MacOS management has come a long way in Microsoft Intune, with ongoing investments in security, deployment, and user experience. If IT admins are not yet managing macOS devices with Intune or—worse—not managing them at all, it's time to take another look at just how much Intune has evolved, delivering a more secure, integrated, and cost-effective way to manage Apple devices.
From enhanced security through deeper Microsoft integrations to new app management capabilities that streamline IT workflows, Intune is designed to simplify macOS management without sacrificing security or control. If you haven't revisited your Mac management strategy recently, now is the time.
Security over convenience: why integration matters
For IT teams, security is non-negotiable, and Intune prioritizes protection over all else, helping ensure macOS devices meet enterprise security and compliance standards without unnecessary workarounds. Unlike standalone solutions, Intune is natively integrated with Microsoft Security products, including Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. This means IT admins can:
- Ensure routine compliance checks and take immediate action when security risks arise to bring your Macs under the same level of compliance as your Windows systems.
- Leverage conditional access policies that automatically block noncompliant macOS devices from corporate resources.
- Maintain Zero Trust security principles where every access request is verified before granting permissions.
- Enable phishing-resistant, hardware-bound, passwordless authentication on Mac through Intune. Platform SSO in Microsoft Intune offers a seamless setup experience, helping to secure credentials. This is ideal for customers using Windows Hello for Business and looking for a similar solution on Mac.
- Gain visibility and control over sensitive data with Microsoft Purview. Integrated with Intune, Purview enables data loss prevention (DLP), information protection, and compliance policies to follow your data—helping to ensure it's accessed and shared appropriately, even on Macs. While some third-party tools emphasize convenience, they often require additional integrations and workarounds—potentially introducing security risks and additional costs. With the Microsoft ecosystem approach and strong investments in Mac management across Microsoft Security, macOS devices benefit from the same end-to-end security, compliance, and identity management as Windows devices without unnecessary complexity.
More value, less overhead for lower total cost of ownership
Enterprise IT teams know that adding tools to an already complex environment can lead to additional costs and inefficiencies. Some third-party tools offer granular capabilities to manage macOS, but they don't provide significant security, efficiency, or compliance advantages. While they may promote ease-of-use, they often come with redundant functionality, added cost, and extra management overhead, especially when Intune already delivers enterprise-grade Apple device management as part of its Microsoft 365 licensing plans.
Intune offers robust macOS management capabilities that meet the needs of most organizations. These include:
- Cost-effective management without extra licensing fees.
- A unified approach that works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
- Deep integration with Microsoft security and identity solutions for a more secure and scalable deployment.
IT teams looking to simplify Mac management while controlling costs will find that Intune offers a complete, enterprise-ready solution without the need for add-ons.
Simplified macOS app management and settings catalog with Intune
Managing macOS applications at scale can be complex, but Intune has introduced powerful enhancements to help IT teams deploy, secure, and update apps more efficiently.
Streamlined app deployment
- Supports multiple macOS app types, giving IT flexibility to deploy the right apps for different use cases. Learn more about understanding application types in Microsoft Intune for macOS.
- Enables trusted app installations using the Apple mobile device management (MDM) channel or the Intune agent channel.
- Simplifies app updates by allowing Microsoft first-party apps to install directly from Intune without requiring manual uploads.
Enhanced security and updates
- The Microsoft AutoUpdate tool helps ensure security patches and feature updates are applied automatically to Microsoft apps, reducing IT workload. Managed apps are also now automatically removed when the device is wiped.
- Prevent unauthorized or outdated apps from being installed on managed macOS devices.
Flexible licensing and management
- Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP) integration makes it easier for IT teams to manage app licenses.
- Users don't need to sign into the App Store, which simplifies deployment and gives IT greater control over licensing and distribution.
Pre- and post-install script support
- Power scripting functionality enables IT admins to automate app configurations and enforce security controls during installation.
- Reduces manual intervention and ensures consistent application behavior across all managed Macs.
Learn more about pre-install and post-install scripts for macOS in Microsoft Intune.
Payloadless packages for greater control
- Allows IT to execute configuration changes via package management without bundling unnecessary data.
- Provides more flexibility for how IT teams enforce security and compliance policies during app deployment.
Explore the use cases of payloadless packages in Microsoft Intune for macOS.
Declarative device management (DDM)/settings catalog
Take a deeper look at how declarative device management (DDM) is revolutionizing OS updates on Apple devices:
With these improvements, Intune significantly reduces the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on security, compliance, and user experience rather than troubleshooting app deployments.
The future of Mac management with Intune
The Intune investment in macOS management has never been stronger. Over the past few years, Microsoft has introduced significant advancements that give IT more control, enhanced security, and streamlined deployment options. If your organization has revisited its Mac management strategy, now is the time to take a fresh look at Intune. Microsoft is committed to ongoing innovation, and we're constantly working to enhance and advance the Mac management experience, but we need your feedback to shape what's next.
Let's build the future of macOS management together. Stay engaged:
- Join our IT admin communities to connect with peers and learn best practices on LinkedIn: Microsoft Mac Admins | Groups | LinkedIn or aka.ms/MacAdmins.
- Share your feedback on how we can continue improving macOS management. Start by adding your comments below.
Stay up to date! Bookmark the Microsoft Intune Blog and follow us on LinkedIn or @MSIntune on X to continue the conversation.
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