While multiple deployment options are designed to make today’s technologies more flexible, sorting through these different options can sometimes be a source of confusion for businesses.
Let’s consider this in the context of Microsoft Intune deployment. In this scenario, businesses can go down one of two routes: the standalone iteration or the hybrid iteration. At this fork in the road, so to speak, there is often uncertainty as to which path best suits your IT infrastructure.
In this blog post, we’ll provide guidance to steer you in the right direction in your Microsoft Intune deployment.
Standalone Vs. Hybrid Microsoft Intune Deployment
Microsoft Intune is available first and foremost as a standalone service for Azure. With just an internet connection, IT administrators can effectively secure and deploy devices hosted in the Azure cloud environment, based on the security protocols and settings established before deployment. With the standalone setup, device management takes place solely in the Azure portal.
In other cases, businesses may want to use Microsoft Intune in conjunction with Microsoft 365. This ties back to the hybrid version of Intune deployment. Whereas some Microsoft 365 plans already include feature-rich Intune (and others will offer Basic Mobility and Security), assigning an Intune license to Microsoft 365 will enable you to manage devices hosted in Azure from both platforms.
(Note: To elaborate, in comparison to Basic Mobility and Security, Microsoft Intune provides the flexibility to manage more device types, greater control access and the option to set and manage security policies like jailbreak detection and device-level PIN lock. You can find a more comprehensive comparison of their capabilities here.)
Let’s say you create an iPad device group within Microsoft 365. With a hybrid Intune deployment, you can automatically push down relevant policies to that group via Intune — from providing access to the app store to enabling the use of AirDrop. As you spend less time toggling between platforms, you’ll gain greater visibility of your IT infrastructure and keep your data more secure.
Let Your Organizational Needs Settle This Debate
When it comes to the right deployment option for Microsoft Intune, there is no universal answer. The best option for each business comes down to their existing IT infrastructure, and any plans they have to further scale that infrastructure alongside the addition of Intune. Once we conduct a thorough assessment of your infrastructure and talk to you about your unique needs, the team at TecSetGo will compile this data to identify if the standalone or hybrid iteration is ideal for you.
To learn more about how we can assist with your Microsoft Intune deployment — from helping you choose the proper implementation to maintaining business standards and streamlining the enrollment process — visit the services section of our website.
