Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Intune Misconfigurations
Microsoft Intune is a powerful tool for securing devices and corporate data, but misconfigurations can pose significant risks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of common misconfigurations and solutions to avoid them:
1. Allowing Access to Non-Compliant Devices
Section titled “1. Allowing Access to Non-Compliant Devices”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”Allowing non-compliant devices to access company resources increases security risks. By enforcing strict Conditional Access (CA) policies in Microsoft Entra ID, you ensure that only compliant devices can access organizational resources. Regularly review and update these policies to apply to both macOS and Windows devices.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Enforce and regularly review Conditional Access policies to block non-compliant devices from accessing resources.
2. Improper Compliance Policy Configuration
Section titled “2. Improper Compliance Policy Configuration”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”Compliance policies define the requirements for a device to be considered compliant, including antivirus protection, OS version, and enabled security features like the firewall. A common issue is using outdated configurations that don’t reflect the latest security requirements. By starting with simpler compliance configurations that most devices already meet, such as basic security settings (firewalls, OS version), you can move forward to more complex configurations.
Start with easy-to-deploy configurations that most devices are already compliant with, and gradually address more difficult-to-resolve compliance issues.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Ensure compliance policies are updated regularly and aligned with your organization’s security needs.
3. Missing BitLocker Recovery Keys
Section titled “3. Missing BitLocker Recovery Keys”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”If BitLocker recovery keys are not backed up in Azure AD, it can lead to data inaccessibility and security risks. Ensuring that BitLocker is configured to automatically back up recovery keys upon device encryption is crucial. To identify non-compliant devices, use a PowerShell script to check which devices have not uploaded their BitLocker recovery keys to Azure AD.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Automate the storage of BitLocker recovery keys in Azure AD and use a PowerShell script to detect devices without uploaded keys.
4. Security Baseline Not Deployed
Section titled “4. Security Baseline Not Deployed”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”Security baselines provide a standardized set of security configurations to ensure devices are uniformly protected. Without deploying these baselines, inconsistencies in security settings can leave devices vulnerable.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Deploy security baselines across all devices and regularly update them to ensure consistent and strong security configurations.
5. Compliance Policy Not Requiring a Firewall
Section titled “5. Compliance Policy Not Requiring a Firewall”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”Without mandating a firewall in compliance policies, devices are left vulnerable to unauthorized network access and attacks. Ensuring that your compliance policy requires the firewall to be enabled is a basic but vital step for device protection.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Update your compliance policies to require the firewall to be enabled for all devices and users.
6. Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline Not Applied
Section titled “6. Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline Not Applied”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides advanced malware protection and security monitoring. If the Defender for Endpoint security baseline is not applied to your Windows devices, they are at risk of malware attacks and other threats.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Deploy and apply Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline to all Windows devices.
7. Device Enrollment Restriction Not Configured
Section titled “7. Device Enrollment Restriction Not Configured”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”By not configuring device enrollment restrictions, users can enroll an unlimited number of devices, increasing the risk of unauthorized access. It’s essential to limit the number of devices each user can enroll and restrict enrollment to authorized device types.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Configure device enrollment restrictions in Intune to limit the number of devices and ensure only authorized devices are enrolled.
8. Lack of App Protection Policies
Section titled “8. Lack of App Protection Policies”The Risk
Section titled “The Risk”App Protection Policies (APP) ensure that corporate data accessed via personal devices is protected. Misconfiguring APP could result in data exposure through unauthorized apps or devices. Start by deploying policies that prevent data backup and enforce encryption, which are low-impact but highly beneficial to security.
Begin by deploying policies to prevent backup, encrypt data, and enforce selective wipes for disabled users, as they have little impact on the user experience but significantly improve security.
Solution
Section titled “Solution”Implement App Protection Policies to restrict data access to approved apps only, and allow selective data wipes for disabled users.
9. Monitoring and Prioritizing Intune Misconfigurations with Griffin31
Section titled “9. Monitoring and Prioritizing Intune Misconfigurations with Griffin31”Griffin31 not only automates the identification and prioritization of Intune misconfigurations but also provides step-by-step guides on how to remediate each issue. For example, it helps with actions like enforcing Security Policies, backing up BitLocker keys, and updating compliance policies. Along with these detailed remediation steps, Griffin31 provides insights into the expected user impact, allowing administrators to anticipate how changes will affect users and minimize disruptions.
Key Features of Griffin31:
Section titled “Key Features of Griffin31:”| Feature | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Data Collection | Griffin31 automates the collection of misconfiguration data from Intune | Eliminates manual effort of audits |
| Prioritization | Presents misconfigurations in order of priority | Focus on resolving the most critical issues first |
| Continuous Monitoring | Enables continuous monitoring of configuration changes in Intune | Crucial for maintaining compliance and security |
| Time and Effort Saving | Automated reporting and prioritization features | Saves administrators time, allows focus on critical tasks |
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Key Takeaway: By leveraging Griffin31’s capabilities, organizations can significantly enhance their Intune security posture, ensure compliance, and reduce manual effort, ultimately improving overall operational efficiency.