Making the Move to Microsoft Intune: A Complete Guide to Modern Endpoint Management

Plan, migrate, and optimize your journey from SCCM and Group Policy to Microsoft Intune with hybrid join, Autopilot, and cloud-first management strategies.

Moving endpoint management to Microsoft Intune can feel like a major undertaking. Existing processes, entrenched tools like SCCM, and legacy Group Policy Objects (GPOs) create comfort and stability—but also inertia. Organizations face challenges like:

• Maintaining hybrid environments while adopting cloud-first approaches
• Migrating hundreds of legacy GPOs without losing functionality
• Balancing cultural resistance to new tools with operational needs
• Streamlining device deployment while minimizing helpdesk overhead

Still, the benefits of change are clear. Microsoft continues to invest in Intune as the center of its endpoint strategy, and the tools available today make the journey far more approachable than it was in years past.

Your Guide to Microsoft Intune Migration

Moving to Microsoft Intune is more than just a technical project—it’s a shift towards a modern, cloud-first model of endpoint management. While no two organizations follow the exact same path, the benefits remain consistent: simplified device management, stronger security, and reduced dependency on legacy infrastructure.

By approaching migration in stages, IT teams can balance immediate operational needs with long-term modernization goals.

Enabling Hybrid Azure AD Join

Most organizations begin Intune adoption by enabling hybrid device management. Connecting on-premises Active Directory to Azure using Entra Connect allows hybrid Azure AD join, giving devices access to both on-prem and cloud services. Alternatively, tools like Workspace ONE or HCL BigFix can extend management through an MDM agent without requiring hybrid join. Both paths provide flexibility and make cloud adoption more manageable.

Migrating Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to Intune

Modernizing legacy Group Policies is often one of the more time-consuming steps in the Intune migration process. Intune’s Group Policy Analytics helps automate the conversion of exported GPOs into Intune configuration policies. While certain policies, such as registry edits, need to be rebuilt as scripts or platform settings, most functionality can be replicated—allowing organizations to modernize without losing control.

Transitioning from SCCM to Intune with Co-Management

Many enterprises remain deeply invested in SCCM, making a full migration to Intune feel daunting. Co-management offers a practical bridge by letting IT teams move workloads gradually—for example, shifting application deployment to Intune while keeping SCCM in control of updates. This phased approach reduces risk, preserves familiar processes, and helps organizations adapt to a cloud-first endpoint management model.

Streamlining Device Provisioning with Windows Autopilot

Legacy operating system deployment (OSD) required complex, labor-intensive processes to prepare new devices. Windows Autopilot streamlines device provisioning by customizing the pre-installed Windows experience, allowing machines to be shipped directly to end users with minimal IT intervention. This reduces helpdesk workload, standardizes configurations, and speeds up endpoint readiness across the enterprise.

Building a Cloud-First Endpoint Management Strategy

There is no universal checklist for migrating to Microsoft Intune, but a measured approach works best. Organizations can start with quick wins such as mobile device management, then expand to more advanced workloads. Leveraging hybrid join, Windows Autopilot, and enhanced capabilities in the Intune Suite, IT teams can chart a flexible roadmap toward modern device management in the cloud.

The Impact of Migrating to Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Intune is one of the best unified endpoint management solutions and one of Gartner’s magic quadrant leaders in endpoint security. By making the move, organizations:

• Reduce dependency on legacy infrastructure, simplifying device management and strengthening security.
• Align with Microsoft’s investment strategy, ensuring access to the latest features and updates.
• Embrace the Modern Work model, enabling improved productivity from a remote or hybrid workforce while maintaining necessary security. In addition, companies with flexible work arrangements can attract top talent from a larger recruitment pool.

By taking advantage of the features already included in many Microsoft 365 licenses and exploring enhanced options through the Intune Suite, organizations can take a step toward a cloud-first, modern work approach. Organizations that embrace this path gain flexibility, enhanced security, and the ability to support a workforce ready for the future.