Remote work has become a long-term reality for many organizations, and managing devices effectively in this environment is crucial. As businesses adapt to this shift, ensuring that corporate PCs and laptops remain secure and up-to-date outside the corporate network poses significant challenges. Many organizations are still using on-premises tools like Configuration Manager, but with devices no longer “checking in” regularly, remote management becomes essential. This is where Microsoft Intune, as part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager, plays a pivotal role in maintaining control over these remote devices.
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Enhancing management with co-management
Organizations managing devices with Configuration Manager can now take advantage of co-management, allowing the use of both on-premises and cloud-based tools. Intune offers a way to extend management capabilities to remote devices, even when they’re no longer connected to the corporate network. Through co-management, companies can benefit from cloud insights while maintaining control through their existing Configuration Manager setup.
With co-management, you can manage devices both from on-premises servers and the cloud, providing flexibility to IT teams. Intune allows faster deployment of updates, ensuring that remote devices stay secure and compliant. Actions can be taken on devices from a centralized console, streamlining the process for IT admins. Furthermore, co-management helps automate Windows upgrades, reducing the workload of manual compatibility testing.
Securing remote devices with conditional access
One of the critical advantages of Intune and co-management is the enhanced cybersecurity measures it offers. When corporate devices are outside the traditional network perimeter, Conditional Access becomes an essential feature. It ensures that only trusted users on trusted devices can access corporate resources. By checking factors like encryption, malware detection, and device settings, Conditional Access helps maintain security while maximizing remote worker productivity.
For businesses implementing remote work on a larger scale, enabling Conditional Access right away is highly recommended. It provides peace of mind that remote devices are secure while still allowing flexibility for workers to access necessary resources from any location.
Cloud Management Gateway for long-term success
The cloud management gateway (CMG) provides a simple yet effective solution for managing remote devices. By deploying CMG in Microsoft Azure, companies can manage devices without needing additional on-premises infrastructure. This is especially beneficial for organizations that have traditionally relied on Configuration Manager but need to adapt to remote work scenarios. With CMG, there’s no need to expose corporate infrastructure to the internet, as it provides secure, cloud-based management for remote clients.
Using CMG in combination with Intune and Configuration Manager provides a robust long-term infrastructure for remote work. IT teams can manage devices effectively, update policies, and ensure compliance, all from the cloud.
Standardizing security with Intune
Microsoft Endpoint Manager offers powerful tools for standardizing security policies across all managed devices. The Security Baselines in Intune allow organizations to apply a set of recommended security settings quickly, making the transition from traditional group policies much simpler. These baselines help ensure that devices meet the necessary security standards, protecting sensitive company data.
For organizations using group policies, migrating to Intune’s modern management experience is streamlined with these built-in baselines. This unified approach helps companies protect their resources while providing seamless user experience, ensuring that remote workers can continue to operate efficiently without compromising security.
Next steps
For businesses currently managing their devices with Configuration Manager, now is the perfect time to implement co-management and leverage Intune’s cloud insights to safeguard remote work environments. By integrating these solutions through Microsoft Endpoint Manager, organizations can keep data secure and ensure that their workforce remains productive, regardless of location.
If you’re not yet using Configuration Manager, adopting Microsoft Intune directly will provide immediate benefits for managing remote devices. At AVASOFT, our expert team is here to guide you through this transition, offering expert advice and support to ensure a smooth roll-out of these critical technologies for your organization.
