Take Control of Your Devices
Unmanaged devices are accessing your company data right now. Intune and Autopilot change that -giving you visibility, security, and control without the complexity.
Essential Guide
Does This Sound Familiar?
"We've got a mix of everything -some stuff in SharePoint, some in Dropbox, a few people still use personal Gmail. I think most laptops have antivirus but I'm not certain. Oh, and we've just bought three new laptops for the team starting next month."
- Conversation we have weekly
Data scattered across platforms. New devices set up manually. No idea what's being saved where. This is the reality for most SMBs -and it's a security incident waiting to happen.
The Unmanaged Device Problem
- No visibility into which devices access data
- Can't enforce encryption or security policies
- Files saved locally never get backed up
- No way to wipe a lost or stolen laptop
What Changes When You Enroll Devices
Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Intune and Autopilot -enterprise device management made simple for SMBs.
Without Device Enrollment
- Manual Setup Every Time
Each new laptop requires hours of manual configuration -and something always gets missed
- No Visibility
You don't know which devices are encrypted, have antivirus, or are even accessing your data
- Files Trapped on Devices
Staff save to Desktop or Documents locally -when the device fails, the files are gone
- Stolen Laptop = Data Breach
No remote wipe capability. You just have to hope encryption was enabled (it probably wasn't)
- Shadow IT Everywhere
Company data ends up in Dropbox, Google Drive, USB sticks -wherever users find convenient
With Device Enrollment (Intune)
- Zero-Touch Setup
User signs in, device configures itself. Apps install, policies apply, security enforced -automatically
- Complete Visibility
Dashboard shows every device, its compliance status, encryption state, and last check-in time
- Files Protected Automatically
Known Folder Move redirects Desktop/Documents to OneDrive -files sync to the cloud without user action
- Remote Wipe Ready
Laptop stolen? Wipe it remotely in minutes. Data protected even if device is lost
- Shadow IT Blocked
Conditional Access ensures only compliant, enrolled devices can access company data
The Business Premium Advantage
These features work together to give you control without complexity.
Windows Autopilot
Zero-touch deployment
New laptop? Ship it directly to the employee. When they sign in with their work account, the device automatically:
- Joins your organisation
- Applies security policies
- Installs required apps
- Enables BitLocker encryption
- Configures OneDrive backup
No IT visit required. No manual setup checklist.
Conditional Access
Smart security policies
Define rules for who can access what, from where, on which devices. For example:
- Block access from unmanaged devices
- Block logins from high-risk countries
- Require MFA for sensitive apps
- Only allow compliant devices
- Block risky sign-ins automatically
Even stolen passwords won't get attackers in.
Intune Policies
Standardised configuration
Push consistent settings to every device without touching them individually:
- WiFi passwords deployed silently
- BitLocker encryption enforced
- OneDrive Known Folder Move enabled
- Windows Defender configured
- Windows Updates managed
Every device meets your security baseline.
Defender for Business
Enterprise-grade protection
Not just antivirus -a complete endpoint protection platform:
- Next-gen anti-malware
- Attack surface reduction
- Ransomware protection
- Web content filtering
- Centralised dashboard
Replaces Sophos, ESET, and similar -included in the license.
Real-World Scenarios
These situations happen in SMBs every day. The difference between crisis and non-event is device enrollment.
The New Starter's Laptop
A new team member joins with a brand new laptop. Someone manually sets up their email, installs Office, and shows them where to save files. Three months later, they're saving everything to their desktop, have no antivirus, and are accessing client data on an unencrypted device.
Without Device Enrollment
Nobody knows the laptop isn't encrypted. When it's stolen from their car, client data is exposed. You only discover the security gap during the incident response.
With Device Enrollment
The laptop automatically enrolled when they signed in. Encryption was enforced, antivirus deployed, and files redirected to OneDrive. When reported stolen, you remotely wiped it in minutes.
Key Insight: New devices should configure themselves to your security standards automatically -not rely on whoever set it up remembering every step.
The Shadow IT Sprawl
Your team uses Microsoft 365 for email, but Sarah prefers Google Drive, Tom uses Dropbox, and accounts data lives in a shared folder on someone's PC. You're paying for OneDrive but nobody uses it consistently.
Without Device Enrollment
Data is scattered everywhere. When Sarah leaves, her Google Drive goes with her. When Tom's Dropbox is breached, you don't even know company files were exposed. The accounts PC fails and nobody backed it up.
With Device Enrollment
Intune policies redirect everyone's Documents folder to OneDrive automatically. Conditional Access blocks access to company email unless files are saved to approved locations. Shadow IT eliminated at the source.
Key Insight: You can't protect data you don't know exists. Device enrollment brings visibility and control to where your data actually lives.
The Compromised Account
A phishing email tricks your office manager into entering her Microsoft 365 password on a fake login page. The attacker now has her credentials and logs in from overseas.
Without Device Enrollment
The attacker accesses emails, SharePoint, and OneDrive from their own device. They set up forwarding rules, download client data, and you don't notice for weeks.
With Device Enrollment
Conditional Access blocks the login attempt -it's from an unrecognised device and unusual location. Even with valid credentials, the attacker can't get in. You're alerted to the blocked attempt.
Key Insight: Passwords get stolen. With device enrollment, stolen passwords aren't enough -attackers need a compliant, enrolled device too.
The Compliance Question
Your accountancy firm wins a large client. Their due diligence questionnaire asks: 'How do you ensure devices accessing our data meet minimum security standards? Can you remotely wipe a lost device?'
Without Device Enrollment
You can't honestly answer yes. You don't know which devices access client data, whether they're encrypted, or if you could wipe them. The client chooses a competitor who could demonstrate device management.
With Device Enrollment
You provide screenshots from Intune showing device compliance status, encryption enforcement, and remote wipe capability. The client is reassured and signs the contract.
Key Insight: As clients become more security-conscious, proving device management isn't optional -it's a competitive advantage.
The Leaver Who Didn't Leave
David resigns but keeps accessing company systems from his personal laptop for weeks after his last day. His account was disabled, but he'd saved his password in his browser and connected via a mail app that didn't check.
Without Device Enrollment
David continues accessing emails and files from his personal device. You have no visibility that this is happening. Sensitive information continues to leak.
With Device Enrollment
Conditional Access requires a compliant, enrolled device. David's personal laptop isn't enrolled, so even cached credentials don't work. Access terminated completely on his last day.
Key Insight: Disabling an account isn't enough when personal devices have cached access. Device-based policies ensure access truly ends when employment does.
See the Value Gap
The price difference between Standard and Premium is often less than what you're already paying for separate tools.
License Upgrade Calculator
Select your current license to see the value gap.
Current Setup
- Email & Calendar
- Web/Mobile Apps
- Desktop Apps (Word/Excel)
- No Device Management (Intune)
- No Advanced Phishing Protection
- No Conditional Access (Geo-block)
Recommended Upgrade
Business Premium
Difference: Only £7.80 / month
- Everything in Standard
- Intune: Wipe lost laptops remotely
- Defender: Enterprise Antivirus included
- Azure P1: Block hackers by country
To get these features separately with 3rd party tools would cost approx £15.00 extra.
Upgrading saves you approx £7.20 per user vs buying separate tools!
*Prices based on Microsoft UK RRP for Annual Commitment, paid monthly. Excludes VAT.
The Upgrade Path
Moving to Business Premium and enrolling devices is straightforward. Here's what to expect.
License Upgrade
We upgrade your Microsoft 365 licenses from Standard to Premium. Takes effect immediately.
Configure Intune
We deploy our tested security templates -policies for encryption, updates, OneDrive, and more.
Enroll Devices
Existing devices enroll during a scheduled rollout. New devices auto-enroll via Autopilot.
Protected & Visible
You now have a dashboard showing every device, its compliance status, and the power to act.
Typical Timeline
For most SMBs (10-50 users), the complete process takes 1-2 weeks from license upgrade to all devices enrolled. Users experience minimal disruption -most of the work happens silently in the background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about upgrading and device enrollment
What's the difference between Business Standard and Business Premium?
Business Standard (£10.30/user/month) gives you Office apps, email, and Teams -but no device management or advanced security. Business Premium (£18.10/user/month) adds Intune for device management, Defender for Business antivirus, Conditional Access for smart security policies, and more. The £7.80 difference replaces multiple third-party tools that would cost far more separately.
What does 'enrolling a device' actually mean?
Enrolling a device registers it with Microsoft Intune so you can manage it centrally. Once enrolled, you can push security policies (like requiring encryption), deploy apps automatically, see device compliance status, and remotely wipe it if lost. The user experience barely changes -they just sign in with their work account and the device configures itself.
Will this slow down our computers or be intrusive?
No. Intune policies run silently in the background. Users won't notice anything different except that their new laptop 'just works' out of the box. We configure sensible defaults -not heavy-handed restrictions that frustrate staff. You get security without the friction.
What about personal devices (BYOD)?
You have options. You can require full enrollment (giving you complete management), or use 'app protection policies' that only manage company data within specific apps -leaving personal data untouched. Most SMBs we work with provide company devices, but BYOD is fully supported if that's your model.
We're already using Google Workspace -does this still apply?
If you're on Google Workspace, you face the same device management challenges -you just solve them differently. However, many businesses use both (Google for some things, Microsoft for others). If you're considering consolidating, Business Premium gives you email, productivity apps, AND device management in one platform. We can help you evaluate whether consolidation makes sense.
How long does migration take?
For most SMBs, we can migrate from Standard to Premium and enroll devices within 1-2 weeks. The license upgrade itself is instant. Enrolling devices can often be done gradually -new devices enroll automatically, and existing devices can be enrolled during a scheduled 'security day' with minimal disruption.
What happens to our existing security tools?
Business Premium often replaces them entirely. Defender for Business replaces third-party antivirus. Built-in email filtering replaces separate spam tools. Conditional Access replaces standalone MFA tools. We'll audit your current stack and show you exactly what can be consolidated -typically saving money even with the Premium uplift.
Is this just for laptops, or mobile phones too?
Both. Intune manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. If staff access company email on their phones, those devices can be enrolled too -ensuring data is protected regardless of which device someone uses.
Ready to Take Control?
Stop wondering which devices are accessing your data and whether they're secure. Let's get your devices enrolled and protected.
Related Reading
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