Microsoft Intune Autopilot Deployment: Zero-Touch Provisioning and Zero Trust Configuration
Watch the Full Webinar On Demand
Manual device provisioning, fragmented security tools, and reactive compliance approaches drain IT resources while creating security gaps across hybrid workforces. Microsoft Security Cloud Solutions Architect Parrish Billups reveals tactical implementation strategies that cut deployment time from hours to minutes while strengthening endpoint security.
This expert webinar demonstrates how Microsoft Intune Autopilot eliminates imaging processes, enforces Zero Trust principles, and integrates compliance frameworks for defense contractors pursuing CMMC certification.
Why Organizations Need Microsoft Intune for Unified Endpoint Management
Traditional endpoint management fails in hybrid environments where employees access resources from home networks, coffee shops, and airports using diverse device types. Microsoft Intune delivers cloud-native unified management across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux devices from a single console.
Organizations today face the dual challenge of improving security and reducing costs while trying to deliver a better experience for employees. Cloud endpoint management offers a modern solution by leveraging the power of the cloud to gain unmatched scalability, real-time security, and the agility needed to stay ahead of threats.
Intune integrates natively with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Purview to create cohesive security that shares threat intelligence across the entire digital estate. Organizations managing endpoints with multiple point solutions face fragmented visibility and inconsistent policy enforcement that prevents strategic focus.
Ridge IT’s managed endpoint security services implement Intune configurations aligned with CMMC compliance and Zero Trust architecture.
Watch Parrish explain unified endpoint management strategies in the full webinar.
How Windows Autopilot Eliminates Manual Device Provisioning
Windows Autopilot transforms device deployment by eliminating custom imaging, manual configurations, and IT-intensive provisioning workflows. Devices ship directly from OEM partners to end users with pre-registered hardware identifiers already loaded into your Intune tenant.
“We’re eliminating the need for maintaining custom images and drivers. That wipes that phase completely out,” Billups emphasized. “IT at this point no longer needs to physically handle the device, which streamlines deployment and lowers operational overhead.”
When users power on new devices, Autopilot automatically applies configuration profiles, security baselines, compliance policies, and application installations without IT intervention. The end-user experience becomes a streamlined setup wizard that joins devices to Entra ID while maintaining security standards.
Zero-Touch Deployment Benefits
Device hashes upload to Microsoft partner portals during manufacturing, automatically marking devices as corporate-owned in Intune. IT teams only deploy configuration profiles to Entra ID groups before devices reach users. When employees leave, IT remotely wipes devices back to business-ready states without extensive reconfiguration.
Organizations implementing Ridge IT’s unified security platform gain Autopilot configurations that maintain consistent security baselines across device refresh cycles.
Parrish demonstrates complete Autopilot configuration in the webinar recording.
Understanding MDM vs MAM: Device and Application Management Approaches
Microsoft Intune supports Mobile Device Management (MDM) for corporate-owned devices and Mobile Application Management (MAM) for BYOD scenarios where personal devices access corporate data.
MDM manages entire devices including hardware, operating system, and all applications. This approach enforces device-level security like passcode requirements, BitLocker encryption, Wi-Fi profiles, and certificate deployment. IT teams can remotely lock devices or perform factory resets if hardware is lost or stolen.
“MDM is ideal for corporate-owned device management or environments that demand full compliance and control over the whole device,” Billups explained.
MAM secures specific applications and corporate data without managing entire devices, making it perfect for BYOD scenarios. Application Protection Policies create secure containers around managed apps like Outlook and Teams, preventing data leakage between work and personal applications while maintaining productivity.
“MAM is perfect for BYOD scenarios, protecting corporate data while respecting the end user’s privacy,” Billups clarified. Organizations can selectively wipe corporate data from terminated employees’ personal devices without affecting personal information.
Ridge IT’s BYOD security implementations leverage MAM policies to protect organizational data without invasive device control.
Watch the webinar for detailed MAM and MDM configuration strategies.
Zero Trust Security Principles Implemented Through Microsoft Intune
Zero Trust architecture operates on “never trust, always verify,” requiring continuous authentication regardless of network location. Traditional perimeter-based security fails when employees access resources from untrusted networks using diverse device types.
“About 78% of organizations report that Zero Trust investments account for less than a quarter of their total cybersecurity budget,” Billups stated. “Adopting a Zero Trust strategy isn’t just a smart move for security, it’s cost-effective.”
The Three Core Principles
1. Verify Explicitly: Authentication decisions evaluate all available data points including user identity, device location, device health, application being accessed, and real-time risk signals. Intune integrates with Entra ID Conditional Access to enforce verification policies based on device compliance status.
2. Use Least Privilege Access: Intune supports least privilege through Endpoint Privilege Management and role-based access control that restricts administrative functions to authorized personnel.
3. Assume Breach: Security strategies assume compromise has already occurred, focusing on minimizing blast radius. BitLocker encryption ensures data-at-rest protection, reducing risk if devices are lost or stolen.
Organizations implementing Ridge IT’s Zero Trust architecture services gain comprehensive frameworks integrating Intune device management with identity protection and network segmentation.
Parrish breaks down Zero Trust implementation tactics in the full webinar session.
Conditional Access Policies and Comply-to-Connect Security
Conditional Access operates as the policy engine within Microsoft Entra ID that evaluates authentication requests against organizational security requirements before granting resource access. These policies assess user identity, device compliance, location data, application risk, and real-time threat signals.
“In a mobile-first, cloud-first world, users can access your organization resources using a variety of devices and apps from anywhere,” Billups explained. “Just focusing on who can access a resource is not sufficient anymore.”
Intune device compliance policies establish security requirements endpoints must meet before accessing corporate resources. These policies check encryption status, operating system version, security updates, jailbreak detection, password complexity, and threat level assessed by Microsoft Defender.
Conditional Access integrates compliance status as a grant control, blocking access from non-compliant devices until security issues are remediated. This Comply-to-Connect framework ensures devices meet organizational standards before connecting to sensitive applications.
Ridge IT’s security assessment services identify gaps in existing Conditional Access configurations and recommend policy improvements.
Watch the webinar for conditional access policy configuration demonstrations.
BitLocker Encryption and Device Compliance Requirements
BitLocker full-disk encryption protects data-at-rest on Windows endpoints, preventing unauthorized access if laptops are lost or stolen. Intune device compliance policies can require BitLocker encryption as a mandatory security control, automatically marking devices non-compliant if encryption isn’t enabled.
“Every 60 seconds a laptop is stolen, and over 600,000 laptops are lost annually,” Billups noted. “BitLocker mitigates these risks aligning with Zero Trust principles.”
BitLocker recovery keys stored in Entra ID allow IT administrators to unlock encrypted devices when users forget passwords. Organizations implement Conditional Access policies requiring BitLocker encryption before allowing device access to corporate resources.
Defense contractors pursuing CMMC compliance must implement encryption for Controlled Unclassified Information, making BitLocker enforcement through Intune essential for NIST 800-171 requirements.
See BitLocker enforcement configurations demonstrated in the webinar.
Microsoft Intune Suite Advanced Capabilities
Microsoft Intune Suite extends baseline capabilities with advanced features including Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, and Microsoft Tunnel for MAM.
Remote Help provides integrated remote assistance that eliminates third-party tools like TeamViewer, reducing attack surface while maintaining support capabilities. Endpoint Privilege Management allows standard users to elevate specific applications without granting permanent local admin privileges.
“Remote Help provides a simple, integrated, and secure experience both for the helpers and workers,” Billups explained. “We’re eliminating third-party tools that create potential breach vectors.”
Advanced Analytics provides AI-powered insights into device performance issues and anomaly detection that identifies unusual behavior potentially indicating compromise. Microsoft Tunnel provides per-app VPN connectivity for mobile applications accessing on-premises resources.
Organizations implementing Ridge IT’s security posture management services gain Intune Suite configurations extending baseline protection.
Watch Parrish demonstrate Intune Suite features in the complete webinar recording.
Microsoft Security Integration: Defender, Sentinel, and Purview
Intune integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Sentinel SIEM, and Purview data governance through Microsoft Security Graph, which aggregates security signals across Microsoft 365 environments.
“Threats detected in one solution, like Defender or Intune, can inform and enhance protections in other products,” Billups explained. “That enables faster response and coordinated remediation.”
When Defender identifies compromised endpoints, Intune automatically marks devices non-compliant and blocks access until threats are remediated. Security Operations Centers monitoring Sentinel receive correlated alerts combining endpoint telemetry, user behavior analytics, and application security events.
Organizations licensing Microsoft Security Copilot gain AI-powered vulnerability remediation guidance directly within the Intune console, prioritizing Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures across managed endpoints.
See complete security integration demonstrations in the full webinar.
Licensing: Microsoft 365 E3 vs E5 and Intune Plans
Microsoft Intune Plan 1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3, providing baseline MDM, MAM, conditional access, and Windows Autopilot capabilities. Microsoft 365 E5 adds advanced Defender for Endpoint P2, Entra ID P2, and Purview data governance.
“Plan 1 is what you get on the E3 SKU,” Billups clarified. “It provides the core management capabilities most organizations need for endpoint security and compliance.”
Intune Plan 2 adds Microsoft Tunnel for MAM and firmware update management. Intune Suite bundles Plan 2 with Endpoint Privilege Management, Remote Help, and Advanced Analytics. Security Copilot requires separate licensing with compute unit provisioning.
Ridge IT’s Microsoft 365 licensing guidance helps organizations determine appropriate SKUs based on security requirements and compliance frameworks.
Parrish breaks down licensing options and feature comparisons in the webinar.
Watch the Complete Microsoft Intune Webinar On Demand
Microsoft Security Cloud Solutions Architect Parrish Billups delivers comprehensive implementation strategies covering Windows Autopilot deployment, Zero Trust configuration, conditional access policies, device compliance enforcement, and CMMC compliance frameworks.
The complete webinar includes:
- Live Autopilot configuration demonstrations
- Conditional Access policy setup walkthroughs
- BitLocker enforcement configurations
- MDM and MAM deployment strategies
- Intune Suite feature demonstrations
- Q&A with Microsoft’s Cloud Solutions Architect
Transform Endpoint Management with Expert Microsoft Intune Implementation
Ridge IT Cyber’s Microsoft-certified security team implements Intune configurations aligned with CMMC compliance requirements, Zero Trust architecture principles, and operational efficiency objectives. Our managed endpoint security services handle device enrollment, policy configuration, compliance monitoring, and integration with Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and Purview.
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