List of Top 10 Microsoft Intune Features (Including New)

Microsoft Intune has emerged as the go to unified endpoint management (UEM) platform, seamlessly combining mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and robust security controls into a cloud native service.

Today’s Microsoft Intune features span zero touch device provisioning, granular app protection, zero trust access policies, AI powered analytics, and certificate lifecycle automation.

In this Microsoft Intune features list, we’ll dive into the ten most impactful capabilities – both long standing and brand new Microsoft Intune new features—that empower IT to secure Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux endpoints at scale.

Along the way, we’ll reference best practices, provide real world examples, and link to authoritative resources so you can architect a deployment that fits your organization’s unique needs. Ready to see why features of Microsoft Intune lead the market? Let’s get started.

List of Top 10 Microsoft Intune Features (Including New)

1. Unified Endpoint Management & Security

At its core, Microsoft Intune unifies device and application management across every major platform:

• Windows & Windows 10/11: Full MDM, app deployment, BitLocker encryption enforcement
• macOS: Kernel extension approval, Gatekeeper policies, software updates
• iOS/iPadOS: Supervised mode restrictions, managed app catalogs, Lost Mode location-tracking
• Android (Enterprise & Samsung KNOX): Work profile isolation, OEMConfig support, Knox policies
• Linux (currently in preview): Limited support for deploying shell scripts, performing compliance checks, and basic policy enforcement. Full-featured MDM capabilities for Linux are expected to expand in future releases.

By defining Configuration Profiles and Compliance Policies in a single console, you eliminate the need for separate tools. Reporting dashboards show device health trends, jailbreak/root detection, and real time remediation steps.

For instance, a global retail chain used Intune to standardize security settings across 15,000 POS terminals and employee devices—reducing non compliance incidents by 70% in three months.

Key benefits:

• Consistent policy enforcement across OSes
• Centralized visibility into device posture
• Simplified licensing under Microsoft 365 E3/E5 suites

2. Conditional Access & Zero Trust Enforcement

Information-security teams embrace Conditional Access as the engine of a zero-trust strategy. Intune integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) to leverage device compliance signals, enabling policies such as:

• Block legacy authentication
• Require multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Enforce hybrid join requirements
• Session controls in SharePoint/OneDrive

Real‑world scenario:

A healthcare provider implemented Conditional Access to block access from personal devices that lacked health‑industry compliance settings—ensuring only managed devices with up‑to‑date OS patches and antivirus could access patient‑care systems.

According to Microsoft telemetry, organizations using Conditional Access saw a 50% reduction in credential‑phishing risk events. By combining device‑compliance checks, user‑risk signals, and network‑location conditions, Intune and Entra ID deliver a dynamic access‑control framework that adapts in real time.

Best practices:

1. Start with “report‑only” mode to gauge impact
2. Prioritize high‑risk workloads (e.g., Exchange Online, SharePoint)
3. Gradually enforce broad‑based policies after pilot testing

3. Windows Autopilot Zero‑Touch Provisioning

Windows Autopilot revolutionizes PC deployment by shifting from image‑based setups to user‑driven provisioning:

1. OEM registration: New devices can be directly registered by OEMs or partners into your Autopilot tenant, enabling zero-touch enrollment.
2. User sign‑in: First‑time setup requires only Azure AD credentials.
3. Automated enrollment: Intune pushes Configuration Profiles, compliance policies, and corporate apps.

Recent enhancements include:

• Self‑deploying mode: Kiosk‑style devices configure without user input—ideal for digital signage or front‑desk stations.
• Pre‑provisioned deployment: IT can install policies and Win32 apps before shipping devices to end users, cutting setup time by up to 50%.
• Hybrid Azure AD join: Devices can join both on‑prem AD and Azure AD, supporting customers with mixed environments.

A multinational law firm reported slashing their PC provisioning time from 3 hours to under 20 minutes per device using Autopilot and Intune—freeing up IT staff to focus on strategic tasks rather than imaging.

Deployment tips:

• Maintain a clean Autopilot device list in Microsoft Store for Business.
• Use dynamic Azure AD groups to target pilot users.
• Leverage Intune’s “Enrollment Status Page” to track progress and enforce prerequisites before users get to the desktop.

Learn more: Windows Autopilot overview

4. Endpoint Privilege Management (New — Intune Suite)

Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM), available with the Microsoft Intune Suite licensing, enables just-in-time local-admin elevation with full auditing and automated approval workflows.

• Scope: Define which executables or scripts can trigger elevations.
• Approval workflows: Automate approvals or require manager sign‑off.
• Time‑boxing: Elevation windows close automatically after a set duration.
• Audit logging: Every elevation request, grant, and denial is tracked for compliance reporting.

By reducing permanent admin assignments by up to 80%, organizations clamp down on lateral‑movement attack vectors and decrease help‑desk tickets for common tasks like printer driver installs.

Use Case:

A financial services company applied EPM to its trading‑floor workstations. Traders could temporarily elevate to adjust display drivers, but all actions were logged—balancing autonomy with oversight and maintaining SOX compliance.

Implementation steps:

1. Pilot with a small group to fine‑tune elevation scopes.
2. Integrate with existing ITSM workflows (ServiceNow, Jira).
3. Roll out in phases, aligning policies to job functions.

EPM is available as part of the Microsoft Intune Suite features bundle.

5. Remote Help (New — Intune Suite)

Gone are the days of third‑party remote‑access tools. Remote Help is built into Intune for secure, consent‑based troubleshooting:

• Screen sharing & control: Support technicians connect to any managed device—even over cellular links—without VPN.
• Field‑masking: Hide passwords, customer data, and other sensitive fields during the session.
• Role‑based access: Grant junior technicians view‑only rights and senior admins full control.
• Session recording & audit: Log every action for SOC and IT‑audit requirements.

In a global manufacturing environment, Remote Help enabled support engineers in one region to assist production‑line PCs in another—24/7—reducing unplanned downtime by 35%.

Best practices:

• Consent prompts: Customize messaging to align with corporate privacy policies.
• Integration: Tie session start/stop events into your SIEM (e.g., Azure Sentinel) for proactive monitoring.
• Training: Familiarize help‑desk staff with masking and access‑controls to protect PII.

Remote Help ships as part of the Intune Suite features add‑on.

6. Advanced Endpoint Analytics

Leverage device telemetry for proactive health and performance management:

• Startup diagnostics: Identify drivers and apps that slow boot times.
• Crash analytics: Correlate app‑crash patterns across similar hardware models.
• Firmware & driver insights: Highlight outdated BIOS or device‑driver packages before vulnerabilities are exploited.
• Application health scoring: Gauge app‑reliability trends and quantify productivity impact.

A professional services firm reduced average boot‑time by 40 seconds per user by remediating top startup‑impacting apps surfaced by Endpoint Analytics. They now run quarterly health reviews using Intune’s built‑in recommendations.

Key tips:

1. Enable data collection: Ensure you have proper privacy notices for telemetry.
2. Set baseline thresholds: Define “good” performance standards for each hardware class.
3. Automate remediation: Use Power Automate to trigger remediation workflows for repeat issues.

Learn more: Microsoft Endpoint Analytics

7. Microsoft Cloud PKI & Certificate Lifecycle Automation (New — Intune Suite)

Ditch on‑premises CAs for a fully managed, cloud‑native PKI:

• Certificate issuance: Auto‑enroll certificates for Wi‑Fi, VPN, S/MIME email, and app signing.
• Renewal & revocation: Intune handles renewals before expiry and revokes compromised certificates automatically.
• No servers required: Eliminate hardware security modules (HSMs) and patch‑management overhead.
• Cross‑platform support: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux.

A global logistics provider deployed Cloud PKI to secure IoT gateways and mobile scanners—automatically issuing device‑certificates at first enrollment and renewing them silently each year, improving security posture and eliminating manual intervention.

Deployment best practices:

1. Map certificate profiles: Align certificate template settings with Intune configuration profiles.
2. Pilot with non‑critical workloads: Test renewal cycles before broad rollout.
3. Monitor revocation logs: Integrate with your SIEM for certificate‑activity alerts.

Cloud PKI is part of the Microsoft Intune Suite features license.

8. Driver & Firmware Update Orchestration

Intel, Dell, HP, and Lenovo regularly release firmware and driver updates to patch security flaws and improve stability. Intune now brings these updates under centralized control:

• Pilot deployments: Target only a subset of devices for initial testing.
• Scheduled rollouts: Define maintenance windows to minimize user disruption.
• Rollback capabilities: Automatically revert to previous versions on failure.
• Reporting dashboards: Track compliance across the device estate.

In a global R&D organization running high‑performance workstations, firmware orchestration through Intune prevented an exploit in Intel’s management engine from spreading—effectively sealing a critical vulnerability within days.

Recommendations:

1. Maintain a hardware inventory: Use Intune’s device reporting to group by model.
2. Align with vendor advisories: Subscribe to OEM security alerts.
3. Test rollback: Validate that rollback works as intended in your environment.

9. Microsoft Tunnel for App‑Based VPN & Conditional Access

Microsoft Tunnel extends Intune’s zero‑trust framework to network connectivity:

• Per‑app VPN on mobile: Only corporate apps route traffic through Tunnel—personal apps use regular internet.
• Full‑device VPN on Linux: Coverage for mixed‑OS environments.
• Conditional Access integration: Require Tunnel connections only for sensitive workloads.
• Scalability: Deploy Tunnel servers in Azure or on‑premises to accommodate global users.

A consulting firm secured data transmission for 2,500 remote contractors by enforcing Tunnel‑only access for Microsoft Edge and Office mobile apps—reducing data exfiltration risk on unsecured Wi‑Fi networks.

Setup tips:

1. Sizing: Use Azure VM scale sets for auto‑scaling.
2. High availability: Deploy Tunnel in multiple regions.
3. Monitoring: Feed Tunnel logs into Azure Sentinel for anomaly detection.

10. Cross‑Platform App Protection & Data‑Loss Prevention

Protect corporate data at the application layer—even on BYOD:

• Encryption at rest: All managed apps encrypt data with Intune‑managed keys.
• Access requirements: Enforce PIN, Windows Hello, or biometric unlock before app launch.
• Cut/paste restrictions: Block copy/paste between managed and unmanaged apps.
• Selective wipe: Remove only corporate data—preserving personal content.

During a global expansion, a media company rolled out App Protection Policies to 5,000 personal‑device users—eliminating fear of data leakage while boosting BYOD adoption by 60%.

Implementation advice:

1. Segment users: Apply stricter policies to high‑risk groups (finance, legal).
2. User education: Communicate data‑loss prevention rules clearly.
3. Regular reviews: Audit policy exceptions quarterly.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Intune features covered above form a comprehensive toolkit for modern endpoint management and security:

1. Unified MDM/MAM: Consistent policy enforcement across all OSes.
2. Conditional Access: Zero‑trust access based on device and user signals.
3. Windows Autopilot: Zero‑touch provisioning for rapid deployments.
4. Endpoint Privilege Management: Just‑in‑time elevation for least‑privilege security.
5. Remote Help: Native, secure remote support.
6. Advanced Analytics: Proactive performance and reliability insights.
7. Cloud PKI: Automated certificate issuance and lifecycle.
8. Driver/Firmware Orchestration: Centralized update management.
9. Microsoft Tunnel: App‑based VPN with Conditional Access.
10. App Protection Policies: Data‑loss prevention on any device.

Whether you’re starting your Microsoft Intune features list or enhancing an existing deployment, these capabilities—especially the latest premium features available with the Microsoft Intune Suite add-on—help you simplify endpoint management, enforce robust security, and enhance end-user productivity.

For a deep‑dive, download our Microsoft Intune Features PDF or visit our primer, What is Microsoft Intune, to plan your rollout roadmap and licensing strategy with confidence.

Microsoft Intune Features FAQs

1. What features does Microsoft Intune have?

Intune offers MDM/MAM, Conditional Access, Windows Autopilot, Endpoint Privilege Management, Remote Help, Advanced Analytics, Cloud PKI, driver/firmware orchestration, Microsoft Tunnel, and App Protection Policies.

2. What is the function of Microsoft Intune?

It centrally manages device configuration, security policies, application deployment, certificate issuance, compliance enforcement, and remote support across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

3. What can you do in Microsoft Intune?

Enroll devices, push profiles, deploy apps, enforce zero‑trust access, automate updates, provision certificates, analyze performance, elevate privileges, and provide secure remote assistance.

4. What is the objective of Intune?

To deliver unified endpoint management and security—ensuring consistent configuration, proactive compliance, and a seamless user experience while reducing IT complexity and risk.

5. What are the offerings of Microsoft Intune?

• Intune Plan 1: Core endpoint management
• Intune Plan 2: Advanced security and analytics
• Intune Suite features: Remote Help, EPM, Cloud PKI, Analytics, Tunnel VPN

6. What are the benefits of Intune?

Lower TCO, faster device rollouts, unified security posture, proactive insights, reduced help‑desk workload, and improved end‑user productivity.

7. Can Intune track location?

Yes—supervised iOS/iPadOS and corporate‑owned Android devices can report location (e.g., for lost‑mode recovery), subject to policy and user consent.

8. Is Microsoft Intune good or bad?

Intune is widely praised for cloud scalability, deep Microsoft‑ecosystem integration, broad platform support, and robust zero‑trust security—ideal for modern enterprises.

9. Does Intune track user activity?

Intune logs device health, compliance state, and admin actions—it does not capture personal content or browsing history, respecting privacy boundaries.