Microsoft Intune updates remove custom policies company confirms

Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based service that focuses on mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and PC management, has been undergoing significant updates and policy changes. A notable shift involves the deprecation and removal of certain custom policy functionalities, particularly for Android Enterprise personally owned work profile devices, which began in April 2025. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline management and enhance security by migrating towards more standardized and integrated policy types within the Intune Settings Catalog and endpoint security frameworks.

The deprecation of custom profiles for specific device types signifies Microsoft’s commitment to simplifying the Intune environment for administrators. By consolidating settings into more manageable and consistent policy templates, the aim is to reduce complexity and potential conflicts that can arise from highly customized configurations. This transition encourages the adoption of Intune’s built-in templates and the Settings Catalog, which offer a centralized and comprehensive approach to device configuration and security management.

Understanding the Shift from Custom Policies

Microsoft Intune’s decision to phase out support for custom profiles in certain scenarios, such as for Android Enterprise personally owned work profile devices, marks a strategic pivot. This change aims to enhance manageability and security by guiding administrators toward more unified and standardized policy management methods. Previously, custom profiles offered extensive flexibility, allowing IT teams to implement highly specific configurations not covered by built-in templates. However, this flexibility often came with increased complexity in management and troubleshooting.

The move away from custom profiles is intended to leverage the power of the Intune Settings Catalog and purpose-built endpoint security policies. These newer frameworks provide a more robust and organized way to manage device settings, security configurations, and compliance rules. The Settings Catalog, in particular, consolidates a vast array of configurable options in a single location, simplifying the process of creating and deploying policies across diverse device fleets.

For administrators, this shift necessitates a re-evaluation of existing custom configurations. The primary objective is to identify equivalent settings within the Intune Settings Catalog or to redesign policies using the available endpoint security profiles. This transition is crucial for ensuring continued support and avoiding potential future disruptions, as unsupported configurations may eventually cease to function as expected or lose Intune’s technical support.

Impact on Device Management and Security Posture

The removal of custom policies and the move towards standardized configurations within Microsoft Intune have significant implications for an organization’s device management and overall security posture. By encouraging the use of the Settings Catalog and dedicated endpoint security policies, Microsoft aims to create a more predictable and secure management environment. This consolidation helps mitigate the risk of configuration conflicts, which can occur when multiple policies attempt to manage the same setting with differing values.

Endpoint security policies, in particular, are designed with a security-first approach, targeting specific security scenarios like antivirus, firewall, and disk encryption. This focus allows for more granular control and streamlined implementation of critical security measures. Furthermore, the integration of compliance policies with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access provides an additional layer of security, ensuring that only compliant devices can access corporate resources.

The deprecation of custom profiles also means that administrators must proactively migrate any critical, scenario-specific settings to the new framework. Failure to do so could lead to security gaps if those custom configurations are no longer supported or enforced. This proactive migration ensures that the organization’s security posture remains robust and that devices continue to meet compliance requirements.

Migrating from Custom Policies to Settings Catalog and Security Baselines

Transitioning from custom policies to Microsoft Intune’s Settings Catalog and security baselines requires a structured approach. Administrators must first identify all existing custom policies and their intended functions. This inventory is crucial for accurately mapping those configurations to equivalent settings within the Settings Catalog or to appropriate endpoint security profiles.

The Settings Catalog offers a comprehensive repository of device settings, allowing administrators to build new policies that mirror the functionality of their previous custom configurations. For security-specific settings, leveraging the dedicated endpoint security policies is recommended, as these are purpose-built for various security workloads like antivirus and firewall management. Security baselines, which provide pre-configured security settings based on Microsoft’s recommendations, can also be a valuable tool for establishing a strong security foundation.

For organizations that previously relied on Group Policy Objects (GPOs), Intune’s Group Policy Analytics feature can aid in migrating these settings to the Settings Catalog, simplifying the transition from on-premises management to cloud-based policy deployment. This migration process helps ensure that critical configurations are retained while benefiting from the streamlined management and enhanced security features of Intune’s modern policy framework.

Best Practices for Policy Management in Intune

Effective policy management within Microsoft Intune is paramount for maintaining a secure and efficient endpoint environment. A foundational best practice involves establishing a clear and comprehensive security policy that aligns with organizational needs and regulatory requirements. This policy should guide the creation and assignment of all device configuration and compliance policies.

Leveraging role-based access control (RBAC) is essential for enforcing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that administrators only have the permissions necessary to perform their duties. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized changes or accidental misconfigurations. Furthermore, implementing Multi-Admin Approval (MAA) for critical actions, such as device wiping or significant configuration changes, adds an extra layer of security by requiring dual administrator consent.

Regular review and auditing of Intune policies are also critical. Microsoft recommends quarterly reviews to ensure policies remain aligned with evolving IT environments, security standards, and emerging threats. This proactive approach helps identify and remediate potential policy conflicts or outdated configurations, thereby maintaining a robust security posture and compliance status.

Ensuring Compliance and Security with Intune’s Unified Framework

Microsoft Intune’s unified framework is designed to bolster device compliance and overall security through integrated policy management. Compliance policies define the rules devices must meet to be considered compliant, such as minimum OS versions or encryption requirements. These policies are crucial for securing organizational data and resources, especially when integrated with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access.

Conditional Access policies dynamically enforce access controls based on a device’s compliance status, user identity, and sign-in risk, creating a robust Zero Trust security model. This integration ensures that only healthy and compliant devices can access sensitive corporate information, significantly reducing the attack surface.

Beyond compliance, Intune’s endpoint security policies offer dedicated tools for managing specific security scenarios like antivirus, firewall, and disk encryption. By consolidating these settings within a unified console, IT administrators gain better visibility and control, simplifying the implementation and maintenance of a strong security posture across all managed endpoints.

The Role of Settings Catalog and Endpoint Security Policies

The Intune Settings Catalog and dedicated endpoint security policies represent a significant evolution in how administrators configure and secure managed devices. The Settings Catalog acts as a centralized repository, listing all available settings for various platforms in one location, which greatly simplifies policy creation and management. This unified approach reduces the complexity often associated with managing a wide array of device settings.

Endpoint security policies, on the other hand, are purpose-built for specific security workloads. They offer a streamlined and organized way to implement controls for areas such as antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and firewall configurations. This specialization ensures that security settings are managed with a focused approach, distinct from broader device configuration profiles.

By migrating away from custom profiles, Microsoft encourages the adoption of these more manageable and robust policy types. This transition not only simplifies administration but also enhances the overall security posture by ensuring that devices are configured according to best practices and are protected by specialized security controls.

Navigating Policy Conflicts and Resolution

Policy conflicts within Microsoft Intune can arise when multiple policies attempt to configure the same setting with differing values, leading to unpredictable device behavior or security gaps. Understanding Intune’s conflict resolution logic is crucial for effective management. Generally, Intune prioritizes settings to ensure the most secure configuration is applied, but this can vary depending on the policy types and specific settings involved.

To mitigate conflicts, administrators should conduct thorough planning before deploying policies. This includes inventorying existing configurations and understanding how different Intune policy types—such as endpoint security policies, security baselines, and device configuration profiles—interact. Regularly reviewing policy assignments and settings through the Intune admin center can help identify potential conflicts early on.

For instance, when migrating from Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to Intune, it’s important to ensure that GPO-based settings are properly removed or configured to allow Intune policies to take precedence, preventing conflicts between the two management systems. Proactive management, clear documentation, and a phased deployment approach for new or updated policies can significantly reduce the occurrence and impact of policy conflicts.

Future-Proofing Your Intune Environment

To future-proof an organization’s Microsoft Intune environment, continuous adaptation and adherence to Microsoft’s evolving roadmap are essential. This includes staying informed about deprecation announcements, such as the end of support for custom profiles in specific scenarios, and proactively migrating to recommended policy types like the Settings Catalog and endpoint security policies.

Regularly reviewing and updating Intune configurations, security baselines, and settings catalog entries is paramount to align with emerging IT landscapes and security standards. Furthermore, leveraging Intune’s integration capabilities with other Microsoft security services, such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft Entra ID, enhances the overall security posture and provides a more comprehensive threat management solution.

Embracing a Zero Trust security model, which is increasingly emphasized by Microsoft, involves implementing granular access controls, strong identity management, and continuous device compliance verification. By adopting these forward-looking strategies, organizations can ensure their Intune deployment remains secure, efficient, and resilient against future threats and technological shifts.