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Choose Basic Mobility and Security if you need straightforward protection for devices accessing Microsoft 365 and its basic controls meet your needs. Choose Microsoft Intune when you need deeper compliance and configuration policies, Conditional Access based on compliance, macOS management, or broader application and endpoint-management capabilities. The right choice depends on the control you need, the devices you manage, and which licenses cover the users or devices involved.
What is the difference between Basic Mobility and Security and Intune?
Microsoft describes Basic Mobility and Security as a free, cloud-based subset of Intune services for managing devices that access Microsoft 365 resources. It provides basic policies for supported devices. Intune offers broader management capabilities, including richer compliance and configuration policies and Conditional Access based on compliance.
| Area | Basic Mobility and Security | Microsoft Intune |
|---|---|---|
| Management depth | Basic device policies for protecting access to Microsoft 365 resources | Broader configuration and compliance policies, plus application and endpoint-management capabilities |
| Conditional Access based on compliance | Limited | Available |
| Listed platform coverage | iOS/iPadOS, Android, Samsung Knox, and Windows PCs | iOS/iPadOS, Android, Samsung Knox, Windows PCs, and macOS |
| Licensing | Included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions | Requires an appropriate Intune plan or bundle and license assignment for covered users or devices |
The platform list describes coverage in Microsoft’s comparison; it does not mean every operating system has identical policy options in the two services. Intune is not simply a different name for Basic Mobility and Security: the latter covers a narrower set of management needs.
Which option fits your devices and management requirements?
Choose Basic Mobility and Security for simple Microsoft 365 protection
It may be a good fit when your main requirement is basic protection for Microsoft 365 access, simple device settings, and a low-complexity deployment already covered by an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription. It is less suited to environments that need advanced compliance reporting, extensive configuration, or macOS management.
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Choose Intune for more control and broader coverage
Intune is the stronger fit when you need richer compliance policies, Conditional Access decisions based on device compliance, more configuration options, application or endpoint management, or support for macOS. It is also appropriate when you need a more deliberate device-management and governance program rather than a limited set of basic policies.
Match the choice to device ownership and privacy
Consider whether the organization manages the whole device or only needs to protect its work data and resources. Mobile device management (MDM) gives the organization management control over the device. Mobile application management (MAM) applies policies to company resources while the user retains control of the device, making it relevant for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scenarios. The appropriate model depends on your organization’s privacy expectations and the policies it needs; do not assume that choosing either service automatically settles those questions.
Do you need Intune if you already have Microsoft 365?
Not necessarily. Basic Mobility and Security is included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions, so an organization with modest requirements may already have a suitable option. But having Microsoft 365 does not establish that your subscription includes every Intune capability you want. Intune is offered as Plan 1, Plan 2, Intune Suite, and through Microsoft 365 bundles; identify the required features and verify that the chosen plan or bundle covers them.
Microsoft says an Intune license is required for any user or device that benefits directly or indirectly from Intune, including access through a Microsoft API. Confirm whether your deployment will license users or devices, and make sure every covered user or device has the appropriate entitlement before rollout. The applicable license can depend on the plan and deployment model.
How to move from Basic Mobility and Security to Intune
Treat the change as a policy and licensing migration, not just a license switch. Microsoft’s migration guidance recommends preparing the Intune policies first, assigning licenses in stages, and checking the device transition and old policies.
- Inventory the current setup. List Basic Mobility and Security policies, the groups they target, and the enrolled devices those policies affect.
- Confirm licensing. Verify that you have enough appropriate Intune licenses for every user or device that will be managed.
- Recreate or map policies in Intune. Set up the corresponding Intune policies before assigning Intune licenses. Compare what each policy controls rather than assuming that a policy transfers unchanged.
- Assign licenses in stages. Roll out to a limited group first, then monitor the next device refresh cycle. Microsoft says that at the next Intune device refresh cycle, devices automatically switch to Intune management and the new policies start affecting them.
- Verify policy assignment for each newly licensed user. Microsoft warns that users who receive an Intune license but are not assigned Intune policies can lose existing settings and email configuration. Check policy targeting before and during each rollout stage.
- Clean up after the transition. Once the migration is complete, remove obsolete Basic Mobility and Security policies so they cannot be assigned later.
Staging helps surface policy-targeting or licensing problems before they affect everyone. Include the expected device refresh cycle in your rollout plan: a license assignment alone does not mean every device changes management immediately.
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