Microsoft Intune for Australian SMEs: what it does and how to deploy it

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based device and application management service that lets businesses centrally enforce security policies, deploy software, and control access across all their staff devices. For Australian SMEs, Intune is the practical way to satisfy several Essential Eight controls without buying separate device management tools.

Most Sydney businesses we work with use Intune to manage Windows laptops, Microsoft 365 apps, and the mobile devices their staff use to access work email. The licence usually comes bundled with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which means many SMEs already own Intune without realising it. This guide explains what Intune actually does day-to-day, how it fits into a typical Australian SME security baseline, and what's involved in deploying it properly.

Key facts

• Microsoft Intune is Microsoft's cloud-based device and application management service, formerly part of "Microsoft Endpoint Manager".
• Intune is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium (AU$32.20 per user per month ex GST) and several Enterprise licences, so most SMEs on Business Premium already have it.
• Intune manages Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices from a single web console.
• Intune satisfies several Essential Eight controls: application control, configuration of Microsoft Office macro settings, user application hardening, and restrict administrative privileges.
• A typical Australian SME rollout takes 3 to 6 weeks for 30 to 50 devices, including device enrolment, policy configuration, and Conditional Access integration.
• For unmanaged BYOD scenarios, Intune App Protection Policies can secure work data on personal devices without requiring full device enrolment, which keeps staff happy while protecting business data.

What is Microsoft Intune and why does it matter for SMEs?

Microsoft Intune is the management layer that sits between the IT administrator and the devices staff actually use. Without it, IT teams configure each laptop manually, hope staff remember to install updates, and have no centralised way to enforce security policies. With it, the same policies apply automatically to every enrolled device, updates are managed centrally, and a lost device can be wiped remotely from a web browser.

For Australian SMEs, Intune matters for three specific reasons. First, regulatory pressure has shifted. The Privacy Act amendments and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme mean that unmanaged staff devices accessing customer data create real legal exposure. Intune gives demonstrable controls. Second, the ACSC Essential Eight maturity model treats centralised device management as a baseline control, not an optional extra. Achieving even Maturity Level 1 across the Essential Eight is difficult without a device management platform. Third, hybrid work has changed the threat surface. Staff working from cafes, home offices, and the family lounge room cannot be defended with the same network-perimeter approach that worked when everyone was in the office.

Intune solves the practical version of these problems: it lets a small IT team enforce security policy across a fleet of laptops and phones without manually touching each device. For a 30-person business, this is the difference between "we have security policies" and "we have security policies and we can prove they're being applied".

What does Intune actually do day-to-day?

The day-to-day capability of Intune breaks into four practical areas. Each one solves a problem most Australian SMEs have but haven't necessarily articulated.

Device enrolment and configuration. When a new laptop ships from the supplier, Intune can be configured so the device joins the company tenant automatically the first time the user signs in. Within minutes, the laptop has the company's security policies, work apps, network settings, and access to Microsoft 365 services. The IT team doesn't touch it. This is called Windows Autopilot for Windows devices, and the equivalent exists for Macs and mobile devices.

Application deployment. Intune installs work applications on devices without IT staff visiting each user. Microsoft 365 apps, Teams, Adobe Reader, Chrome, line-of-business software. The user gets the apps automatically based on the groups they belong to in Entra ID. No more "have you installed Outlook yet" calls.

Policy enforcement. This is where most of the security value lives. Intune enforces encryption (BitLocker on Windows, FileVault on Mac), enforces screen lock timeouts, prevents installation of unauthorised software, restricts which apps can access work email, and enforces Conditional Access policies that block sign-ins from suspicious locations. None of these require user action. They apply automatically and resist tampering.

Compliance reporting and remote action. Intune shows which devices comply with policy, which don't, and why. If a laptop is lost or a staff member leaves, the device can be remotely wiped (full reset or selective wipe of just work data) from a web browser. For unmanaged devices that staff use to access work email, App Protection Policies can selectively wipe just the work data without touching personal photos or apps.

How does Intune fit into the Essential Eight?

The ACSC Essential Eight is Australia's baseline cybersecurity framework, and Intune contributes meaningfully to four of the eight controls. Understanding the mapping helps SMEs structure their Intune rollout against the right outcomes.

Application control (Essential Eight #1). Intune can enforce app-installation restrictions on managed Windows devices, blocking executables from running unless they're in an approved list. The full Maturity Level 2 implementation is non-trivial, but the Maturity Level 1 version (blocking executables from common user-writable directories) is straightforward.

Configure Microsoft Office macro settings (#3). Intune deploys Office macro policies that block macros from internet locations and prevent users from changing the setting. This is the most impactful Essential Eight control to implement first, because Office macros remain a common malware delivery method.

User application hardening (#4). Intune disables risky features in browsers and PDF readers (Flash, Java, ActiveX, JavaScript in PDFs), removes web advertising, and applies the ASD hardening guidelines automatically across the fleet.

Restrict administrative privileges (#5). Intune enforces standard-user permissions on managed devices, removes local admin from regular accounts, and integrates with Privileged Identity Management for admin elevation. Combined with Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS), this control becomes genuinely enforceable rather than aspirational.

Intune doesn't cover the remaining four controls (patch applications, patch operating systems, multi-factor authentication, regular backups) directly, but it integrates with the tools that do. For an Australian SME aiming for Essential Eight Maturity Level 1, Intune is the practical foundation.

What licence do you need to use Intune?

Intune is included in several Microsoft 365 licences and available standalone. The standalone version is rarely the right answer for SMEs because the bundled licences usually include other capabilities you also want.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium (AU$32.20 per user per month ex GST) includes Intune plus Microsoft 365 apps, Defender for Office 365, Defender for Business, Conditional Access via Entra ID P1, and Information Protection. For most Australian SMEs under 300 staff, this is the right licence. The capability per dollar is unmatched among Microsoft's small business offerings.

Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 (AU$48.91 and AU$84.31 per user per month ex GST respectively) include Intune plus Enterprise-tier capabilities. These licences become appropriate above 300 staff or where specific Enterprise features are needed (information governance, advanced threat intelligence).

Intune Plan 1 standalone (around AU$12.20 per user per month ex GST) is available for businesses that don't want Microsoft 365. In our experience, Australian SMEs almost never end up here. The standalone licence price is high relative to what's included, and the bundled licences deliver substantially more value.

Microsoft's published Australian pricing is at microsoft.com/en-au. Confirm current rates there before making a buying decision, since Microsoft adjusts Australian pricing periodically.

How long does an Intune rollout actually take?

A typical Australian SME Intune rollout runs 3 to 6 weeks end to end for 30 to 50 devices. The variance depends on whether the business already has Microsoft 365 in place, whether devices need to be re-enrolled (existing devices are harder than new devices joining via Autopilot), and how much custom policy work is required.

The standard sequence is roughly: week 1, discovery and design. Document what's currently in place, design the Intune policies (security baselines, app deployment plan, Conditional Access policies), and configure the Intune tenant. Week 2, pilot. Enrol a small group of devices (typically the IT team and a few willing volunteers) and validate the policies actually work the way they should. Week 3 to 4, rolling enrolment. Enrol remaining devices in waves of 10 to 15 per wave. Address user-reported issues quickly. Week 4 to 6, hardening and cleanup. Enable the more restrictive policies (the ones that would have generated noise during enrolment), document the final state, train the internal champion.

The most common reason rollouts run long: pre-existing device estate that wasn't enrolled cleanly. Devices that were imaged manually, set up by different people over different years, or are still on Windows 10 with outdated configurations all add friction. New devices joining via Autopilot enrol cleanly. Old devices need work first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Intune if my business is only 10 staff?

Probably yes. The 10-staff threshold is where unmanaged device management starts creating real risk, particularly if staff use laptops outside the office. Intune is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which most 10-person businesses already need for the other security capabilities. Once you have the licence, deploying Intune is incremental cost rather than a separate investment.

Can Intune manage personal devices that staff use for work?

Yes, via App Protection Policies. These secure work data inside Microsoft 365 apps (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel) without requiring the user to enrol their personal device. The user keeps full control of their device. The business can remotely wipe just the work data if the staff member leaves. This is the standard pattern for BYOD scenarios in Australian SMEs.

Does Intune work with Macs?

Yes. Intune manages macOS devices alongside Windows from the same console. The macOS feature set is slightly different (some Windows-specific policies don't apply), but the core capabilities (enrolment, app deployment, policy enforcement, remote wipe, compliance reporting) all work. For businesses with mixed Windows and Mac fleets, this avoids running two separate management consoles. Some 4iT clients run Intune for both, while others use Jamf for Mac-heavy fleets where deeper Mac integration is needed.

What's the difference between Intune and Group Policy?

Group Policy is the on-premise Windows configuration mechanism that requires devices to be domain-joined and able to reach a domain controller. Intune is the cloud-native equivalent that works wherever the device has an internet connection. For modern Australian SMEs without on-premise servers, Intune is the practical choice. For businesses with hybrid setups, Intune and Group Policy can coexist, with Intune taking precedence on enrolled devices.

Can we self-manage Intune or do we need a partner?

You can self-manage Intune. The console is well-designed, the documentation is comprehensive, and the policies are mostly straightforward. Where partners add value is the initial design phase (getting the policies right for your specific business), the rollout (handling the messy edge cases of existing devices), and the security hardening (turning on the right controls without breaking workflows). Many Australian SMEs engage a partner for the initial deployment and then self-manage day-to-day with partner support for major changes.

What happens to Intune-managed devices if we leave Microsoft 365?

Devices remain functional but lose centralised management. They keep whatever apps and configurations were last applied via Intune, but new policies can't be deployed and remote actions (wipe, compliance reporting) stop working. For businesses considering a move away from Microsoft 365, this is a real factor: device management has to be replaced before licences can be dropped.

If you're running Microsoft 365 Business Premium and haven't turned on Intune yet, that's worth a conversation. We've done the rollout enough times across Sydney SMEs that the common issues are no longer surprising, and getting the policy design right at the start saves significant rework later.