Microsoft Intune is a powerful tool for managing devices and users within an organization. One of the key features of Intune is the ability to create and manage groups. These groups can be categorized into two main types: device groups and user groups. Understanding the differences between these groups and knowing when to use each, depends on the needs.

What are Device Groups?

Device groups in Microsoft Intune are collections of devices that are managed as a single entity. These groups are particularly useful when you need to apply policies or configurations to devices regardless of who is using them. Device groups are ideal for scenarios where the device itself is the primary focus, rather than the user.

Key Characteristics of Device Groups:

  • Device-Centric: Policies and configurations are applied to the device, irrespective of the user.
  • Ideal for Shared Devices: Useful for devices used by multiple users, such as kiosks or shared workstations.
  • Consistent Settings: Ensures that settings remain consistent across all devices in the group.

What are User Groups?

User groups in Microsoft Intune are collections of users that are managed as a single entity. These groups are beneficial when you need to apply policies or configurations to users, regardless of the device they are using. User groups are ideal for scenarios where the user is the primary focus, and you want their settings to follow them across different devices.

Key Characteristics of User Groups:

  • User-Centric: Policies and configurations are applied to the user, regardless of the device they use.
  • Ideal for Personal Devices: Useful for users who have personal devices or multiple devices.
  • Flexible Settings: Ensures that settings and policies follow the user across different devices.

When to Use Device Groups

  1. Shared Devices:
    • Example: In a retail environment, where multiple employees use the same point-of-sale (POS) systems, you can create a device group for all POS devices to ensure they have the same security settings and applications.
  2. Kiosk Devices:
    • Example: For devices set up as kiosks in a public area, you can create a device group to apply kiosk mode settings, ensuring that the device remains in a locked-down state suitable for public use.
  3. Specific Hardware Management:
    • Example: If your organization uses a specific model of laptops for a particular department, you can create a device group for those laptops to deploy model-specific updates and configurations.

When to Use User Groups

  1. Role-Based Access:
    • Example: In an organization, you can create user groups based on roles, such as “Sales Team” or “HR Department,” to apply role-specific applications and access permissions.
  2. Personal Device Management:
    • Example: For employees who use their personal devices for work (BYOD), you can create user groups to apply security policies and access controls that follow the user, regardless of the device they use.
  3. Cross-Device Consistency:
    • Example: For executives who use multiple devices (laptop, tablet, smartphone), you can create a user group to ensure that their email settings, VPN configurations, and security policies are consistent across all their devices.

Conclusion

Choosing between device groups and user groups in Microsoft Intune depends on your specific needs and scenarios. Device groups are ideal for managing settings on shared or specific devices, while user groups are perfect for applying policies that follow users across multiple devices.

 

Paul Cobben