Thursday, 24 July 2025

Understanding Device Management with Microsoft Intune and Windows Device Enrollment

         

 Understanding Device Management with Microsoft Intune and Windows Device Enrollment

This document provides a comprehensive overview of device management using Microsoft Intune, focusing specifically on the process of enrolling Windows devices. It covers the core concepts of Intune, its capabilities, and the various methods available for registering Windows devices, along with troubleshooting tips and best practices.


                                                Source of Image-Microsoft

What is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) service. It allows organizations to manage and secure their employees' devices and applications, ensuring data protection and compliance with company policies. Intune supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS.

Key Capabilities of Intune:

  • Mobile Device Management (MDM): Enrolls and manages devices, enforcing security policies, configuring settings, and deploying applications.
  • Mobile Application Management (MAM): Manages and secures applications on both managed and unmanaged devices, protecting corporate data within those apps.
  • Conditional Access: Controls access to corporate resources based on device compliance, location, and other factors.
  • Compliance Policies: Defines rules that devices must meet to be considered compliant, such as password requirements, encryption status, and operating system version.
  • Configuration Profiles: Configures device settings, such as Wi-Fi profiles, VPN settings, and email configurations.
  • Application Deployment: Deploys applications to managed devices, either from the Microsoft Store or custom-built apps.
  • Remote Actions: Performs remote actions on devices, such as wiping data, locking devices, and restarting devices.
  • Reporting and Monitoring: Provides insights into device compliance, application usage, and security threats.

Why Use Intune for Windows Device Management?

Managing Windows devices with Intune offers several benefits:

  • Centralized Management: Provides a single pane of glass for managing all Windows devices, regardless of their location.
  • Enhanced Security: Enforces security policies, protects against malware, and controls access to sensitive data.
  • Simplified Deployment: Streamlines the deployment of applications and updates to Windows devices.
  • Improved Compliance: Ensures that Windows devices meet regulatory requirements and company policies.
  • Reduced IT Costs: Automates device management tasks, reducing the workload on IT staff.
  • Modern Management: Enables a modern, cloud-based approach to managing Windows devices, moving away from traditional on-premises solutions.

Windows Device Enrollment Methods

Intune offers several methods for enrolling Windows devices, each suited for different scenarios

1.      Autopilot Enrollment

. 2.Bulk Enrollment with Windows Configuration Designer (WCD)

3      Co-management with Configuration Manager

4  .Automatic Enrollment via Azure AD Join

5.      Manual Enrollment via Access Work or School

  

Windows Autopilot Enrollment via Intune Admin Center

Windows Autopilot simplifies the deployment of new Windows devices by automatically configuring them for use. It allows users to receive a ready-to-use device, straight from the OEM or reseller, without IT ever touching it.

✅ Pre-requisites:

  1. Microsoft Intune license assigned to users.
  2. Azure AD Premium (Entra ID) for auto-enrollment.
  3. Device must have Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
  4. Device hardware ID (CSV file) from OEM or manually generated.
  5. Global Admin / Intune Admin / Enrollment Manager role in Microsoft 365

Step-by-Step Autopilot Enrollment:

On a new Windows device, run PowerShell as admin:

md c:\HWID

Set-Location c:\HWID

Install-Script -Name Get-WindowsAutopilotInfo

Get-WindowsAutopilotInfo -OutputFile AutopilotHWID.csv

Note:This creates a AutopilotHWID.csv file needed for uploading to Intune.

 

🔹 Step 2: Upload Device to Intune Admin Center

  1. Go to https://intune.microsoft.com
  2. Navigate to:
    Devices > Windows > Windows enrollment > Devices (under Windows Autopilot Deployment Program)
  3. Click “Import” > Upload the .csv file.

4.Once imported, the device will appear in the Autopilot devices list

 

🔹 Step 3: Create and Assign Autopilot Profile

  1. Go to:
    Devices > Windows > Windows enrollment > Deployment Profiles
  2. Click + Create Profile
  3. Select:
    • Platform: Windows PC
    • Profile Type: Azure AD Joined or Hybrid Azure AD Joined
  4. Configure the profile settings:
    • Skip privacy settings
    • Disable local admin account (optional)
    • Automatically assign name pattern (optional)
  5. Assign the profile to the imported Autopilot device(s)

🔹 Step 4: Ensure Automatic Enrollment is Enabled

  1. Navigate to:
    Devices > Enroll devices > Automatic Enrollment
  2. Ensure MDM user scope is set to All or Some (based on your target group).

If the device is provided by the OEM (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo)

  • These vendors pre-register the device with Windows Autopilot based on your organization’s purchase.
  • When the user powers on the device for the first time:
    1. The device connects to the internet (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
    2. Windows checks the Autopilot service.
    3. If the device is registered, it downloads the assigned Autopilot profile.
    4. The user is guided through a customized and branded setup experience.
    5. The device auto-joins Entra ID (Azure AD) and is enrolled in Intune.

 

Troubleshooting Windows Device Enrollment

Encountering issues during Windows device enrollment is not uncommon. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

  • Enrollment Errors: Check the Intune portal for enrollment errors and review the device logs for more details.

  • Connectivity Issues: Ensure that the device has a stable internet connection and can access the Intune service.

  • License Issues: Verify that the user has a valid Intune license assigned.

  • Policy Conflicts: Check for conflicting policies that may be preventing enrollment.

  • Device Restrictions: Ensure that the device meets the minimum requirements for enrollment, such as the operating system version.

Optimizing Windows Device Enrollment

  • Strategize: Select the ideal enrollment method based on your organization's infrastructure and goals.

  • Restrict: Configure policies to control which specific devices are allowed to enroll in Intune.

  • Automate: Use Azure AD Join for automatic enrollment to create a seamless user experience.

  • Validate: Thoroughly test the entire enrollment process before a wide-scale deployment.

  • Monitor: Regularly review device enrollment status and reports in the Intune portal.

  • Educate: Provide clear instructions and training to guide users through the process.

Following these guidelines will enable effective Windows device management with Microsoft Intune, ensuring a secure and productive environment.

Method 2: Bulk Enrollment with Windows Configuration Designer (WCD)

Bulk enrollment is a method used when many Windows devices need to be enrolled into Intune without user interaction. It's ideal for shared devices, kiosks, labs, or education setups. This method uses the Windows Configuration Designer to create a provisioning package (.ppkg) that sets up enrollment.

🛠️ Prerequisites:

  1. ✅ Windows Configuration Designer (WCD) – install via Microsoft Store or use the Windows ADK
  2. ✅ Microsoft Intune license
  3. ✅ Bulk enrollment account (Enrollment token / device enrollment manager)
  4. ✅ A clean Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise image

🚀 Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install Windows Configuration Designer

Download from Microsoft Store or install via Windows ADK:

https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9nblggh4tx22

Step 2: Create a Provisioning Package (.ppkg)

  1. Open WCD → Select "Provision desktop devices"
  2. Enter project name and save location
  3. In the "Set up device" page:
    • Choose "Enroll in MDM"
    • Select "Azure AD Join" or "Workplace join"
  4. Under MDM service, select:
    • Microsoft Intune
    • Enter bulk enrollment token or Azure credentials of the enrollment account
  5. Configure optional settings like:
    • Device name prefix
    • Wi-Fi profile
    • Region, language, timezone
    • Remove pre-installed apps
  6. Finish → Click Export → Choose Provisioning package

Step 3: Apply the Provisioning Package to Devices

  • At "Let's start with region" screen, press Shift + F10
  • Connect USB with .ppkg file
  • Run:

bash

CopyEdit

C:\> d:\YourPackageName.ppkg

  • Device enrolls silently and completes setup

 

 

Metod 3: Configuring MDM User Scope for Automatic Device Enrollment

1. Overview The MDM User Scope setting in Microsoft Intune is a fundamental control that determines which user accounts are authorized to automatically enroll their devices into Intune management upon joining Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).

2. Purpose and Benefits Configuring the MDM User Scope provides several key advantages:

  • Automated Enrollment: Devices automatically enroll into Intune management during the Azure AD join process.
  • Simplified User Experience: Eliminates the need for users to perform manual enrollment procedures.
  • Immediate Management: Ensures that corporate policies, compliance rules, and application deployments are applied to devices without delay.

3. Configuration Procedure To configure the MDM user scope, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Intune Admin Center with an account possessing Global Administrator or Intune Administrator privileges.
  2. Navigate to the following path: Devices > Enroll Devices > Automatic Enrollment.
  3. Under the MDM user scope section, choose one of the following configurations:
    • None: Prevents any user's device from automatically enrolling.
    • Some: Restricts automatic enrollment to members of a specific Azure AD group. This is the recommended approach for controlled rollouts.
    • All: Permits all licensed users within the tenant to automatically enroll their devices.

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  1. Click Save to commit the changes.

4. Expected Outcome Once the scope is defined, devices that are Azure AD joined by users within that scope will automatically enroll in Intune. Subsequently, the devices will begin synchronizing with Intune to receive all assigned policies, profiles, and applications.