From 1 July 2026, Microsoft has expanded Intune capabilities within Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 licences. This is more than a product update. It gives organisations a clear opportunity to simplify how devices are managed, strengthen security, and get greater value from existing investments.
For many teams, endpoint management has evolved over time, often resulting in a mix of tools for support, analytics, security, and device control. While each tool has value, the overall environment can become complex to manage, harder to secure, and more costly to maintain. This update creates a more unified approach, bringing key capabilities together into a single platform.
Reducing complexity and improving control
Bringing these capabilities into Microsoft 365 allows organisations to reduce reliance on multiple third-party tools and create a more consistent operating model. This has a direct impact on day-to-day operations. IT teams gain better visibility across devices, faster ways to support users, and stronger control over how endpoints are secured and managed.
Integrated features such as Remote Help improve support responsiveness, while Advanced Analytics provide earlier insight into device performance and user experience issues. At the same time, expanded device management and firmware update capabilities help ensure devices remain secure and compliant without increasing operational overhead.
Strengthening security through better governance
For organisations using Microsoft 365 E5, the additional capabilities support a more proactive and structured approach to security. Endpoint Privilege Management enables a true least-privilege model, reducing unnecessary access and limiting risk across the estate.
At the same time, improvements in application management and certificate services make it easier to maintain control and consistency. Enterprise App Management simplifies how applications are deployed and governed, while Cloud PKI modernises certificate lifecycle management. Together, these capabilities strengthen governance without adding complexity.
Building towards more intelligent operations
The introduction of Security Copilot within Intune also signals a shift towards more intelligent, AI-assisted administration. Rather than reacting to issues, organisations can begin to identify patterns earlier, respond faster, and make more informed decisions based on better data.
This creates the foundation for a more proactive operating model, where IT teams spend less time responding to problems and more time driving improvement across the environment.
Turning capability into measurable outcomes
The real value of these changes comes from how they are applied. Organisations that take a structured approach see improvements not just in technology performance, but in day-to-day operations.
This typically includes reduced support effort, faster issue resolution, and a more consistent user experience. It also strengthens overall security by limiting unnecessary access and simplifying how applications and certificates are managed. Over time, it creates a more scalable and resilient endpoint strategy.
How Forge supports this
At Forge, the focus is on aligning technology to business outcomes. The goal is not simply to deploy new capabilities, but to ensure they deliver measurable impact across operations, security, and user experience.
Engagements often begin with a clear understanding of your current environment. This includes how licences are being used, where gaps exist, and where immediate value can be realised. From there, the focus shifts to building strong foundations, improving device onboarding, implementing effective privilege management, modernising certificate services, and refining policies to ensure consistency.
Alongside this, a longer-term roadmap ensures each step contributes to a more secure, efficient, and future-ready environment.
Where to start
For many organisations, the starting point is straightforward. They already have access to capabilities that are not yet fully used. Identifying and activating those capabilities can deliver immediate improvements in efficiency, cost control, and risk reduction.
A focused Intune capability review provides clarity on your current position, highlights where value exists, and defines the most effective path forward. It ensures that every step taken contributes to meaningful, measurable outcomes, not just technical change.
