Devices out of the office

Information workers have seen their day-to-day transformed by technology, especially with the rise of remote work in the last few years. A similar transformation is in progress for frontline workers (FLW), who are engaged not just with technology, but also the wider world, be it the point of sale, emergency room, factory floor, or field station.

Professional and personal devices are distinct

The ubiquity of mobile devices in our personal lives creates an expectation among end users and customers alike that the information and tools needed to successfully complete a job or a transaction will be within arm’s reach. This expectation doesn’t consider the needs of industry or business, especially when it comes to security and compliance. These needs often affect the usability and productivity of a device compared to the personal technology we’re used to as consumers and can introduce friction in processes and frustration in experiences.

Improving the professional device experience

Our continuing investigations and investments for frontline workers allow Microsoft Intune to help companies improve productivity without sacrificing security or control. In concert with Microsoft 365 and Entra identity solutions, Microsoft Intune also creates optimal experiences for users and customers alike.

Innovations like Windows 365 virtual PCs allow companies to offer secure and standardized experiences flexibly and at scale, without the need for costly hardware upgrades. Management for corporate-owned mobile platforms aimed at FLW support have enhanced the multi-user experience with Intune and Entra Shared Device capabilities. Management for specialty devices, like Microsoft HoloLens, VR headsets, large smart screens, and other Teams-certified meeting and conferencing devices, helps companies configure and secure these tools at scale. The introduction of Microsoft Remote Help adds capabilities for secure auditable assistance, even on unattended devices. Additionally, Microsoft Teams introduced the Walkie Talkie feature for enhanced communication and scheduling capabilities to ease the transition between shifts for users.

We know that device security is vital, too. We worked with Samsung to establish hardware-backed device attestation, a key security feature that prevents supply chain attacks and protects company data.

Screenshot of a user’s mobile device with a notification that their organization is now removing its data associated with an app because the device did not pass Samsung Knox device attestation.

We’re bringing attestation capabilities for Apple and Windows devices, as well. To read more about it, see Boost security with Microsoft Intune device attestation.

The next chapter of frontline features

We know that technology needs to enhance the capabilities of humans who want to provide better help, save time, and get home in one piece. We know that how technology is managed plays a vital role in that equation, as much as the software and hardware itself. Our goal is to improve confidence, reduce friction, and ultimately make management invisible. We’re pleased to highlight new and enhanced capabilities that mark the next chapter in FLW support. These are developed in response to the real-world use cases of our customers and represent advances in convenience, security, and life safety.

Improved device deployments

Two significant updates help device administrators and users get to work. The first is an update to the Managed Home Screen application. This application allows for customization and standardization of user experiences on Android devices, independent of manufacturer. The app facilitates troubleshooting and support and streamlines the sign in and sign out for end users. We’ve updated the user interface with helpful at-a-glance information in a new top bar layout.

Screenshot of the new top bar user interface element depicts the available settings icon on a device without user sign in.

Screenshot of the new top bar user interface element depicts user credentials and a sign out button.

We also redesigned the permissions flow to make it easier for end users to enable the functionality they need.

GIF of an alert that indicates a permission is needed in the top bar and the user is guided to allow the enable the required functionality.

Note: Samsung device administrators have a unique workflow for permissions on Knox-enabled Samsung devices that doesn’t involve user interaction at all. To learn more, read Frontline workers get a better experience from Microsoft and Samsung.

Other highlights of the Managed Home Screen Updates include:

Autorotation control
Domain-less sign in and custom sign in hint text
Session inactivity Pin timer
Brightness slider and Adaptive brightness control

See a detailed breakdown of all the innovation in Updates to the Managed Home Screen experience.

The second new FLW update is device staging for user affiliated devices. Ideal for deploying at scale, staging allows admins or third-party partners to apply profiles that perform other enrollment steps without assigning a user.

Screenshot of choosing a token type during profile creation.

The result is a device that is ready to get to work. The end user just needs to connect to the internet and sign in. For a detailed description of how this feature works, see Introducing a new enrollment method for staging corporate Android devices with Microsoft Intune.

A look ahead

The rest of this next chapter will be unveiled over the months to come. To follow the latest news on releases be sure to keep up with the roadmap here. Although we can’t disclose when you’ll see them, we’re excited to offer you a sneak peek at some of the capabilities we may be announcing like:

Assign Android devices to groups at enrollment.
Making select apps available offline or without network connectivity with Managed Home Screen.
User-specific app inventory with Managed Home Screen.

Help write the future

How can device management make your frontline workers more productive? Where do you see opportunities to improve the management capabilities of Intune? The FLW space is fast-moving and we want to develop the service to meet scenarios that help you stay secure while you grow your business. Join the discussion in our community, share your feedback, ask questions of the @IntuneSuppTeam, and keep up with the latest news by following @MSIntune on X and our LinkedIn page.

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