How to enable HTTPS support for Microsoft Connected Cache for Enterprise and Education
By: Aditya Middha | Product Manager 2 - Microsoft Connected Cache Starting on June 16 th , 2026, or soon after, Intune will enforce HTTPS content delivery for customers using Microsoft Connected Cache for Enterprise and Education. To continue using Microsoft Connected Cache to localize Intune Win32 app downloads and reduce the bandwidth impact on your network, you’ll need to configure HTTPS on Connected Cache nodes. Without this configuration, devices will still fetch the requested content, but they’ll fall back to the Content Delivery Network (CDN) and lose the performance and bandwidth savings that Microsoft Connected Cache provides. This guide assumes you have already deployed a standalone Microsoft Connected Cache node in your environment. If not, please see the Create and configure Microsoft Connected Cache nodes page. By the end of this walkthrough, you’ll be able to: Prepare the TLS certificate that your Connected Cache needs Enable HTTPS support on both Windows and Linux‑based Microsoft Connected Cache servers Validate that HTTPS is working end‑to‑end Diagnose the most common setup issues This guide mirrors the workflow described in Microsoft Connected Cache’s public documentation. For further explanation of what HTTPS support changes for Microsoft Connected Cache review HTTPS Support for Microsoft Connected Cache Overview, then proceed to Configure HTTPS on Windows or Configure HTTPS on Linux. Step-by-step: Enabling HTTPS support To keep this walkthrough easy to follow, the screenshots and command examples use a simple, reproducible environment that matches what most admins will see during their first HTTPS configuration. In this guide, the examples are based on: A single Connected Cache node deployment Windows 11, using a local user runtime account Public certificate authority (CA)-signed TLS certificate This baseline environment is only meant to make the screenshots and file paths predictable. Your own environment may look different, and that’s completely fine. Many customers run Microsoft Connected Cache on: Linux (Ubuntu or RHEL) Windows Server 2022 or Windows Server 2025 Networks with outbound restrictions Most of the workflow is identical across these variations. The folder structure, log locations, and command flow will look nearly the same on any Windows host. If you’re running Microsoft Connected Cache on Linux, the workflow is the same, but simpler—bash scripts are ran directly instead of being invoked through PowerShell. If your environment includes proxies, make sure all required endpoints are allowed. Before you start Before generating a certificate signing request (CSR) or importing a certificate, there are a few quick checks to make sure your Connected Cache server can enable HTTPS successfully. First, visit the “Cache Node Management” tab on Azure portal. Under the “Software Version” column, verify that your cache node is running on software version 2.0.0.2112 or higher. If not, you will need to reinstall Connected Cache. Next, confirm the hostname or IP address your client devices use to reach your Connected Cache node—this value will be configured when you generate the CSR. Also, ake sure port 443 is free on the host; Microsoft Connected Cache needs to bind to it. Finally, if your network performs TLS-inspection, ensure the required endpoints are allowed. Intercepted HTTPS traffic will cause devices to reject Microsoft Connected Cache’s TLS certificate, even if everything else is configured correctly. Once these checks are done, your node is ready for the HTTPS workflow: generate the CSR on your Connected Cache host machine, sign it with your CA, and import the resulting certificate. For more details, refer to the documentation: HTTPS on Windows Prerequisites. 1. Generate a CSR The first step in enabling HTTPS support is generating a CSR directly on your Microsoft Connected Cache node. This step cannot be skipped. Microsoft Connected Cache must create the CSR itself so it can generate and retain the private key that will later be paired with your signed certificate during TLS negotiation. When configuring the parameters for the generateCsr script, the most important values to get right are the Subject and SAN. These must match exactly how your managed client devices connect to your Connected Cache node. If the client devices use FQDN, include that FQDN; if they connect via IP, include that IP. A mismatch here won’t break CSR generation, but it’ll cause clients to bypass Microsoft Connected Cache later since they won’t trust the certificate during the TLS negotiation. For parameter configuration guidance on your specific environment, review these documented scenario-based parameter examples. After parameter configuration, you will need to locate the Installer scripts directory, the same as when you installed Microsoft Connected Cache originally. You can move directly to this path by running the following command in your terminal: Push-Location (deliveryoptimization-cli Microsoft Connected Cache-get-scripts-path) Once in the correct folder path, run the generateCsr command with your configured parameters. Running the command launches the CSR generation workflow inside the Microsoft Connected Cache-managed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution. The terminal output shows exactly what Connected Cache is doing: where it stores certificate files, where logs are written, which WSL distribution is being used, and the final location of the generated CSR. You’ll also see that Microsoft Connected Cache runs the CSR generation as a scheduled task inside WSL—this is expected and part of the normal flow. For example: This output confirms that Microsoft Connected Cache: Validated the CSR request Passed the Subject (Common Name) and SAN values to the internal script Generated the private key and CSR, stored both inside the container Wrote logs to the \Certificates\logs folder Created the CSR file in the Certificates folder When the process completes, you’ll see the timestamped CSR written to the Windows-side certificates folder (…\Certificates\certs). This is the file you’ll submit to your signing CA: Troubleshooting: Every time you run generateCsr, Microsoft Connected Cache writes a full log to a directory that ends with …\Certificates\logs. The terminal output shows you the exact path, and you can always return to this folder if you need to understand what happened during CSR generation. If you do need to troubleshoot, start by opening the most recent log file. The generateCsr log provides a detailed trace of each step. The following lines are checkpoints (in order) that you can look for in the more extensive log output: “Algorithm validation passed / CSR name validation passed” - Microsoft Connected Cache accepted your inputs and is ready to generate the CSR. “Subject Components: … / SAN Components: …” - Microsoft Connected Cache will embed these values into the CSR. If these don’t match your Connected Cache server hostname or IP address, regenerate the CSR. “Attempting to call http://localhost:5000/csr” - Microsoft Connected Cache internal controller is generating the keypair and CSR inside the WSL container. “Key verification succeeded” - Microsoft Connected Cache successfully generated and validated the private key. “CSR verification successful” - OpenSSL has validated the CSR structure. “Successfully copied logs to windowsCerts location” - The logs were written to the host machine directory. “CSR generation completed successfully” - Completed end-to-end successfully. One thing to be aware of: during a successful run, you may still see messages like: mkdir: cannot create directory '/keys': Permission denied chmod: cannot access '/keys': No such file or directory These are not errors. The script checks for required folders before creating them, and if they already exist, those checks generate harmless warnings. As long as the script finishes with a success message and you see a .csr file in the certs folder, the run is successful. 2. Sign the CSR This step occurs outside of the scope of Microsoft Connected Cache. Signing your CSR will rely on the PKI that your organization has chosen to use. This may include an internal ADCS, other enterprise internal PKI, or an externally hosted PKI (DigiCert, Let’s Encrypt, etc.). Of note, Cloud PKI will not work with Connected Cache because it requires the CSR be generated via SCEP before signing. Ensure that your client devices will be able to trust the CA signature. For many customers, we recommend signing using a public CA that Windows client devices automatically trust. Please reference documentation on signing the CSR for more details. The only requirement on the Connected Cache side is that the certificate is in unencrypted .crt format. Microsoft Connected Cache cannot import password-protected certificate formats yet - including .pfx bundles - even if they contain the correct certificate. For now, make sure your signing CA gives you, or allows you to export, a plain X.509 .crt file. After your CA signs the CSR, you’ll import the resulting certificate back to Microsoft Connected Cache. With the signed certificate in hand, place it in the same certs folder where your CSR was generated. Microsoft Connected Cache expects both files to live together so it can pair the returned certificate with the private key created earlier. A successful setup in the folder directory looks like this: If the certificate exists in the Certificates folder in .crt format, you’re ready to continue. Note: The CSR and .crt certificate do not have to have the same name. 3. Import the certificate back to Microsoft Connected Cache Before importing your certificate, remember that the CSR must have been generated on the same Microsoft Connected Cache node. You cannot skip directly to importing a certificate - Microsoft Connected Cache must have created the private key during CSR generation so it can pair the signed certificate with that key. After configuring the parameters referenced in the documentation to import the signed TLS certificate, run the importCert command from the same scripts directory used during CSR generation. When you start the import, Microsoft Connected Cache runs a full verification workflow inside its managed WSL distribution. The terminal output for this step is intentionally simple—it shows only that the certificate file passed basic validation, that the internal import script was invoked, and that the import is running as a scheduled task within the WSL distribution. You’ll also see that logging is active and that Microsoft Connected Cache has begun monitoring the process: Although the terminal output is brief, the full workflow is visible in the import logs. A successful import means Microsoft Connected Cache: Found your .crt file in the expected folder Ran cryptographic verification confirming the certificate, CSR, and private key all match Copied the certificate into the container and updated Microsoft Connected Cache internal configuration Restarted the container with the new certificate Enabled HTTPS for Microsoft Connected Cache’s Intune content endpoints Once these steps are complete, Microsoft Connected Cache is fully configured to serve HTTPS content. You usually won’t see new files added to the Windows certs folder after import as the changes occur inside the Connected Cache container. The final validation that import is successful is if the script exits successfully and the logs show that Microsoft Connected Cache restarted with the new certificate in place. Troubleshooting Troubleshooting certificate import is similar to troubleshooting CSR generation: every run produces a detailed log in the ...\Certificates\logs folder. If import fails, these logs will show exactly which step did not complete. At this stage, SAN or hostname mismatches do not show up; those only appear later during client-side validation. The importCert script only ensures that your certificate, CSR, and private key match (stored inside container, not visible from Certificates folder) and that Microsoft Connected Cache can load them. To help interpret the log, below are the checkpoints you can reference (in order): “Certificate file validation passed” - Microsoft Connected Cache found the .crt file in the certs folder and its .crt format is valid. “Using CertName: … / CSR being used: …” - Microsoft Connected Cache matched the certificate to the CSR that generated the private key. “SUCCESS: The CSR, certificate and private key cryptographic materials all match” - Microsoft Connected Cache verified the keypair, CSR, and certificate are a correct trio. “Nginx restarted successfully with new certificates” - Microsoft Connected Cache is now configured to serve HTTPS on port 443 inside the container. “Certificate import completed successfully” - The end-to-end import succeeded with no errors. Once the importCert script succeeds, your node is ready for validation. Validating HTTPS support end-to-end Once your certificate is imported, the final step is validating that Microsoft Connected Cache is now serving content over HTTPS. Detailed test commands are all documented in the Validate HTTPS on Windows guide. Complete the tests first on the Microsoft Connected Cache server, then on a client device. This order matters - server-side validation confirms Microsoft Connected Cache is listening on port 443 with its new TLS certificate; client-side validation confirms that client devices can trust and use that certificate. On your Microsoft Connected Cache server Start validation on the Microsoft Connected Cache host server. The server side tests include HTTPS and HTTP health endpoint checks that confirm: Microsoft Connected Cache is successfully bound to port 443 The TLS certificate loaded correctly The TLS certificate, private key, and CSR all correspond Microsoft Connected Cache can return its health endpoint over HTTPS If any of the server-side validation steps fail, check the generateCsr and importCert logs in the …\Certificates\logs folder. The validation guide includes troubleshooting tests that help distinguish whether the issue is certificate-related, connectivity-related, or due to another process on the host. Only move on to client-side validation once the Microsoft Connected Cache server passes its own tests. On your client device After confirming the server is configured correctly, the next stage is validating HTTPS content delivery from a client device that is pointed to use Microsoft Connected Cache. The client-side tests contain both browser-based and command line tests that help verify: The client trusts the issuing CA DNS resolves the Microsoft Connected Cache hostname correctly The device can complete a full TLS handshake with Microsoft Connected Cache The device is retrieving HTTPS content from Microsoft Connected Cache rather than falling back to CDN Once both server-side and client side-validation steps succeed, you can be confident that your Microsoft Connected Cache node is fully configured and ready to serve Intune content securely over HTTPS. Known issues with HTTPS Support Configuration Most customers will complete the HTTPS workflow without any problems, but there are a few known issues we want to call out proactively. These issues have been fully addressed with the release of the new Windows-hosted deployment application (v1.0.26.0) for Windows host machines, the new Linux-hosted deployment package (v1.10) for Linux host machines, and the latest GA container release (v2.0.0.2124_e) for all cache nodes. ImportCert issues on Windows Server 2022/2025 using a gMSA account, and on Windows 11 using a local user runtime account If your Microsoft Connected Cache runtime account is a Group Managed Service Account (gMSA) on a Windows Server 2022 or Windows Server 2025 host machine, you may see failures when running importCert. In the importCert logs, this can show up as unsuccessful permissions access or indefinite logging. The same importCert issues can also appear on Windows 11 if you are using a local user as the runtime account. Status: RESOLVED Please download Windows-hosted deployment application v1.0.26.0 by running the following command in an elevated PowerShell window: Add-AppxPackage https://aka.ms/do-mcc-ent-windows-x64 Then you may proceed to re-deploy your Connected Cache node, which will implement the necessary changes. You can further verify that you are deploying with the correct application version. When run in the terminal, the copied “Cache Node deployment command” given in the Azure portal will run deploymcconwsl.ps1 out of the folder path that looks like: C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DeliveryOptimization_1.0.26.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe\deliveryoptimization-cli ImportCert hangs on software version 2119_e (buffer bug) During the week of January 19 th , 2026, we deployed container version 2119_e to all customer cache nodes. We discovered a bug where the container’s internal buffer is not cleared during importCert, causing the import to run indefinitely. If you see this behavior and your Azure portal shows that your cache node is on version 2119_e, this is likely the cause. Status: RESOLVED: On March 3 rd , 2026, we pushed container version 2124_e to all cache nodes on the “Fast Ring” update schedule. If your cache node is on software version 2119_e today, you can change the update schedule configuration to the “Fast Ring”. Head to the 3 rd tab (“Updates”) of the Cache Node Configuration on the Azure portal and configure the update ring. Container version 2124_e will be pushed to all “Slow Ring” nodes in early April 2026. If your cache node is still not pulling down container version 2124_e after being configured on the Fast Ring, please reach out to us. The fixes for these issues have all been validated. Once ready for public release, the latest software version will be pushed to all cache nodes and the updated Windows installer will be available to download in Azure portal. Stay tuned to the Microsoft Connected Cache Release Notes for up-to-date information. Enabling HTTPS support on Linux hosts This guide walked through the setup of HTTPS using a Windows-based Microsoft Connected Cache host, since that’s what most customers deploy today. If you're running Microsoft Connected Cache on Linux, the overall steps are the same - generate a CSR on the node, sign it with your CA, and import the resulting .crt file - but a few details differ. For a Linux-hosted Microsoft Connected Cache nodes, shell scripts handle the entire process, specifically generateCsr.sh and importCert.sh. The Enable HTTPS Support on Linux guide documents these steps in detail, including the exact script parameters, file locations, and how to interpret the Linux-specific logs. The biggest differences on Linux are: You run the CSR and import scripts directly in bash (no WSL component). File paths and log locations follow the Linux directory structure (/var/mcc/...). Check port conflicts, firewall configuration, and TLS inspection using Linux tools (ss, iptables, proxy settings). Validation steps use Linux equivalents of the server side tests documented in the Windows validation guide. Maintaining your HTTPS configuration Once your Microsoft Connected Cache node is serving content over HTTPS, the next thing to plan for is ongoing certificate maintenance. TLS certificates aren’t a onetime import - certificates expire, CA chains change, and your operational process needs to keep up. Microsoft Connected Cache will soon surface certificate details both through a command line script and directly in the Azure portal, but those capabilities are not available yet. Until then, verification and rotation rely on simple checks you perform on the Microsoft Connected Cache host. Monitoring The easiest way to monitor your deployment today is to periodically check the Key Metrics chart in the Overview blade of your Microsoft Connected Cache resource in Azure. If Intune content is flowing through Microsoft Connected Cache, that’s a strong proxy signal that HTTPS is healthy. For the certificate itself, many admins perform a lightweight weekly or monthly review: ensuring the TLS certificate is still valid, not approaching expiration, and still matches the configuration you imported. Re-running the validation tests from our public documentation every so often is also a good way to catch any issues early. The updated Windows installer, as mentioned in Known Issues, will also have a PowerShell script that displays the status and expiration date of existing TLS certificates. Renewal When planning for renewal, we recommend starting at least 60 days before the certificate expires. Renewal is typically straightforward: either reuse the existing CSR (most common) or generate a new one, then have your CA resign it, convert it into .crt format, and test the renewed certificate on a test node if you have one. If your workflow doesn’t include a test Connected Cache node, you can still safely import the renewed certificate on your production node - if import fails, Microsoft Connected Cache simply keeps using the existing certificate until a valid one is applied, so you won’t break your environment. If your certificate management system has automation capabilities, you can script Microsoft Connected Cache’s certificate renewal workflow as well - for example, by using Secure Shell (SSH) to remotely to run the generateCSR or importCert scripts on the host machine. For larger or distributed environments, testing the signing and import processes on a non-production node first can help confirm SAN correctness, trust behavior, and chain completeness before touching production. We are actively working to streamline certificate monitoring and renewal inside Microsoft Connected Cache. Summary HTTPS support for Microsoft Connected Cache will soon become a requirement for delivering Intune Win32 apps, and every Microsoft Connected Cache node must be configured for HTTPS by June 16, 2026. After the deadline, Intune Win32 apps will only be delivered via HTTPS. However, all other content – Windows updates, Office apps, etc – will continue to be served via HTTP after the June 16 th enforcement date. This guide walked through the essentials: generating a CSR on your Microsoft Connected Cache node, submitting it to your CA, importing the signed certificate, and validating HTTPS from both the server and client devices. Along the way, you saw how to interpret the logs, verify Connected Cache is using your certificate correctly, and ensure that Teams and/or Intune content is flowing over HTTPS instead of falling back to CDN. As you move forward, keep your workflow consistent - regenerate or reuse CSRs the same way each cycle, validate regularly, and renew certificates well before expiration. Even though improvements are coming soon, completing this setup now ensures your environment is ready long before Intune HTTPS enforcement begins. With your certificate in place, HTTPS validated, and a simple renewal process in hand, your Microsoft Connected Cache deployment is prepared for the June 16 th , 2026 deadline and ready to deliver Intune content securely. FAQs Do I really need HTTPS Support, and by when? Yes. All Microsoft Connected Cache nodes serving Intune Win32 apps must deliver over HTTPS by June 16, 2026. If HTTPS isn’t configured, devices will fall back to CDN when requesting Intune win32 apps —content delivery still works, but you’ll lose caching benefits. Why do I have to generate the CSR on the Connected Cache node? Since Microsoft Connected Cache must generate and retain the private key itself. Certificates signed from any other machine, keypair, or CSR cannot be imported. The CSR you generate on the node produces the only key that Microsoft Connected Cache will accept. Can I reuse an existing certificate? Only if it was originally issued from the CSR generated on the same Microsoft Connected Cache node. If the certificate was created elsewhere (different machine, tooling, or CSR), Microsoft Connected Cache won’t accept it. Can I reuse my CSR when renewing the certificate? Yes. Many customers reuse the same CSR each cycle as long as the CA resigns it. Reusing the old certificate output is not supported. Can I “bring my own certificate”? Not yet. Microsoft Connected Cache only supports certificates created from its own CSR. Support for bringing an external certificate is coming soon; stay up to date by viewing the latest Microsoft Connected Cache Release Notes Can I use a wildcard certificate? Microsoft Connected Cache does not officially support them and they’re not recommended. Wildcards often involve shared private keys across systems, which creates operational and security risks. What certificate formats does Microsoft Connected Cache support? Microsoft Connected Cache only supports unencrypted .crt files today. Password protected .pfx or .p12 formats cannot be imported. What happens if I redeploy Microsoft Connected Cache or the hostname changes? If the hostname or connection path changes, you must request a new certificate that matches the new SAN parameters. If the hostname stays the same and the certificate came from the Connected Cache-generated CSR, you can continue using it. If you have any questions, leave a comment below or reach out to us on X @IntuneSuppTeam! Post Updates: 04/08/26: Updated the “Known issues with HTTPS Support Configuration” section to reflect that previously identified issues have been fully resolved in the latest deployment application and container releases, along with updated guidance for affected cache nodes.Migrating frontline mobile devices: A frontline-first approach to moving to Microsoft Intune
Frontline organizations consistently tell us that unified management is the goal but the challenge is getting there without disrupting day-to-day operations. Smartphones, Android handhelds, rugged scanners, and shared tablets now sit at the center of how retail stores run, how clinicians deliver care, how supply chains move, and how field workers’ complete work. These devices are mission critical, and any disruption is immediately felt on the ground. To strengthen security, reduce costs, and simplify operations, many IT architects and administrators are now evaluating or planning to move to Intune. This new series, “Migrating Frontline Mobile Devices - is designed to help. We’ve worked side by side with frontline customers, observing what works, where projects stall, and how small decisions early on can dramatically improve outcomes later. The articles in this series distil those lessons into practical guidance for teams who are considering, planning, or actively migrating devices. Frontline devices serve different needs and follow different operational rhythms than knowledge worker devices. Frontline migrations aren’t the same as standard knowledge-worker migrations and treating them as such often leads to operational problems or rollout delays. This article explains what the difference means in practice and how it shapes planning for successful frontline migrations. Why failures hurt more on the frontline A failed knowledge worker enrollment is an inconvenience. A failed frontline device enrollment or non-functioning device can affect revenue, disrupt essential services, and in some industries compromise safety. When a device is unavailable, critical work halts immediately: Pickers can’t complete scanning tasks Cashiers can’t take payments Health practitioners can’t document or prescribe care Drivers can’t dispatch Production lines stop Workers can’t perform required safety or compliance actions What we’ve learned: Frontline migrations must be coordinated with business and operational leaders; store managers, shift supervisors, clinical leads, and supply chain teams because they decide what is required and when devices can be taken offline. Why mobile frontline device migrations are different The operational impact of failure is higher on the frontline because frontline devices operate in very different environments to knowledge worker devices. Knowledge worker devices usually run in stable, well understood environments with known device catalogues, predictable lifecycles, assigned users, and steady connectivity. Frontline devices operate in conditions that introduce unique design and migration challenges. The environments they run in directly affect how and when a device can be enrolled or updated. Devices may run in low bandwidth or intermittent connectivity environments, making enrollment flows and policy delivery harder to complete reliably. Some operate in high-risk industrial or clinical settings where devices can only be taken offline during narrow operational windows. Others return to charging racks between shifts, meaning migrations must align with shift changes rather than user availability. Many run in kiosk or locked task modes tied to a single workflow, so even small configuration changes can disrupt critical tasks if not planned carefully. These environmental and operational realities show up across the entire device lifecycle from provisioning to updates to support. To make the differences clearer, here’s a concise comparison of frontline and knowledge worker devices: Category Frontline devices Knowledge worker devices Devices Smartphones, handhelds, rugged devices, scanners, wearables, tablets Laptops, desktops, smartphones OS and patch posture Often older versions; inconsistent patch levels due to operational constraints Typically, current OS or N-1; regular security patching cycles Ownership Shared, shift-based or individually assigned depending on role Individually assigned Network conditions Variable, often constrained Generally stable Provisioning Zero-touch essential User-led viable Updates Highly controlled Standard update cycles Apps Task-specific, time-sensitive updates Broad, less time critical updates Workflow impact Operationally critical Productivity-focused Typical usage scenarios Point-of-sale, healthcare, barcode scanning, delivery routing, inventory checks Email, productivity tools, collaboration, creative workflows Failure impact Immediate operational issues Localized user disruption Standard knowledge worker migrations are designed for predictable conditions such as consistent users, steady connectivity, current OS levels, and a governed device lifecycle. Frontline fleets rarely match this baseline, so their migrations require planning and design that reflects actual device state and use. A migration is a design moment, not just a technical step A migration offers an opportunity to reassess business needs, tighten governance, simplify and modernize app delivery, and confirm assumptions about how devices are used. It’s also a chance to raise your frontline security, aligning devices with Zero Trust principles. In successful frontline migrations: Teams build in time for design, evaluation, and piloting. Early alignment across stakeholders supports smoother execution and reduces the risk of disruptive rework later. Understand your estate before designing the migration Frontline migration projects always reveal something unexpected. Common patterns include: Mixed iOS/Android versions and multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEM) such as Samsung, Zebra, Honeywell, Apple and more. Devices running outdated OS versions or custom OEM images. Devices that haven’t checked in for months, often sitting unused in cabinets. App delivery paths reliant on sideloading or site specific packages with no update mechanism. Multiple active mobile device management (MDM) systems inherited through acquisitions or decentralized teams. Most migration issues that appear later in the project can be traced back to decisions made before anyone understood what existed in the field, how devices were being used, or what the business needed them to do in the future. What we’ve learned: Migration success improves dramatically when teams validate device inventory, usage patterns, and business requirements before choosing an enrollment method and designing configuration profiles. Real-world data turns assumptions into facts and avoids costly rework. Plan for identity – even if devices don’t use it today Many frontline devices run with shared logins or no user at all. Intune fully supports these scenarios, but identity gaps - shared credentials, app only authentication, and managed access patterns - often emerge over years of organic growth. These gaps can show up during migrations as both user experience issues and security risks. What we’ve learned: Even if you’re not ready to modernize frontline identity or introduce Microsoft 365 tools for workers, consider laying out the foundation. Mapping which users or roles should have identities, simplifying and securing access, and aligning devices to Microsoft Entra foundations will future proof your estate. What’s coming next in the series This series will explore the areas that consistently shape successful frontline mobile migrations the steps, patterns, and design decisions that matter most in real frontline environments. Over the coming weeks we’ll cover themes such as: Understanding your frontline estate - what exists today, how devices are used, and the realities that shape migration decisions Designing for frontline conditions - identity foundations, shared device patterns, kiosk considerations, and reliable enrolment flows Designing for frontline device scenarios - single user, shared, rugged, kiosk, and high-risk operational models Consolidating to a single Intune tenant - simplifying governance, policies, and operating models Getting the ecosystem right - apps, connectivity, certificates, and the infrastructure dependencies that influence reliability Executing the migration safely - pilots, phasing, cutover windows, and planning for 24/7 operations Life after migration - monitoring, support readiness, and ongoing operational ownership We’ll share practical guidance, common friction points, and patterns we’ve seen work across industries. Future articles will include perspectives from Microsoft Product Managers and community experts with hands-on experience managing large scale frontline device estates. Look out for the next article in the series - Understanding the reality of your estate. We’d love to include your perspective. If you have questions, scenarios, or experiences you want this series to address, share them in the comments below to help shape the upcoming articles, or reach out to us on X @IntuneSuppTeam. Our goal is simple: To help you migrate frontline mobile fleets to Intune without disrupting the business.Support tip: Upcoming Microsoft Intune network changes
3/18/2026 Update: The rollout of the Intune network changes described in this blog are in progress across each workload. Additionally, we are beginning to slowly rollout to each scale unit starting with North America 0702. You can find your scale unit location under Tenant administration > Tenant status > Tenant details. To avoid issues or failures with your device management, ensure your network infrastructure allows traffic for Azure Front Door IP addresses. See the details below to verify if your configuration requires an update and use the Azure Front Door Connectivity Diagnostics Tool to validate or troubleshoot. We know many customers don’t always check their service change messages in the Microsoft 365 admin center or the corresponding Message Center content in the Microsoft Intune admin center, so in this blog post we’re highlighting an important upcoming change to Intune network service endpoints. Starting on or shortly after December 2, 2025, Intune will also use Azure Front Door IP addresses to improve security and simplify firewall management. If your organization uses outbound traffic policies based on IP addresses or service tags, you’ll want to review and update your firewall rules to avoid service disruptions. We’ll keep you updated if the timeline shifts. In the meantime, here’s the service change communication that posted to all Intune customers: MC1147982 - Action Required: Update firewall configurations to include new Intune network endpoints As part of Microsoft’s ongoing Secure Future Initiative (SFI), starting on or shortly after December 2, 2025, the network service endpoints for Microsoft Intune will also use Azure Front Door IP addresses. This improvement supports better alignment with modern security practices and over time will make it easier for organizations using multiple Microsoft products to manage and maintain their firewall configurations. As a result, customers may be required to add these network (firewall) configurations in third-party applications to enable proper function of Intune device and app management. This change will affect customers using a firewall allowlist that allows outbound traffic based on IP addresses or Azure service tags. Do not remove any existing network endpoints required for Microsoft Intune. Additional network endpoints are documented as part of the Azure Front Door and service tags information referenced in the files linked below: Public clouds: Download Azure IP Ranges and Service Tags – Public Cloud from Official Microsoft Download Center Government clouds: Download Azure IP Ranges and Service Tags – US Government Cloud from Official Microsoft Download Center The additional ranges are those listed in the JSON files linked above and can be found by searching for “AzureFrontDoor.MicrosoftSecurity”. How this will affect your organization If you have configured an outbound traffic policy for Intune IP address ranges or Azure service tags for your firewalls, routers, proxy servers, client-based firewalls, VPN or network security groups, you will need to update them to include the new Azure Front Door ranges with the “AzureFrontDoor.MicrosoftSecurity” tag. Intune requires internet access for devices under Intune management, whether for mobile device management or mobile application management. If your outbound traffic policy doesn’t include the new Azure Front Door IP address ranges, users may face login issues, devices might lose connectivity with Intune, and access to apps like the Intune Company Portal or those protected by app protection policies could be disrupted. What you need to do to prepare Ensure that your firewall rules are updated and added to your firewall’s allowlist with the additional IP addresses documented under Azure Front Door by December 2, 2025. Alternatively, you may add the service tag “AzureFrontDoor.MicrosoftSecurity” to your firewall rules to allow outbound traffic on port 443 for the addresses in the tag. If you are not the IT admin who can make this change, notify your networking team. If you are responsible for configuring internet traffic, refer to the following documentation for more details: Azure Front Door Azure service tags Intune network endpoints US government network endpoints for Intune If you have a helpdesk, inform them about this upcoming change. If you need additional assistance, contact Microsoft Intune Support and refer to this Message Center post. Note: The above post went to all customers in our public cloud. Customers in Microsoft Intune for US Government GCC High and DoD received the following post (the only difference is the focus on US government network endpoints): MC1147978 - Action Required: Update firewall configurations to include additional Intune network endpoints Note: The previously available PowerShell scripts for retrieving Microsoft Intune endpoint IP addresses and FQDNs no longer returns accurate data from the Office 365 Endpoint service. Instead, use the consolidated list provided in the Intune endpoints documentation. Using the original scripts or endpoint lists from the Office 365 Endpoint service is insufficient and may lead to incorrect configurations. For network best practices, make sure to check out the blog: Support tip: Aligning network policy with Intune and Zero Trust. New: Azure Front Door Connectivity Diagnostics Tool for Intune To help you validate or troubleshoot the recent Intune network changes, we’ve published a lightweight Azure Front Door (AFD) Connectivity Diagnostics Tool. The script tests DNS resolution, outbound TCP connectivity on ports 80 and 443, and HTTPS reachability to the AFD IP ranges used by Intune, directly from an Intune-managed device. This is useful for environments that rely on IP-based firewall, proxy, or VPN rules. Important: This script only tests Azure Front Door endpoints. It does not validate connectivity to non-AFD Intune endpoints, including existing Intune IPs, service FQDNs, or related services such as Windows Notification Service (WNS) or Windows Autopilot. If you have any questions, leave a comment below or reach out to us on X @IntuneSuppTeam or @MSIntune. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn. Post updates: 11/13/25: Added a note to use the consolidated list of Intune endpoints. 12/18/25: We’ve published a new Azure Front Door (AFD) Connectivity Diagnostics Tool to help validate and troubleshoot Intune connectivity after updating firewall rules.Support tip: Resolve device noncompliance with Mobile Threat Defense partner apps
Using a Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solution, such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, with Microsoft Intune helps keep your organization’s resources protected and allows you to block devices that aren’t compliant with your organization’s policies. When an MTD detects a threat or determines that a device is noncompliant the device user will see one of two types of messages indicating: Install and activate partner app: The device needs the [MTD app] installed and activated to restore access to work or school resources. This message indicates that Intune hasn't received a signal from the [MTD app] the device, or the connection was lost. Resolve detected threats: The [MTD app] app identified one or more threats on the device. Open the [MTD app] and follow the guidance to resolve the threats before accessing work or school resources. In this blog, we’ll focus on troubleshooting and resolving the first scenario, where users will need to install and activate the MTD app. Note: For help resolving threats detected by the MTD app, open the partner app directly on the device for remediation guidance. Prerequisites Before you begin troubleshooting, confirm that: The user device is enrolled in Intune through the Company Portal app. The user has access to their work or school account credentials. The device has an active internet connection. Restore device compliance Have the user follow these steps to resolve the noncompliance issue and restore access to work or school resources. Step 1: Install and activate the partner app If the [MTD app] isn’t installed on the device: Open the Intune Company Portal app on the device. Go to Devices and select the device. Install the required [MTD app] shown in the noncompliance message. Open the [MTD app] and sign in with your work or school account. Complete any required setup or activation steps in the app. Wait up to 30 minutes for the device compliance status to update. If your device remains noncompliant after 30 minutes, continue to the next step. Step 2: Refresh the connection If the [MTD app] is already installed and the user is signed in, the connection between the app and Intune services may need to be refreshed: Open the [MTD app] on the device. Sign out of the work or school account. Sign back in with the same work or school account. Wait up to 30 minutes for the device compliance status to update. If the device remains noncompliant after 30 minutes, continue to the next step. Step 3: Reinstall the MTD app If refreshing the connection doesn't resolve the issue, reinstalling the app can restore the signal between services: Uninstall the [MTD app] from the device. Restart the device. Open the Company Portal app on the device. Reinstall the [MTD app]. Open the app and sign in with the work or school account. Complete any required setup or activation steps. Wait up to 30 minutes for the device compliance status to update. Check device compliance status Users can verify their device's compliance status at any time: Open the Company Portal app. Go to Devices. Select the device to view its current status. If the device shows as compliant, they can access work or school resources. If it shows as noncompliant and they’ve taken steps to resolve, wait a few more minutes and check again, as compliance status updates can take up to 30 minutes to appear in the Company Portal app. iOS/iPadOS: Enable simplified remediation for users Admins can configure a simplified remediation experience on iOS and iPadOS to help end‑users return to a compliant state more easily. This experience streamlines how users address Mobile Threat Defense (MTD)–related noncompliance and reduces the number of steps required to restore access. To enable this experience: Follow the guidance in Simplifying compliance remediation with Microsoft Intune and Defender on iOS/iPadOS to configure the updated remediation workflow for your organization. Once enabled, end‑users will see clearer guidance within the Microsoft Defender app when their device is marked noncompliant. The Defender app will direct users through the necessary remediation steps automatically - such as re‑authentication, resolving threat signals, or re‑establishing the MTD connection. After the guided process is complete, Defender will send updated device status to Intune so the device can return to a compliant state. This simplified flow reduces support overhead and increases user success resolving MTD‑related compliance issues on iOS/iPadOS. Android: Refresh the MTD connection when sign‑out is blocked If the user is on an Android device, first have them try signing out of the Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) app and signing back in. This often re‑establishes the connection and allows Intune to receive updated device status. If the option to sign out of the MTD app is blocked by IT policy, follow these steps to reset the app’s data instead: Long‑press the Defender app in the work profile. Tap ⓘ App info. Go to Storage & cache → Clear data (do not select Clear cache). Relaunch the Defender app - it will open to the welcome screen. Sign back in with the work or school account. Once signed back in, Defender will update Intune with the latest device data, and the device should return to a compliant state after Intune receives the refreshed signals. Related articles Mobile Threat Defense integration with Intune Using the Intune Company Portal website If you have any questions, leave a comment below or reach out to us on X @IntuneSuppTeam! Post updates: 02/05/26: Added two new sections covering simplified user remediation on iOS/iPadOS and refreshing the MTD connection on Android when sign-out is blocked.Upcoming changes to iOS/iPadOS Company Portal app deployment for Setup Assistant with modern auth
Learn more about plans to remove automatic deployment of the iOS/iPadOS Company Portal app as a required app for Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) Setup Assistant with modern authentication enrollment profiles.Resolved - Support Tip: Occasionally occurring with iOS MAM and Office apps
We had a few cases on this recently and after investigation, decided to share this known issue that affects sign in on iOS Mobile Application Management (MAM, also known as APP). It does not impact the majority of users, but for the one that it does impact, it prompts for sign in when an Office app is opened. Office has a fix in their backlog; in the interim, read this post for a way to clear it up if you have a user running into this scenario.Support Tip: Known Issues with Intune policy reports
The Intune team is aware of several policy reporting scenarios that require additional consideration in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center. In this post, we will address some of these issues and highlight some upcoming improvements to Intune policy reports.
