Device Enrolment — Windows, iOS & Android
📦 Module: 2 of 7
🎯 Exam: MD-102
⏱ Read time: ~26 min
MD-102 Exam Alignment
MD-102
- Know that Windows Auto-enrollment via Entra ID join automatically enrolls Windows 10/11 devices in Intune — no user action required after the initial device setup if auto-enrollment is configured
- Know that iOS/iPadOS corporate devices use Automated Device Enrolment (ADE) via Apple Business Manager — this is the only method that allows supervised mode and zero-touch provisioning
- Know the difference between Android Enterprise Work Profile (BYOD — personal device with a separate work container) and Android Enterprise Fully Managed (corporate-owned, entire device managed)
- Know that Enrolment Restrictions (Devices → Enrolment restrictions) can block personal devices, limit device types by platform, or set a maximum device count per user
📋 Enrolment Methods — Overview
| Platform | Method | Ownership | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Entra ID Join + Auto-enrollment | Corporate | Device joins Entra ID during OOBE; MDM auto-enrollment triggers automatically via MDM scope policy |
| Windows | BYOD via Company Portal | Personal | User downloads Company Portal app and manually enrolls their personal Windows device |
| Windows | Windows Autopilot | Corporate | Zero-touch provisioning — device auto-configures from the cloud using pre-registered hardware hash |
| Windows | Hybrid Entra ID Join (GPO) | Corporate | Domain-joined device enrolled via Group Policy; requires SCCM or Intune connector; co-management scenario |
| iOS/iPadOS | Automated Device Enrolment (ADE) | Corporate | Via Apple Business Manager; supervised mode; zero-touch; cannot be removed by user |
| iOS/iPadOS | BYOD via Company Portal | Personal | User downloads Company Portal and enrolls; user-initiated; device remains unsupervised; user can remove enrolment |
| Android | Android Enterprise Work Profile | BYOD/Personal | Creates a separate work container on the personal device; personal data fully isolated from corporate data |
| Android | Android Enterprise Fully Managed | Corporate | IT controls the entire device; device is dedicated to work use; set up via QR code, NFC, or zero-touch |
| Android | Android Enterprise Dedicated Device | Corporate | Single-purpose kiosk device (e.g., self-checkout terminal); runs in kiosk mode with specific apps only |
🪟 Windows Enrolment
Method 1: Entra ID Join + Automatic MDM Enrolment
The most common corporate Windows enrolment path. When a Windows 10/11 device is joined to Entra ID during OOBE, Intune auto-enrollment triggers if the MDM scope is configured.
📋 Pre-requisite: Configure MDM Auto-enrollment
- In Entra ID portal: Mobility (MDM and MAM) → Microsoft Intune → MDM user scope → set to All (or a group)
- Once set, any device joined to Entra ID by a user in scope automatically enrolls in Intune
- No additional user action required after Entra join — Intune receives the device within minutes
Method 2: Windows Autopilot (Zero-Touch)
Covered in detail in Module 6. Devices are pre-registered in Intune using hardware hash, and the OOBE runs fully customised — user just signs in with their work credentials.
Method 3: BYOD via Company Portal
User downloads the Intune Company Portal app from the Microsoft Store, signs in with their work account, and manually enrolls their personal Windows device. IT can then push Available (user-installable) apps and enforces compliance, but the device is marked as Personal in Intune inventory.
🍎 iOS/iPadOS Enrolment
Corporate Devices: Automated Device Enrolment (ADE)
| ADE Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Prerequisite | Device must be purchased through Apple, an Apple Authorised Reseller, or a carrier — then linked to Apple Business Manager (ABM) |
| 2. ABM token | Admin downloads a server token (.p7m) from ABM and uploads it to Intune: Tenant administration → Connectors and tokens → Apple enrollment tokens |
| 3. Sync devices | Devices assigned to the MDM server in ABM appear in Intune under Devices → iOS/iPadOS → Enrolment program tokens → Devices |
| 4. Enrolment profile | Create an ADE profile in Intune specifying: supervised mode ON/OFF, Setup Assistant steps to show/skip, department/support phone, user affinity (with or without) |
| 5. Device setup | When the device is turned on (or restored), it contacts Apple, receives the ADE profile, runs the customised Setup Assistant, and automatically enrolls in Intune — no IT hands-on required |
⚠️ Supervised Mode — Key ADE Benefit
ADE-enrolled devices can be placed in Supervised mode — this enables a higher level of management not available on unsupervised devices: disable Activation Lock, restrict specific app access, hide certain settings, block iCloud backup, and prevent users from removing Intune management. BYOD devices enrolled via Company Portal are always unsupervised.
BYOD: Company Portal App
User downloads the Intune Company Portal from the App Store, signs in with their work account, and follows the enrolment steps. The device is unsupervised. The user can remove the management profile at any time from iOS Settings. IT can perform a Selective wipe to remove corporate data but cannot do a factory wipe of the personal device.
🤖 Android Enterprise Enrolment
Work Profile (BYOD — Most Common)
Creates a dedicated work container on the employee’s personal Android device. All corporate apps and data live in the work profile. Personal apps and data are completely isolated. IT can manage and wipe only the work profile — cannot see or touch personal data.
| Scenario | Work Profile | Fully Managed |
|---|---|---|
| Device ownership | Personal (BYOD) | Corporate-owned |
| IT control scope | Work profile only (apps, data, VPN within work container) | Entire device (all apps, settings, factory reset) |
| Personal app access | User retains full access to personal apps outside work profile | IT controls which apps can be installed; personal use restricted |
| Setup method | User downloads Company Portal, creates work profile | Zero-touch, QR code, NFC, or DPC identifier during factory setup |
| Wipe capability | Selective wipe (work profile only) | Full factory wipe |
🚫 Enrolment Restrictions
Found at Devices → Enrolment → Enrolment restrictions. Allow admins to restrict:
- Device platform restrictions — Block enrolment by platform, OS version range (min/max), and personally-owned vs corporate-owned
- Device limit restrictions — Maximum number of devices a user can enrol (default: 15). Prevents a single user from registering unlimited devices
- Priority — Multiple restrictions can exist; the one with the highest priority (lowest number) that applies to a user takes effect
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes 'DeviceManagementServiceConfig.ReadWrite.All' # Get all enrolled devices with compliance state Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice | Select-Object DeviceName,OperatingSystem,ComplianceState,EnrolledDateTime | Sort-Object EnrolledDateTime -Descending # Filter by platform Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "operatingSystem eq 'Windows'" | Select-Object DeviceName,OsVersion,ComplianceState # Find non-compliant devices Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "complianceState eq 'noncompliant'" | Select-Object DeviceName,UserPrincipalName,OperatingSystem
💡 Best Practices
- For corporate iOS devices, always use ADE via Apple Business Manager — only ADE enables supervised mode, prevents enrolment removal, and supports zero-touch provisioning at scale
- For Android BYOD, use Work Profile enrolment — it provides IT the controls needed while respecting employee privacy and is more widely accepted by employees than full device management
- Configure Enrolment Restrictions before users begin enrolling — use platform restrictions to ensure only supported platforms and OS versions enrol
🎓 Interview Q&A
A company purchases 200 iPhones through an Apple Authorised Reseller for corporate use. They want zero-touch enrolment where devices auto-configure when powered on and employees cannot remove the Intune management profile. Which enrolment method achieves this?
An employee brings their personal Android phone and needs to access company email and SharePoint. IT wants to manage corporate apps and data but must NOT be able to access the employee’s personal photos or apps. Which Android enrolment type is appropriate?
A Windows 11 device is Entra ID joined by a user whose account is in scope for MDM auto-enrollment. What additional configuration is required for the device to automatically enrol in Intune during setup?
An organisation wants to prevent employees from enrolling personal Windows devices in Intune, allowing only corporate-owned Windows devices. Where is this configured?
What is the primary advantage of iOS Supervised mode enabled through Automated Device Enrolment (ADE) compared to BYOD enrolment via the Company Portal?