Yes, Microsoft Intune is indeed linked with both Office 365 and Azure, but let me clarify how these connections work and what that means for you.
Is Intune Part of Office 365 or Azure?
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that provides mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) capabilities. It’s designed to help organizations manage and secure their devices and apps, ensuring that corporate data is protected.
Intune and Office 365
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Integration with Office 365: Intune is not inherently part of the basic Office 365 plans. However, it is included in certain Microsoft 365 plans. For instance, if you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Intune is included as part of these packages. This integration allows you to manage Office 365 apps and ensure they are securely deployed and configured on your devices.
- Difference in Plans: Regular Office 365 plans like Office 365 Business Basic or Office 365 ProPlus do not include Intune. You would need to upgrade to one of the Microsoft 365 plans that bundle Intune for those capabilities.
Intune and Azure
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Integration with Azure: Intune is a key component of Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite, which is closely integrated with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Azure AD provides the identity and access management needed for Intune to enforce policies and manage devices.
- Standalone Option: While Intune integrates deeply with Azure services, it can also be purchased as a standalone service. This allows businesses to use Intune independently of other Azure services if they don’t need the full suite of Azure features.
How This Benefits You
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Unified Management: If you use Intune with Microsoft 365, you get a unified approach to managing and securing both Office apps and other corporate resources. This helps streamline administrative tasks and ensures that all devices meet your security standards.
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Flexible Deployment: With Azure integration, Intune can leverage existing Azure AD identities for policy enforcement, making it easier to deploy security and management policies across your organization.
Conclusion
So, while Intune is not part of every Office 365 plan, it is included in higher-tier Microsoft 365 plans and integrates well with Azure services. This makes it a powerful tool for comprehensive device and app management.
If you're considering Intune and want to understand how it fits into your current setup or need to explore different licensing options, checking the official Microsoft documentation or consulting with a Microsoft partner can provide further insights.