We're a company with about 1,100 employees looking to switch from Manage Engine Desktop Central, and we're leaning towards using Intune. Our workforce consists of 75% Windows and 25% Mac devices. Currently, we use Gsuite, sticking only to the desktop apps subscription of Office, with no other subscriptions in play. We also utilize Okta for single sign-on and have no plans to change that. Right now, we deploy laptops using MDT, but we're considering Auto-Pilot and want to clarify a few points before diving in.
1. Do we need both an Intune license and an Azure AD P1 license to use Auto-Pilot?
2. Is there an additional cost of $5 per month for deploying apps through Intune on the basic plan?
3. Is Intune F1 a viable option for us? The chart suggests it comes with Intune Plan 1 and Azure AD.
4 Answers
1. That sounds accurate.
2. The automated app packaging is a service by Microsoft, but with the basic Intune, you can package apps yourself. For a more cost-effective solution, look into Patch My PC for automated packaging, as it's cheaper and does a better job.
3. I'm not well-versed in F1.
I totally get that! But why shift to Intune if you're not changing office suites? Also, do you really need both O365 and Google licenses? It might be worth pricing out a full switch instead of juggling overlapping services.
If you aren’t switching to the M365 suite, going with Intune could end up being costly and inefficient compared to others already on M365. If Google Workspace is your thing, you might want to explore third-party tools for device management and deployment instead.
1. Yes, if you're operating separately from M365, you'll need a separate Entra P1 and Intune licenses.
2. I haven't heard about that $5 fee for app deployment, but it's worth checking the latest pricing.
3. Regarding F1, it's actually designed for frontline workers and the devices need to either be shared or have a smaller display (10.9" or less). Ever thought about Google Endpoint Management? It could fit your needs well!
That's an interesting point about F1. I didn't see a mention of shared kiosk devices. Can you share a reference for that?
We mainly use Windows and Mac, no phones involved.
I found a link that clarifies it:
Each Microsoft 365 F3 user can use Office for mobile on eligible devices, but those office licenses may not suit your needs if you don't plan to use them.
Great point! But enterprise changes take a long time—like around 1.5 years.
Honestly, I'm not sure why we have both Google and Office either, but that's above my paygrade!