Microsoft Intune for Small Businesses: Where to Start

Decide what you need to manage

Start with outcomes: a reliable device inventory, consistent configuration, update oversight and an agreed process for lost devices. List device platforms, ownership and existing management tools before choosing enrolment methods.

Check the prerequisites

Confirm the current licences, supported operating systems and identity requirements for the features you intend to use. A business-owned Windows laptop, a shared device and a staff member's personal phone may need different approaches.

Record any existing management authorities or endpoint tools. Do not remove working protections merely to simplify the inventory; plan how responsibilities and policies will coexist or transition.

Use a representative pilot

• Choose a small group covering office, remote and shared-device use.
• Test enrolment, required applications and ordinary business workflows.
• Understand what inventory and administrative actions become available.
• Check the support process for a failed enrolment or lost device.
• Document acceptance criteria before broader rollout.

Measure before enforcing

A compliance setting can affect whether users can access company information. Review the results first and address unexpected failures before using them to restrict access. Coordinate any Conditional Access changes with the identity administrator.

For personal devices, explain what the organisation can see and which actions it can take. Obtain the relevant agreement and provide a business-owned alternative where appropriate.

Make management a routine

Assign somebody to failed updates, inactive devices and policy exceptions. Keep enrolment instructions and offboarding steps available to the support team. A successful initial deployment is not the end of the service.

Read our BYOD policy guide and discuss device management within managed IT services.

Official reference: Microsoft Intune planning guide.