Why your partner choice will shape your security posture, employee experience and operational agility for years to come.
Endpoint modernisation is not a tooling project. It is an operating model shift that aligns identity, device and data controls to how people actually work. The right partner helps you turn the Microsoft stack into measurable outcomes. The wrong one leaves you with policy drift, inconsistent experiences and controls that fail at the moment of need.
The specialisation is awarded on verified customer outcomes and certified expertise, which is why Microsoft uses it to differentiate credible endpoint programmes." - Graham Elston, VTG CTO
Security that travels with the user
Harden endpoints with Defender for Endpoint, BitLocker, attack surface reduction, controlled elevation and responsive Conditional Access. Back this with posture visibility that converts signals into decisions, not dashboards into noise.
Deployment without friction
Zero‑touch provisioning through Windows Autopilot, direct from OEM to user, gets people productive in minutes. Recovery should be a reset and a re‑enrol, not a courier and a rebuild.
Unified management across platforms
A single cloud console to configure, protect and govern Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Mature programmes bring application lifecycle, update governance and compliance into one cadence.
Change that sticks
User‑centred communication, accurate role‑based access and joiner‑mover‑leaver automation. The best endpoint programmes feel simple to the user and predictable to the auditor.
Modern endpoint management reduces cyber risk by making security controls continuous rather than occasional. Identity becomes the trust anchor, compliance becomes a live signal, and enforcement follows the user wherever they work.
What changes in practice
Devices are encrypted by default, Conditional Access only grants access to compliant devices, attack surface reduction rules reduce exploitable paths, Defender for Endpoint provides detection and response, and update rings keep operating systems and applications current.
What good looks like
High 90s compliance across platforms, critical update latency measured in days not weeks, and a consistent baseline applied to every device, not just headquarters equipment.
Zero‑touch provisioning changes the pacing item from when IT can touch the device to when the courier arrives. The user signs in, the device builds itself to a known‑good state, and applications and access follow the person, not the laptop.
What changes in practice
Devices ship directly from the OEM to the user. Autopilot enrols them into Intune and applies profiles, apps and security baselines automatically. Joiner, mover and leaver steps are automated so access is right on day one.
What good looks like
Onboarding that takes minutes rather than hours, minimal helpdesk interaction, and no image maintenance work behind the scenes.
Policy replaces imaging, automation replaces desk‑side work, and one console replaces multiple tools. The outcome is fewer touches per device across its lifecycle and clearer ownership of routine tasks.
What changes in practice
Build once and apply everywhere. Standardise on packaging, update rings and baselines. Use co‑management to sequence change and retire legacy processes without disruption.
What good looks like
Helpdesk capacity focused on exceptions and user value, not routine rebuilds and image upkeep.
Security and simplicity are not opposites. With identity at the centre, users get consistent sign‑in, fewer prompts and reliable access to what they need, on the device that makes sense for the job.
What changes in practice
Single sign‑on for core applications, applications delivered automatically, self‑service for common software, and clear separation of corporate and personal data on BYOD through App Protection Policies.
What good looks like
Fewer support calls about access and apps, shorter time to value for new roles, and users who feel the controls help rather than hinder.
Operating systems, management tools and attacker techniques evolve continuously. Modern management prepares you for what is next rather than locking you to what you had.
What changes in practice
A clear, tested pathway to Windows 11 and future platform updates, readiness for new Intune capabilities such as Endpoint Privilege Management, Remote Help and Advanced Analytics, and a lifecycle approach to hardware refresh that reduces surprises.
What good looks like
Platform upgrades that feel routine, new security capabilities adopted because they are useful, not because they are urgent, and fewer end‑of‑support deadlines becoming crisis projects.
How is modern management different from traditional imaging and GPO‑heavy approaches
Policy‑driven builds replace images, identity replaces the network as the trust anchor, and compliance becomes continuous. This reduces rebuild time, lowers drift and improves audit evidence.
Do we have to abandon Configuration Manager
No. Co‑management lets you shift workloads in phases. Many organisations move application deployment, updates and compliance first, while Configuration Manager remains for niche use cases.
What about BYOD
Use App Protection Policies to enforce data boundaries in approved apps. Corporate data is protected, personal privacy is preserved and compliance remains enforceable.
How do we measure success
Track device compliance, update latency, time‑to‑productivity for joiners, incident rates, Endpoint MTTR, Autopilot success and alert handling, then review these monthly with a quarterly improvement cycle.