After Microsoft announced that they would be rolling out the Mobile Device Management integration within Office 365 back in April, we’re finally starting to see the Mobile link show up into client’s portals.
Once Microsoft is done “setting things up for you” (which in the most recent case for me was a few days before it was done) you’ll see the MDM “dashboard”
There are still a few final steps that are required before you’re ready to start connectivity: setup DNS records & configure an APN (Apple Push Network) certificate
The keys to enabling this functionality rest in the Enterprise Mobility Suite (EMS) license, which essentially gives you:
- Azure AD Premium
Full AD management from the cloud. Allows IT to manage on premise password sync / write-back (here now) with self-service, user/group/device creation & attribute change (in preview with AD Connect), and provide multi-factor authentication - InTune
Manage device policies and software, as well as access to corporate resources - Azure Rights Management
Encrypt files, control access, and email encryption (in conjunction with Exchange online)
You’ll see the Mobile Device Management license type in the Office 365 portal
This backends in conjunction with the EMS license you’ll find in the Azure AD portal
Microsoft has been giving customers renewing their EAs a sweetheart deal by providing them the Enterprise Cloud Suite license, which includes the E3/G3 license as well as the EMS licenses bundled together. They’re trying to gain some hot & heavy traction in the MDM space this year, getting their foot in the door with the Gartner quadrant!
For for about the toolset available within the Office 365 portal, Microsoft has gone into detail with tasks as well as capabilities of MDM on the MDM TechNet page. Further capabilities are extended once you start integrating InTune with SCCM.
