Microsoft Intune: Unlock the benefits of your BYOD strategy

For many organisations, adopting BYOD policies offer a route to cost savings and improving employee experience. They also tend to come with challenges, particularly around mobile security, privacy, and compliance.

The challenges are real, and certainly can’t be ignored. But they also shouldn’t become a barrier to unlocking the benefits that a well-structured BYOD strategy could yield.

And, if you’re invested in Microsoft licencing, it’s likely that you already have access to the solution.

We’ve previously discussed how Microsoft Intune offers the tools to successfully manage remote and hybrid workforces. But did you know that it’s also the ideal enabler to mitigate the risks and unlock the benefits of BYOD?

Adopting BYOD should be a strategic decision

It should be noted that your mobile management strategy isn’t as simple as opting between corporate-owned devices or BYOD. It’s more about understanding how mobiles are used by different personas in your organisation.

For some users, corporate-owned may present the smarter choice. But being able to adopt BYOD strategically and safely, with users who suit it, can make a massive difference to your bottom line.

And Microsoft Intune offers the platform to allow this.

Tackling the security challenge with Microsoft Intune

If you’re letting personal devices access corporate resources and applications, then there’s clearly a heightened security risk.

It’s likely they won’t adhere to company security protocols or update to the latest versions of their OS as often as they should. Which, if unmanaged, can expose the organisation to breaches and cyber threats.

Microsoft Intune provides organisations with tools to create a protective layer between personal devices and corporate resources.

Such as:

Dealing with data management and privacy concerns

Data management challenges go both ways.

It’s a common concern. And one that we’ve seen make both parties resistant to BYOD adoption.

Concerns that can be eased by Intune thanks to:

Simplifying multi-platform device support

BYOD, when applied appropriately, can reduce costs by 45% and improve productivity by 68%.

But it also introduces a complex environment made up of multiple devices, brands, and operating systems. 67% of organisations who have BYOD within their organisation have admitted to challenges when it comes to supporting the policies.

When IT may already be at capacity, how this is supported safely, productively, and cost-effectively, needs to be considered.

Which is again why we advocate leaning into the features and versatility of Microsoft Intune to help you leverage the benefits.

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)

Intune is a market-leading UEM and designed to meet this challenge head-on. Compatible with and able to support all the main devices and systems, including:

This enables IT teams to simply manage all devices, corporate or personal, from a single pane of glass.

Streamlining Operating System Support

Of course, it’s not just about compatibility. It’s about enabling robust support that simplifies management and reduces hidden costs.

Intune automates many of the tasks traditionally requiring manual intervention, like device enrolment or software deployments.

This not only lowers the resource burden on IT departments but also minimises the licensing complexities associated with managing multiple device management solutions.

Intune avoids compliance complications

BYOD policies and personal devices can add complications when it comes to regulatory compliance.

Organisations in regulated industries, for example, must navigate a maze of regulations that dictate how personal devices can be used for work purposes. This includes how calls, SMS comms, social media, and data access is monitored.

As a leading UEM it blends mobile device management (MDM) with mobile application management (MAM). Through its vast and growing suite of tools (like conditional access, APP, or data segregation) it enables you to define, implement, and enforce policies that comply with the necessary regulations.

On any device that accesses corporate resources.

Intune supports a range of regulatory frameworks and provides the tools to manage data protection and privacy accordingly.

This includes the ability to:

Additionally, Intune’s integration with other Microsoft security solutions enhances its ability to protect sensitive data and support compliance efforts across your entire organisation.

Conclusion

Working practices change, expectations evolve, and the lines between work and personal life blur. More than ever are we seeing mobile devices as the binding agent. The point at which technology and culture converge.

Which is prompting more organisations to embrace the change. Looking towards policies like BYOD to take advantage of new-found flexibility, efficiency, and profitability.

BYOD isn’t the be all and end all. For many organisations, corporate-owned will still be the better bet.

But where the circumstances are right, then it’s critical you take security, compliance, and data protection challenges seriously. Because failure in that sphere not only undermines the advantages but threatens your organisation’s very existence.

Microsoft Intune offers a suite of management tools designed to simplify and secure mobile management, regardless of ownership. Leveraging this within your wider Microsoft ecosystem enables a robust, unified approach to security and data protection. And gives you the platform to unlock the full potential of your mobile and BYOD strategy.

Key takeaways

Next steps

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