Let’s be real. “Mobile device management” doesn’t exactly scream excitement. It sounds like something buried in an IT policy doc that no one reads. But Microsoft Intune? It’s one of the best things you’re probably not using.
If you’re a small business in the UK and you’ve got people working from home, using personal devices, or losing phones in pub toilets… you need to know about this.
What does Intune actually do?
At its core, Microsoft Intune helps you manage devices and apps your team uses to get work done. Laptops, phones, tablets, even virtual desktops.
You can:
- Enforce security rules (like PINs and encryption)
- Remotely wipe data if a device goes walkies
- Push out apps and updates automatically
- Block dodgy or jailbroken devices from logging in
- Keep work data separate from personal data
Why does it matter for small businesses?
Because we’re human and things can get messy.
You start with a few people. Everyone brings their own laptop. You email some passwords around. Share a few files on Dropbox. It all feels quick and easy — until something goes wrong.
Then you’ve got no control. No visibility. And probably no backup.
Intune gives you a way to bring structure without strangling flexibility. You can support remote work, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), and growth — without chaos.
Key benefits of Microsoft Intune for small businesses
1. Protect your data, even on personal devices
People will use their own phones for work. You can fight it or deal with it properly.
With Intune, you don’t have to be the phone police. You can apply policies to the work apps only — like Outlook and Teams — while leaving the rest of the phone alone.
So your employee can still scroll TikTok at lunch. But they can’t copy work emails into Notes and accidentally leak client data.
2. Remote wipe. Because accidents happen.
Lost phone? Stolen laptop? Staff member leaves on bad terms?
Intune lets you remotely wipe company data. You can either nuke the whole device (if it’s company-owned) or just remove work content (if it’s personal). No need to panic. No need to send awkward “hey can you delete that file” texts.
3. One place to control everything
You get a single dashboard. From there, you can:
- See all connected devices
- Check compliance
- Push apps and updates
- Roll out settings
- Create different policies for different roles or locations
Basically, it stops you needing to guess who’s running what, where, and how dangerously.
4. Save time setting up new kit
Intune works with Windows Autopilot, so new laptops can be sent straight to staff and auto-configured the moment they sign in.
No need for you (or someone you mildly bribe with lunch) to spend two hours installing Office and changing every setting manually.
It’s the kind of automation that saves real time. And sanity.
5. Better compliance, less stress
If you’re in a regulated industry — finance, healthcare, legal — you need to show you’re protecting client data. Even if you’re not, clients expect basic hygiene.
With Intune, you can prove you’ve got policies in place. Encryption. Access controls. Device compliance. It’s the difference between “yeah we try our best” and “yes, here’s our policy”.
Isn’t this all a bit… overkill?
Only if you’re planning to stay small, work from one office, and hand-deliver every laptop like it’s 2009.
But if you’ve got:
- Remote workers
- Hybrid teams
- Staff using personal devices
- A tendency to misplace technology
- Any ambition to grow
Then no, it’s not overkill. It’s called being prepared.
How do I get Microsoft Intune?
You can buy Intune as a standalone product, but for most small businesses it’s included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
(If you’re still on Business Standard, go read our piece on Microsoft 365 Business Premium advantages. Spoiler: you’re missing out.)
Setting it up isn’t rocket science, but it does help to have a trusted IT partner guide you. There’s a bit of planning involved — policies, user groups, app deployment — but once it’s in place, it mostly runs itself.
And if you don’t want to manage it at all? We can do that.
The Final Word
Microsoft Intune gives small businesses the kind of control that used to be reserved for massive corporate IT teams. It makes remote work safer. Device management easier. And data loss less of a constant fear.
It doesn’t require a huge budget. Or a full-time IT manager. Just a bit of forward-thinking and the right license.
In a world where your staff might work from a café, an airport, or their nan’s living room… it’s smart to know who’s got access to what. And how to shut it down if things go sideways.
So, is Intune exciting? No. But it’s practical, powerful, and quietly essential. Which, let’s be honest, is what most businesses actually need.
