tools and advanced features.
• Non-Windows devices: Intune works with many devices, but it usually works best with Windows computers. It might not be as strong when used with Apple or Android devices.
• Support issues: Some users say that customer service for Intune has gotten worse and that the instruction manuals are sometimes old or out of date.
• All-in-one control: Intune is a “Unified Endpoint Management” (UEM) tool. This means it lets you control settings and updates for phones, tablets, and computers all from one place.
• Health checks: This software helps companies keep an eye on their devices to make sure they are working well and following company rules.
• Safety features: Intune uses strong security, like scrambling data (encryption) and blocking viruses, to keep information safe.
• Fighting viruses: It works together with Microsoft Defender to help companies stop hackers, find viruses, and fix security problems.
• Automatic scanning: Intune connects directly to Microsoft Defender to automatically scan files and tell the IT team if a device is in danger.
• Working with partners: Intune works with other popular services, like Google Play for apps and TeamViewer for fixing computers remotely.
• Web controls: There is a website for administrators to control Intune. Programmers can also use a tool called Microsoft Graph API to control it using code.
• Plan 2 extras: There is a paid upgrade called “Intune Plan 2.” It adds better security tools and detailed reports to the basic plan.
• The full suite: The “Intune Suite” is a bundle that includes everything from Plan 1 and Plan 2, plus even more advanced tools.
• Extra costs per person: Adding Intune Plan 2 costs about $4 extra for each user every month. The full Intune Suite costs about $10 extra per user.
• Buying it alone: You don’t always need a big bundle; companies can buy Intune Plan 1 all by itself.
• Free test: Companies can try out Intune for free to see if they like it before paying.
• Hidden costs: The price of using Intune can go up because many of the best features are not included in the base price and must be bought separately.
• Total package price: If a company doesn’t already own Microsoft licenses, getting everything set up with Intune can cost around $32 per user each month.
• Self-help app: Workers can use the “Company Portal” app or website to fix simple problems or download apps on their own.
• Work from anywhere: The people in charge (administrators) can manage company devices from anywhere as long as they have the internet.
• Advanced help: Intune has special features that let IT support staff take control of a screen to help fix it or manage special permissions.
• Price comparison: Many people think Microsoft Intune costs more than similar tools made by other companies.
• Industry leader: Experts who study technology rank Microsoft Intune as one of the best tools for managing devices.
• Pay-to-play features: Users have noticed that many important features require buying expensive “add-ons,” which makes the final bill higher.
• Confusing screens: The buttons and menus in Intune can be confusing. Some users feel overwhelmed because there are so many options to choose from.
• Tricky licenses: Figuring out how to pay for Intune can be hard. It is sometimes confusing to know if you are paying for each person or for each device.