It serves as our EDM, enabling remote computer management. We install various applications directly for users, granting us administrator-level control over the computers.
We utilize it exclusively within the IT department to manage all hardware from a single location.
It consolidates all endpoint and security management tools into a single platform. This allows us to efficiently determine the required applications for each employee. Having Azure Active Directory integrated into the complete environment further simplifies the process. Additionally, its compatibility with Android-based devices is a significant advantage, enabling the management of both Windows PCs and Android devices from a unified platform.
It offers complete visibility and IT control across various device platforms, saving us a significant amount of time. The alternative, handling devices individually each time there's a change in employee or any other scenario, is much more time-consuming.
When it comes to the user experience of Intune, the initial setup is quite straightforward, but delving deeper into its functionalities demands additional training and familiarity. This complexity can be considered a drawback. The policies that can be configured sometimes lack clarity, and understanding the limitations for users who aren't global admins can be unclear.
We don't utilize the MAM tunnel feature for remote access to corporate resources. Instead, we rely on TeamViewer for remote support when dealing with any issues.
It significantly enhanced our organization's efficiency, particularly in terms of time savings. While I don't have the specific numbers at the moment, the impact was substantial. Especially when we operated with a small IT team, the investment in the license cost was undoubtedly worthwhile.
In terms of securing hybrid work environments and safeguarding data on company and personal devices, there's flexibility to fine-tune policies for preventing certain actions. Currently, our approach restricts employees from installing unauthorized software, acting as a deterrent to Shadow IT. However, we haven't explored the full spectrum of possibilities with policies to uncover additional security measures.
The impact of Intune on the organization's security is essentially a peace of mind for me. If there's ever a report of a stolen computer, I can swiftly lock it without much concern. The speed at which this can be done is particularly reassuring, especially in the current landscape of hybrid work where such incidents tend to occur more frequently than before.
It has significantly impacted IT productivity in our organization. Onboarding and offboarding processes have become much faster. Simply Intuning the device and managing it through the internal portal or even within the VPN network streamlines the workflow. This is especially beneficial since our company supports hybrid work, extending flexibility to the IT staff as well. Inventory management has also seen a notable improvement, with less time spent. Now, we not only have a count of devices but also know which accounts they are associated with. Compared to our previous reliance on paper and Excel, this is a whole new level of efficiency. Overall, it has been an extremely positive experience for us.
While it's challenging to directly quantify cost savings, Microsoft Intune has certainly resulted in significant time savings for our organization. As we didn't have a comparable system before, it wasn't a matter of moving from something else to Intune. However, the investment has proven valuable, especially evident in the offboarding process. Previously taking fifteen to twenty minutes per device, it has now been streamlined to just a few clicks, around five minutes. This efficiency has been particularly impressive and has undoubtedly saved us considerable time.
Its most valuable aspect is the seamless onboarding and offboarding of new users, whether it's for a computer or a mobile device. This process is remarkably straightforward. Additionally, while not explicitly security features, there are safeguards in place that enhance safety. For instance, if a user reports their computer as stolen, you can promptly lock it and erase all data remotely. This means you can secure the hardware even without physical possession of the device. It goes beyond safeguarding just the Microsoft 365 user account; it extends protection to the hardware itself. It also served as a means to efficiently manage our inventory. Through Intune, I could easily access a comprehensive list of all the computers, tablets, and company-owned devices. This streamlined the process of accounting for new devices in our stock, eliminating the need for separate tracking outside of the Intune platform.
The capabilities of the Intune suite are seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Security. This integration, especially with Microsoft 365, is crucial for us as it enables clear visibility into the association of devices with specific employees. Additionally, it facilitates tracking the usage of applications by different groups. The integration with Azure Active Directory further enhances the importance of the overall integration for our operations.
It would be beneficial to have a more straightforward understanding of Intune's capabilities, presented in a simplified manner. This way, one wouldn't need to be an Intune specialist or spend hours trying to grasp the intricacies of policies and functionalities. While I've used Intune extensively and have practical experience, I've found that to explore its full potential, significant time is needed for both understanding capabilities and seeking out relevant training. The current understanding of what actions or functionalities are available for configuration is not as clear as it could be. Enhancing the clarity of these policies, whether in terms of functionality or features, would be beneficial for users managing Intune.
I have been working with it for three years.
It provides excellent stability. We didn't face any downtime. I would rate it ten out of ten.
Scalability has been excellent. We began with a pilot involving just a few devices and swiftly expanded to over two hundred without experiencing any degradation in performance or functionality. I would rate it ten out of ten.
In terms of tech support or customer support, our experience has been somewhat mixed. Since we work with partners rather than directly with Microsoft Intune, and these partners are internal and cross-charged within the same company, there have been instances where support was not entirely satisfactory. This could be attributed to a lack of in-depth understanding on their part. However, it's important to note that they are not directly affiliated with Microsoft, and the level of support might vary accordingly.
The initial setup was complex.
Our setup is hybrid, specifically with Active Directory. The initial configuration necessitated an on-premises presence. However, once the setup is complete, the entire system operates in the cloud, making it predominantly cloud-based after the initial on-premises setup. I was involved in certain aspects of the deployment process. The complexity arose not necessarily from the intricacies of the tasks themselves but from the coordination required. As we lacked global admin privileges, there was a need for extensive collaboration between our team, global admins, and the Intune team at Microsoft.
In terms of maintenance, once it's up and running, there's not much ongoing effort required. It's essentially a set-and-forget situation. Occasionally, we might need to handle reports and views, especially when there's a new release. In such cases, there might be minor adjustments, like making something visible or invisible, but overall, the maintenance workload is minimal.
Regarding the pricing, my experience was with a nonprofit, where we enjoyed a substantial discount. While I can't provide insights from a business perspective, it's worth noting that the pricing may differ significantly, and the discount we received might not be reflective of standard business rates.
It's advisable to start with a straightforward approach, avoiding unnecessary complexity initially. However, it's equally important to have a well-thought-out plan for maximizing the platform's capabilities. Assign someone the responsibility of owning and creating a roadmap for ongoing improvements and enhancements. The idea is not just to go live and consider the implementation complete; rather, to plan for continuous refinement and utilization of additional features over time. Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.
