Managing Android devices efficiently and securely has become essential in mobile-first business environments. Microsoft Intune provides a robust solution to manage mobile devices, including Android, offering secure access to work emails, apps, and data while ensuring compliance with organizational policies. Whether for corporate-owned devices or personal devices used for work, Microsoft Intune helps IT administrators implement and maintain seamless device management and security controls.
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Prerequisites for Android device management
Before diving into Android device management with Microsoft Intune, several steps must be completed. This includes adding users and groups, assigning appropriate licenses, and setting the mobile device management authority. Each of these tasks ensures that your organization’s infrastructure is ready for mobile device management (MDM) through Intune. Additionally, role-based access control (RBAC) can help assign the least-privileged roles to users, which is crucial for secure and efficient device management. For example, the Policy and Profile Manager role allows for device enrollment without providing unnecessary administrative access.
Preparing for deployment
To successfully deploy Microsoft Intune, thorough planning is necessary. The Intune planning guide assists in identifying organizational goals, use-case scenarios, and requirements. With this in place, teams can devise rollout and communication strategies, along with support and validation processes, to ensure a smooth implementation. A notable update to be aware of is Microsoft’s intention to discontinue support for Android device administrator management on Google Mobile Services (GMS) devices by December 31, 2024. Organizations relying on device administrator management should transition to another Android management option before this deadline to avoid issues related to enrollment or support.
Creating compliance rules and conditional access policies
Compliance policies play a vital role in managing access to corporate resources. Microsoft Intune allows administrators to define rules that devices must meet to access protected resources. Conditional Access policies work in tandem with compliance rules to ensure only compliant devices can access these resources. This level of control can help prevent unauthorized access while maintaining a seamless user experience. For instance, administrators can block access to apps that don’t use modern authentication methods, such as OAuth2, enhancing security.
Configuring endpoint security
Security remains at the core of managing Android devices with Microsoft Intune. Intune’s endpoint security features enable IT teams to configure and enforce security policies across devices, ensuring that devices at risk are identified and remediated promptly. Integrating mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions further strengthens security by assessing device risks and taking necessary actions to safeguard sensitive data. If Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is not in use, other MTD solutions can be integrated into Intune for comprehensive threat protection.
Customizing device profiles and settings
Microsoft Intune allows IT administrators to customize device settings by creating device profiles, ensuring that Android devices adhere to organizational policies. These profiles enable features like secure Wi-Fi and VPN configurations, email settings, and feature restrictions. For example, administrators can restrict access to certain device functions during work hours to enhance focus and productivity. Intune also provides the flexibility to create custom settings for Android devices, such as configuring per-app VPN profiles or adding web protection using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Ensuring secure authentication
Intune supports a variety of secure authentication methods to prevent unauthorized access to corporate data. This includes multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires two forms of credentials during enrollment, and certificate-based authentication using SCEP or PKCS certificates. These methods ensure that only authorized individuals can access your internal resources. Setting up trusted certificate profiles and configuring certificate-based authentication are essential steps for maintaining security across your organization’s Android devices.
Deploying and managing apps
Managing apps is another critical aspect of device management with Microsoft Intune. Administrators can add apps from the Google Play Store, assign line-of-business (LOB) apps, and control app access across devices. Intune allows organizations to deploy apps securely while ensuring that only compliant devices and users have access. In addition, app protection policies help safeguard organizational data within managed apps like Microsoft Outlook and Teams.
Enrolling devices in Intune
Device enrollment is the final step to fully managing Android devices with Microsoft Intune. Multiple enrollment options are available depending on the type of device and use case. For example, personal devices can be enrolled using Android Enterprise with a work profile, ensuring work-related data is kept separate from personal information. Corporate-owned devices, whether fully managed or dedicated, can also be enrolled to receive the appropriate security policies and app configurations.
In conclusion, managing Android devices with Microsoft Intune simplifies the process of securing and controlling access to organizational resources. By configuring compliance policies, deploying apps, and securing devices with endpoint security features, Microsoft Intune provides a comprehensive solution to support the needs of modern workplaces. To take your organization’s Android device management to the next level, AVASOFT offers tailored Intune implementation and support services to help you navigate this process seamlessly.
