A staff member receives a new laptop on Monday morning. They need Microsoft 365, secure access to company files, the right applications and a working security baseline before they start. How that laptop is configured is where the Intune vs Group Policy decision becomes very real.
For many Australian organisations, the answer is not an immediate choice between one platform and the other. Group Policy may still run critical settings for office-based Windows devices, while Microsoft Intune is needed to manage mobile staff, new cloud-first devices and security controls that work beyond the office network. The practical question is which tool should own which job – and how to avoid gaps or conflicting settings.
Group Policy is a long-established Windows management tool. It applies settings to users and computers through Active Directory, usually in an on-premises domain environment. It is effective for controlling traditional Windows fleets: mapped drives, desktop restrictions, printer settings, Windows configuration and many security policies.
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management service. Devices enrol through Microsoft Entra ID and receive policies over the internet. It manages Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices, deploys applications, checks compliance, applies configuration profiles and provides a clearer view of device status from a central portal.
The distinction matters because Group Policy was designed around a corporate network and domain-joined devices. Intune is designed for a workforce that may be in the office, on a construction site, at home or travelling between clients. A device does not need to be connected to the office network or VPN for Intune to check in and receive management policies.
Neither platform is automatically better. Group Policy remains capable and appropriate in certain environments. Intune is generally the stronger long-term fit where Microsoft 365, mobility and cloud security are central to daily operations.
| Area | Group Policy | Microsoft Intune | |—|—|—| | Primary environment | On-premises Active Directory | Microsoft cloud and Entra ID | | Device connection | Best when devices can reach the domain network | Internet-based management from almost anywhere | | Device types | Primarily Windows domain devices | Windows, macOS, iOS and Android | | Application deployment | Available, but often dependent on traditional infrastructure | Central cloud deployment, updates and required apps | | Security visibility | Depends on supporting tools and reporting | Device compliance, encryption and configuration reporting in one place | | Best fit | Stable, office-based legacy environments | Hybrid work, cloud-first operations and mobile teams |
For a finance director or operations manager, the operational difference is straightforward. Group Policy can work well while the organisation depends on servers, domain logons and office-based devices. Intune reduces reliance on that infrastructure and gives the IT team more control over devices that rarely enter the office.
Replacing Group Policy simply because Intune exists is not a sound strategy. Many organisations have business applications, file servers, print services or specialist hardware that rely on a conventional Active Directory environment. In those cases, Group Policy can remain the most reliable way to apply certain settings.
It is also useful where desktop configuration is heavily customised and stable. A professional services firm with all staff in one office, Windows-only devices and established line-of-business applications may have little immediate need to move every policy to Intune.
The limitation is not that Group Policy stops working. The limitation is reach. If laptops are regularly off-network, policy updates may be delayed until users connect to VPN or return to the office. That creates a management gap at precisely the time organisations need assurance that security settings, applications and updates are current.
Intune is particularly valuable when devices are used beyond a controlled office network. It allows an IT team to prepare a laptop before it reaches a new employee, deploy approved applications remotely and confirm whether key protections are active.
For example, Intune can help enforce disk encryption, screen-lock requirements, supported operating system versions, endpoint security settings and application deployment. It can also report when a device falls outside the required standard. That information can feed into access decisions, such as restricting access to Microsoft 365 services from a non-compliant device.
This approach supports security practices aligned with the intent of the Essential Eight. Intune is not a complete Essential Eight solution by itself, but it can assist with controls around application management, operating system updates, Microsoft Office configuration and device hardening. The wider security outcome still depends on identity controls, endpoint protection, backup, user awareness and active monitoring.
For businesses with field staff, multiple locations or a bring-your-own-device policy, Intune also extends management beyond Windows laptops. A mobile phone accessing business email may need a different level of control than a company-issued laptop, but it should not be invisible.
A common transition mistake is applying the same setting through both Group Policy and Intune. When two systems attempt to manage the same configuration, the result can be inconsistent behaviour, failed settings or time-consuming troubleshooting.
For instance, one policy may set password requirements through Group Policy while another applies different requirements through Intune. Users then experience prompts that appear unpredictable, while administrators cannot easily identify which platform has taken precedence.
This is why hybrid management needs a documented policy ownership model. Some settings can remain in Group Policy while others move to Intune, but each configuration should have one clear source of authority. The plan should cover security baselines, Windows Update settings, browser configuration, application deployment, encryption, device restrictions and user experience settings.
Microsoft co-management can support organisations moving from traditional management tools to cloud management. It allows workloads to shift progressively rather than forcing a high-risk, all-at-once migration.
That said, co-management is not a reason to leave every platform running indefinitely. Maintaining duplicate tooling, unclear processes and overlapping policies adds cost and complexity. The goal should be a deliberate end-state based on business needs, not an accidental mix of old and new systems.
Start with the way people actually work, rather than the technology already installed. If most staff use desktops in a single office and depend on on-premises applications, Group Policy may continue to carry much of the workload. If staff work across sites, use laptops remotely or rely heavily on Microsoft 365, Intune will usually deliver better control and visibility.
Next, assess the device fleet. Organisations with Windows, Macs, tablets and mobile phones benefit from having a single endpoint management platform. If every device is a domain-joined Windows PC, the urgency may be lower, although cloud management can still reduce future infrastructure dependency.
Security expectations should also influence the decision. If the business needs proof that encryption is active, operating systems are current and devices meet access requirements, Intune provides more useful reporting than a traditional policy-only approach. Reporting should be readable enough for management to understand what is protected, what needs attention and who is accountable for fixing it.
Finally, check licensing before building the plan. Intune is included with several Microsoft 365 licence plans, but entitlements vary. A licence review prevents unexpected costs and makes sure the selected features match the organisation’s security and management requirements.
A controlled migration usually starts with an assessment of existing Group Policy Objects. Many environments contain years of inherited settings, including policies that no longer apply or conflict with current business practices. Cleaning this up before migration avoids carrying old problems into the cloud.
Then define a minimum device standard. This should cover encryption, supported operating systems, endpoint protection, patching, approved applications, administrative access and recovery processes. Build and test those controls in Intune with a small pilot group representing different job roles.
The pilot should test more than whether policies deploy. Confirm that staff can work normally, line-of-business applications function correctly, printing and file access are unaffected, and service desk teams know how to support the new process. Only then should the organisation move settings in planned stages.
For many businesses, the most sensible result is a period of hybrid management followed by a clear simplification plan. Some legacy policies may remain on-premises for longer, while new devices and modern security controls are managed through Intune from day one.
The right choice is the one that gives your organisation dependable device control without creating more work for staff or more surprises for the budget. Start with a clear baseline, assign ownership for every policy, and make each change measurable. That is how endpoint management becomes a quiet, reliable part of business operations rather than the reason work stops.