Understanding Compliance Policies in Intune: Importance and Setup Guide

A compliance policy in Intune is a set of rules that define what a secure and healthy device looks like. It is needed to protect organizational data by ensuring only compliant devices can access resources. You set it up by defining requirements (like OS version, encryption, password rules), assigning the policy to users or groups, and integrating it with Conditional Access for enforcement.

🌐 What is a Compliance Policy in Intune?

• A compliance policy is a collection of rules and conditions that devices must meet to be considered secure and compliant.

• Examples of rules include:

  • Minimum operating system version

  • Device not being jailbroken or rooted

  • Encryption enabled

  • Password complexity requirements

• Devices that fail these checks are marked non-compliant, and depending on your setup, they can be blocked from accessing corporate apps and data.

  
  

🔒 Why is it Needed?

• Security: Prevents insecure devices (outdated OS, jailbroken, missing encryption) from accessing sensitive data.

• Conditional Access: Works with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to enforce that only compliant devices can connect to company resources.

• Governance: Helps organizations meet regulatory and compliance standards.

• Risk Reduction: Stops one vulnerable device from becoming an entry point for attackers.

  
  

⚙️ How to Set Up a Compliance Policy

Here’s a structured approach:

1. Plan Requirements

   • Decide what “healthy” means for your organization (e.g., encryption, OS version, password rules).

   • Consider different needs for BYOD vs corporate-owned devices.

2. Create the Policy in Intune

   • Go to Microsoft Intune admin center → Devices → Compliance policies → Create policy.

   • Choose the platform (Windows, iOS, Android, macOS).

   • Configure settings like:

     • Password complexity

     • Encryption requirement

     • Minimum OS version

     • Jailbreak/root detection

3. Assign the Policy

   • Target specific users or device groups.

   • Ensure policies align with organizational roles (e.g., stricter rules for admins).

4. Integrate with Conditional Access

   • In Microsoft Entra ID, create Conditional Access policies.

   • Require devices to be marked compliant before accessing apps like Outlook, Teams, or SharePoint.

5. Monitor & Remediate

   • Use Intune’s compliance reports to track device status.

   • Configure actions for non-compliance (e.g., send email notifications, block access after X days).

     
     

✅ Best Practices

• Start with a baseline policy (basic password, encryption, OS version).

• Gradually add stricter rules to avoid locking out too many users at once.

• Pair compliance policies with device configuration profiles for a complete security posture.

• Regularly review and update policies as OS versions and threats evolve.

Grasping Intune Compliance Policy: Securing and Governing via Conditional Access and Risk Mitigation. Discover how to easily configure it.

🖥️ Example: Windows Laptop Compliance Policy

1. Password Requirements

• Require password to unlock device

• Minimum length: 8 characters

• Complexity: Must include letters, numbers, and symbols

• Maximum inactivity before lock: 15 minutes

  
  

2. Encryption

• Require BitLocker to be enabled

• Block access if encryption is turned off

  
  

3. Operating System Version

• Minimum OS version: Windows 11 22H2

• Block devices running older versions

  
  

4. Device Health

• Require antivirus/antimalware to be active

• Require firewall to be enabled

• Block jailbroken or rooted devices (applies more to mobile, but good hygiene)

  
  

5. Updates

• Require device to be up-to-date with latest security patches

• Block devices missing critical updates

  
  

6. Actions for Non-Compliance

• Send email notification to user immediately

• Allow 3-day grace period to fix issues

• After grace period, block access to corporate apps

  
  

7. Conditional Access Integration

• In Microsoft Entra ID, create a Conditional Access policy:

  • Target apps: Outlook, Teams, SharePoint

  • Condition: Require device to be marked compliant

  • Control: Block access if not compliant

    
    

📊 Monitoring

• Use Intune’s Device compliance report to track which devices are compliant or not.

• Set up alerts for admins when a device falls out of compliance.

  
  

✅ Why This Works

• Ensures data protection with encryption and passwords

• Keeps devices secure and patched

• Provides visibility into device health

• Enforces compliance through Conditional Access