[2024 Guide] Automatically Set Up Windows Device Enrollment Easily

Introduction

Managing multiple devices can become a daunting task for IT departments in today's rapidly evolving digital environment. The solution? Simplified device enrollment using Microsoft Intune. By setting up automatic enrollment for Windows devices, you can ensure that devices join or register with Microsoft Entra ID seamlessly. Whether for personal BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios, bulk enrollment, or corporate-owned devices, automatic enrollment allows you to maintain control and ensure that every device is properly managed. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the prerequisites, setup steps, various enrollment scenarios, best practices, and FAQs for effortless and efficient device management.

Prerequisites

Before diving into how to set up automatic enrollment for Windows devices, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2 Subscription: You need a P1 or P2 subscription or a Premium trial subscription for automatic MDM enrollment and custom company branding.
• Microsoft Intune Subscription: Ensuring you have an active Intune subscription is crucial.
• Global Administrator Permissions: This is necessary for setting up automatic device enrollment.

With these prerequisites checked off, let's delve into the step-by-step guide on enabling automatic enrollment in Microsoft Intune.

Enabling Automatic Enrollment

To set up automatic enrollment for Windows Devices, follow these detailed steps:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin Center:
   • Navigate to https://endpoint.microsoft.com and sign in with your global administrator account.
2. Select "Devices" under Manage:
   • In the admin center, select "Devices" from the left navigation pane.
3. Enable Microsoft Entra MDM Enrollment:
   • Go to "Enroll devices" > "Automatic Enrollment."
   • Select "Yes" to enable automatic enrollment, and choose "None," "Some," or "All" to decide how many users or devices will be automatically enrolled.
4. Configure MDM User Scope:
   • Select the user groups that need automatic enrollment, whether it is All, None, or Some.
   • Save your settings.

Your devices are now ready for automatic enrollment in Intune when they join or register with Microsoft Entra ID.

Set Up Automatic Enrollment for Windows Devices

Applies to

Windows 10
Windows 11

Simplify device enrollment by enabling automatic enrollment in Microsoft Intune. This enrollment method enables devices to enroll automatically when they join or register in Microsoft Entra ID. Enrollment in Intune occurs when:

• A Microsoft Entra user adds their work or school account to their personal device.
• A corporate-owned device joins to your Microsoft Entra ID.

Automatic enrollment can be used in the following device management and provisioning scenarios:

• Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD): Personal devices
• Bulk Enrollment: Multiple devices
• Group Policy: Using Group Policy
• Windows Autopilot: User-driven and self-deploying
• Co-management with Configuration Manager: Combining Intune and Configuration Manager.

Enrollment Scenarios

Understanding different device management and provisioning scenarios helps in effectively using automatic enrollment. Automatic enrollment caters to:

• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Allowing individuals to use personal devices for work with automatic enrollment.
• Bulk Enrollment: Enroll multiple devices at once for large organizations or schools.
• Group Policy: Using policies to automatically enroll devices.
• Windows Autopilot: User-driven and self-deploying enrollment methods.
• Co-Management with Configuration Manager: Integrating both Intune and Configuration Manager for comprehensive device management.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Setting up automatic enrollment for personal devices, commonly referred to as BYOD, is a great way to enable employees and students to use their own devices:

• Corporate Data Security: Ensures that all personal devices accessing corporate data are managed and secure.
• Ease of Use: Users can add their work or school account and be automatically enrolled.
• Intune Company Portal App: Provides a seamless way for users of earlier Windows versions to enroll their devices.

Encouraging employees to use their personal devices responsibly eliminates the need for a large inventory of corporate-owned devices and can enhance productivity.

Bulk Enrollment

For organizations needing to enroll a large number of devices quickly:

• Automated Process: Makes it simple to enroll multiple devices.
• Consistency: Ensures all devices are uniformly configured and compliant.
• Efficiency: Reduces time and effort for IT departments.

Bulk enrollment is particularly beneficial for educational institutions or large enterprises deploying new hardware.

Group Policy

Using Group Policy for automatic enrollment is a powerful tool for organizations relying on Microsoft environments:

• Centralized Management: Group Policy allows IT administrators to manage settings and enforce policies centrally.
• Scalability: Suitable for large enterprises with multiple devices.
• Reliability: Ensures devices are consistently configured according to organizational policies.

Integrating Group Policy with Intune’s automatic enrollment capabilities enhances the overall management of devices within the organization.

Windows Autopilot

Windows Autopilot simplifies the entire lifecycle of Windows devices:

• User-Driven Enrollment: Employees can set up new devices themselves with minimal IT intervention.
• Self-Deploying Mode: Devices can automatically enroll without needing user credentials.
• Customization: Allows for pre-configuration and customization of devices before they are delivered to employees.

Windows Autopilot reduces the complexity and effort of deploying new devices, offering a modern and efficient approach.

Co-Management with Configuration Manager

Combining Intune with Configuration Manager provides a hybrid approach to device management:

• Flexibility: Allows devices to be co-managed by Intune and Configuration Manager.
• Gradual Transition: Enables gradual transition to cloud-based management.
• Enhanced Capabilities: Beneficial for organizations wanting to leverage both on-premises and cloud-based management solutions.

Co-management ensures a robust device management solution, leveraging the strengths of both platforms.

Support for Device Users

To ensure device users have a smooth experience:

1. Utilize Intune User-Help Docs: Provide comprehensive guides and tutorials for enrolling devices.
2. Company Portal App: For older Windows versions, use the Intune Company Portal app.
3. Troubleshooting: Unlicensed admins can assist users by accessing the Intune admin center.

Providing adequate support materials and troubleshooting guides can enhance user experience and ensure successful device enrollment.

Best Practices and Troubleshooting

Some best practices and common troubleshooting steps include:

1. Browser Requirements: Device users must access the Company Portal website through Microsoft Edge to view apps assigned specifically to versions of Windows.
2. Preventing Duplicate Records: Ensure users follow proper steps to prevent duplicate records in the Intune admin center.
3. Regular Updates: Keep Intune and other related software updated.

Following these tips can mitigate common issues and streamline the enrollment process.

Avoiding Duplicate Records

Duplicate records in the Microsoft Intune admin center can occur if automatic MDM enrollment is disabled:

• Proper Instructions: Instruct users on joined devices to go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, then Connect using the same account.
• Consistency: Ensure all instructions are followed consistently to avoid duplicates.

Properly guiding users helps in maintaining clean and accurate records.

Next Steps

After setting up automatic enrollment, consider:

• Windows Autopilot Scenarios: Enhance device enrollment with Autopilot.
• Group Policy Enrollment: Utilize Group Policy for automatic enrollment of Windows client devices.
• Co-Management: Enable co-management in Configuration Manager.
• Custom DNS Alias: Create a DNS alias that redirects enrollment requests to Intune servers.

Conclusion

Setting up automatic enrollment for Windows devices can significantly streamline the device management process, making it easier for IT administrators to maintain control and ensure security across all devices. By following the steps and tips provided, organizations can enhance their device management capabilities, enable efficient enrollments, and effectively support their users.

For more information, visit this link: https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/memdocs/blob/main/memdocs/intune/enrollment/windows-enroll.mdeffectively support their users