As the modern workplace becomes more agile and hybrid working becomes the norm, sticking with a traditional IT security approach is no longer adequate. In a hybrid work environment, your employees need to be able to access company data and systems from anywhere, anytime. This means that your IT team has to manage and secure a variety of devices, both on- and off-premises.
Let’s take a look at how Microsoft Intune can provide your organization with the comprehensive security it needs for hybrid work.
What is Microsoft Intune?
Intune is a cloud-based service that helps you manage and secure the desktops, mobile devices, and even apps used by your employees. It provides a centralized console where your IT team can set rules and configure settings on company-owned and personal devices used to access business data and systems. For example, you can use Intune to prevent emails from being forwarded to personal accounts, or restrict access to certain company data on unsecured devices.
This mobile device management service is part of Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite, which also includes tools for identity and access management, data protection, and information security. What’s great about Intune is that it integrates with other EMS tools and popular third-party solutions, making it a reliable yet flexible solution for securing hybrid work environments.
How does Intune secure your hybrid workplace?
Intune can provide you with comprehensive security for your hybrid workplace in several ways:
Managing access to company data and systems
Intune gives you the ability to granularly control access to business data and systems. This includes setting up conditional access policies that define what devices and apps can be used to access company resources, as well as what level of access each user has.
For instance, you can specify which devices are allowed to connect to the company network and which apps can access sensitive data. You can also set up different levels of access for different users so that some have read-only access while others have read-write access. This way, you can ensure that only authorized users have the ability to make changes to company data.
Enforcing device security policies
You can use Intune to set and enforce rules on how devices can be used to access company resources. For instance, you can require that all company laptops have a password or a PIN or that personal mobile phones must be encrypted before they can connect to the company network. You can also set restrictions on what apps can be installed and what kinds of data can be synced from company servers.
In addition, Intune enables you to restrict jailbroken or rooted phones from accessing corporate data. These devices have been modified to run unauthorized software, which can pose a security risk. By requiring that only devices with a specific security profile can access company data, you can further reduce the risk of a data breach.
Dealing with high-risk devices
With its ability to detect and flag devices that are not compliant with your security policies, Intune can help you identify which devices pose the greatest risk to your organization. Once a high-risk device is identified, you can remove the device from the network or deploy relevant security software and patches to it.
For example, if a device is running an outdated operating system, you can use Intune to update it to the latest version, which remediates any vulnerabilities that might be exploited by malware or hackers. Or, you can program Intune to send a notification to the owner and the IT team when it identifies a jailbroken or rooted device.
Decommissioning devices remotely
Intune also makes it possible to remotely decommission and wipe devices, revoke access privileges, uninstall company apps, and remove sensitive data. This feature is useful in cases where an employee leaves the company, their device gets lost or stolen, or their roles and level of access change.
Enable multifactor authentication (MFA)
MFA is an important security measure that helps protect against identity theft and data breaches. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity using two or more factors, such as a password and a one-time code generated by an app on their phone.
With Intune, you can enable MFA for accessing company resources, such as email, data storage, and business apps. This way, even if a hacker manages to steal an employee’s password, they will not be able to access company data without also having the second factor, which is much more difficult to obtain.
Intune is a powerful tool that can help you protect your employees, data, and infrastructure. By using Intune, you can set up a secure hybrid work environment that meets the needs of your organization.
To learn more about Intune and other Microsoft security products, contact our experts at outsourceIT and get started.
