Microsoft InTune vs Group Policy - SchoolCare (2024)

Microsoft provides several tools to manage and secure devices in an enterprise environment. Two of the most popular tools are Microsoft InTune and Microsoft Group Policy. Both tools have their own unique features and benefits, but they serve different purposes. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of Microsoft InTune vs Microsoft Group Policy and which tool is better suited for certain scenarios.

Microsoft InTune is a cloud-based service that allows organisations to manage and secure their devices, applications, and data from a single console. It offers a range of features, including device enrolment, device management, application management, policy management, and reporting. Some of the key benefits of using Microsoft InTune are:

1. Cloud-based management: Microsoft InTune is a cloud-based service, which means that it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it easier for administrators to manage and secure devices, regardless of their location.
2. Device management: With Microsoft InTune, administrators can manage devices from a single console. This includes the ability to manage policies, applications, and settings on devices. This makes it easier to ensure that devices are compliant with company policies and that they are secure.
3. Application management: Microsoft InTune allows administrators to manage applications on devices. This includes the ability to deploy update and remove applications. This makes it easier for administrators to ensure that all devices have the required applications and that they are up-to-date.
4. Reporting: Microsoft InTune provides detailed reporting on device compliance, application usage, and security incidents. This makes it easier for administrators to monitor the health of devices and to identify potential security risks.

On the other hand, Microsoft Group Policy is a feature of Active Directory that allows administrators to manage policies on Windows devices. Some of the key benefits of using Microsoft Group Policy are:

1. Granular policy management: Microsoft Group Policy allows administrators to manage certain policies on a granular level. This means that policies can be applied to specific users, groups, or devices. This makes it easier to ensure that policies are applied only to the devices that require them.
2. Active Directory integration: Microsoft Group Policy is integrated with Active Directory, which makes it easier for administrators to manage policies on devices that are joined to a domain.
3. Low bandwidth usage: Microsoft Group Policy uses low bandwidth to apply policies to devices. This makes it easier to manage devices in remote locations with limited bandwidth.
4. Extensibility: Microsoft Group Policy is extensible, which means that third-party applications can create their own policy settings. This allows administrators to manage policies for third-party applications using Microsoft Group Policy.

In summary, both Microsoft InTune and Microsoft Group Policy have their own unique benefits. Microsoft InTune is better suited for managing devices in a cloud-based environment, while Microsoft Group Policy is better suited for managing policies on Windows devices joined to a domain. Ultimately, the choice between Microsoft InTune and Microsoft Group Policy depends on the specific requirements of your organisation.

3rd August 2023