Protecting your BYOD and remote working environments with Microsoft Intune

As technology advances, mobile devices such as laptops and tablets have become more prevalent. This surge has not only changed the way we operate personally but professionally as well. Many businesses are adapting to hybrid and remote models of working, enabled by technology which makes working, attending virtual classes, remote doctor consultations, and much more available via mobile devices. Additionally, many organisations have also adopted the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environment. This drift towards a device-dependent workforce requires security teams to take a closer look at how they are managing and securing data being collected and devices being used.?

Whether it is a person-owned or corporate-owned device, businesses need to enforce data access and productivity policies on devices through mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM).?

MDM and MAM at work?

MDM defines the way of securing mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets, whereas MAM secures the applications present within those devices that are used to access organisational data.?

Devices incorporate MDM software which collects details from enrolled devices and manages the applications running on those devices allowing, blocking, and removing them depending on preconfigured settings. Compliance restrictions are enforced through policies and these devices can be centrally managed.?Unlike MDM, MAM doesn't require any control over device and ensures that sensitive data is not sent or copied to other applications.??

Microsoft Intune for MDM and MAM?

Microsoft Intune is one such cloud-based service that helps in managing the applications and devices that your employees use. The major advantage of Microsoft Intune is its integration with Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365 applications. With the help of Azure Active Directory, it controls who has access to corporate data and what they have access to. The integration with Microsoft 365 applications like Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, etc., including mobile apps on personal devices, ensures that the required corporate policies are applied to those devices as well. Using this device and app management service, your organisation can create a highly secure work environment. Furthermore, you can design the policies that best suit your organisation.?

Security Features of Microsoft Intune?

Is Microsoft Intune the right platform you need to keep your remote working secure??

Well, let's have a look at some of the significant features it has to offer.?

• Conditional Access: With this policy, you can secure your network but still allow employees to have necessary access to the data they need. As a result, this creates a great working environment where users can work from any location on any device.?
• Multi Factor Authentication: MFA significantly enhances your security posture and makes the process of authentication more secure. Additional factors like biometrics, one time code sent via text or call makes remote working more secure.?
• Zero Trust Strategy: This strategy allows you to monitor devices for any vulnerability and ensure which devices have access to corporate resources. Not only do these policies control who has access to certain data, but they also control what you do with that data.?
• Endpoint Security: Through Intune, you can configure device security and perform tasks for devices at risk. Such tightly focused policies can further strengthen the security of your remote workforce.?
• App Protection Policies: Intune's app protection policy ensures that data is accessed securely and there is no data leak. It also creates a container to separate the personal data from company data.?

Wrap Up?

When all said and done, Microsoft Intune is an important security technology for both remote and BYOD employees. Instead of forcing people to use business devices, Intune gives the choice of BYOD while ensuring security of corporate data. In addition, the app protection policies allow you to retain control and access over your critical data. With this evolving modern workforce, organisations need to adapt and keep their employees happy, secure and productive through solutions like Microsoft Intune.?

Exigo Tech is positioned to help you access, standardise and modernise your security landscape for remote working and BYOD environments.??

Is Microsoft Intune in your future? what will your approach be for Cybersecurity??If you are interested in discussing further how Exigo Tech can support, you in improving your device security or would like to know more about Microsoft Intune, get in touch with me or email [email protected]?