Why Every London Business Should Be Managing Devices with Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Intune makes managing and securing every device in your business simple. Here's what it is, how enrolment works, and why London SMBs should be using it.

Your Staff Are Working From Everywhere. Is Every Device They Use Secure?

Your team uses laptops, phones, and tablets to access company emails, files, and systems every day. Some of those devices are in the office. Some are at home. Some are on trains, in coffee shops, and in client meeting rooms across London.

Every single one of those devices is a potential entry point for a cyberattack. If one gets lost, stolen, or compromised, your business data could go with it.

This is exactly the problem Microsoft Intune was built to solve. And if your business uses Microsoft 365, which most London SMBs do, you may already be paying for it without knowing it.

 
What Is Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based device management platform that gives your IT team, or your IT provider, complete visibility and control over every device that accesses your business systems.

With Intune, you can:

See every device connected to your business network in one place
Push security policies, software updates, and configurations to devices automatically
Remotely wipe a lost or stolen device to protect company data
Ensure every device meets your security standards before it can access company systems
Manage company-owned devices and personal devices used for work (BYOD)
It works across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, meaning it covers every device your team is likely to use regardless of whether it's a company laptop or a personal iPhone.

 
What Is Device Enrolment and Why Does It Matter?

Device enrolment is the process of registering a device with Intune so it can be managed, monitored, and secured. Think of it as checking a device in to your business, once enrolled, you have full visibility and control over it.

Until a device is enrolled, it is essentially invisible to your IT team. You have no way of knowing whether it has the latest security updates, whether it has antivirus installed, or whether it is safe to access company data.

Enrolment changes that. Once a device is enrolled in Intune, you can:

Apply security policies automatically Every enrolled device gets your security settings applied the moment it connects, password requirements, screen lock timers, encryption settings, and more. No manual configuration needed.

Control what apps are installed You decide which apps are allowed on enrolled devices. You can push approved apps automatically and block apps that pose a security risk.

Keep software up to date Outdated software is one of the most common causes of security breaches. Intune ensures every enrolled device has the latest updates installed, automatically and without relying on individual staff members to remember.

Protect company data on personal devices With Intune's Mobile Application Management (MAM), you can protect company data on personal devices without taking control of the whole phone. Company emails and files are kept separate from personal content, and can be wiped remotely without touching personal photos or apps.

Remote wipe when a device is lost or stolen If a laptop goes missing or a phone is stolen, you can remotely wipe all company data from that device within minutes. Without Intune, that data is gone with the device.

 
How Device Enrolment Works in Practice
Enrolling devices with Intune is simpler than most businesses expect. Here is how the process typically works for a London SMB:

Step 1, Set up your Intune environment Your IT provider configures Intune within your Microsoft 365 tenant, setting up the security policies, compliance rules, and app configurations that match your business needs.

Step 2, Enrol company-owned devices For company laptops and desktops, enrolment can be done automatically using Windows Autopilot. New devices can be shipped directly to staff and configured automatically when they first switch them on, without any manual IT setup.

Step 3, Enrol personal devices Staff who use personal devices for work download the Microsoft Intune Company Portal app and follow a simple guided process to enrol their device. The whole thing takes less than ten minutes and only gives your IT team visibility over work-related activity, not personal content.

Step 4, Policies apply automatically Once enrolled, your security policies apply immediately. Updates get pushed, apps get installed, and compliance checks run in the background without any action needed from your staff.

Step 5, Ongoing management From the Intune dashboard, your IT provider can see the compliance status of every device at a glance, identify any that fall out of compliance, and take action remotely when needed.

 
Who Needs Microsoft Intune?
The honest answer is any business where staff use devices to access company data. But Intune is particularly valuable for:

Businesses with remote or hybrid workers When staff work from home or on the move, you lose the natural security of an office network. Intune gives you the visibility and control you'd have in an office, regardless of where your team is working.

Businesses using personal devices for work If staff use their own phones or laptops to access company email or files, those devices are outside your control, unless you use Intune. It lets you secure company data on personal devices without invading personal privacy.

Businesses in regulated industries If you operate in finance, healthcare, or law, you have compliance obligations around how data is accessed and protected. Intune helps you meet those obligations and provides the audit trail to prove it.

Businesses that have experienced a security incident If you've ever had a device lost, stolen, or compromised, you'll know the anxiety of not knowing what data was on it. Intune eliminates that anxiety entirely.

 
Common Questions About Intune
Do we already have access to Intune? If your business uses Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you already have access to Intune as part of your subscription. Many businesses are paying for it without using it. Get in touch and we can check your current licence.

Will Intune give my employer access to my personal phone? No. When a personal device is enrolled using the Company Portal, your employer can only see and manage work-related apps and data. Personal photos, messages, and apps remain completely private.

How long does it take to enrol all our devices? For most small and medium businesses, a full device enrolment project can be completed within a few days. We handle the setup and configuration, and guide your staff through enrolling their own devices with minimal disruption.

What happens when a member of staff leaves? When someone leaves your business, we remove their device from Intune and wipe all company data from it remotely. Their access to company systems is revoked immediately, with no risk of them retaining sensitive data.

Is Intune only for Windows devices? No. Intune manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, meaning it covers every device your team is likely to use.

 
How Blackgate Tech Can Help
At Blackgate Tech, we set up and manage Microsoft Intune for small and medium businesses across London. We handle everything from initial configuration and device enrolment to ongoing management and support, all as part of your monthly IT support package.

If your business is using Microsoft 365 but hasn't yet enrolled your devices, you are leaving a significant security gap open. We can audit your current setup, check what licences you already have, and get your devices enrolled and secured quickly.

 
Don't Leave Your Devices Unmanaged
Every unmanaged device in your business is a risk. A lost laptop, a stolen phone, or a personal device with outdated security software could be all it takes for your business data to end up in the wrong hands.

Microsoft Intune closes that gap. And with Blackgate Tech managing it for you, you get complete peace of mind without any of the complexity.