What is the difference between SCCM and Microsoft Intune, and in what scenarios would you use one over the other?

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Accepted Answer

SCCM, which Microsoft has rebranded as Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager and is now part of Microsoft Configuration Manager, is an on-premises device management solution. It requires server infrastructure within your organization's data center, including a site server, SQL database, distribution points for content delivery, and management points for client communication. SCCM manages devices through a client agent installed on each endpoint.

Microsoft Intune, on the other hand, is a cloud-based device management solution. It requires no on-premises infrastructure because everything is hosted in Microsoft's cloud. Devices are managed through enrollment rather than a traditional client installation, and communication happens over the internet. Intune is part of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite and is included in many Microsoft 365 licensing plans.

The key differences come down to architecture, reach, and capabilities. SCCM excels at managing devices that are on the corporate network. It supports complex application deployment scenarios, OS deployment through task sequences, deep hardware and software inventory, and granular patch management through its integration with WSUS. It is the better choice for large organizations with thousands of on-premises workstations, complex application deployment needs, and existing investment in SCCM infrastructure.

Intune excels at managing devices that are remote, mobile, or personally owned. It supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, making it the right choice for organizations with a significant mobile workforce or bring-your-own-device policies. Intune handles device enrollment, compliance policies, application deployment, conditional access through integration with Azure AD, and security configurations like BitLocker encryption and Windows Hello for Business.

In practice, many organizations today use both through co-management. Co-management connects SCCM and Intune so that devices are managed by both platforms simultaneously, with specific workloads directed to whichever platform handles them best. For example, you might keep OS deployment and complex application packaging in SCCM while moving compliance policies, conditional access, and mobile device management to Intune. This hybrid approach provides a migration path for organizations transitioning from on-premises to cloud management.

You would choose SCCM alone when the environment is entirely on-premises with no cloud adoption planned. You would choose Intune alone for a fully cloud-native organization with no on-premises infrastructure, which is increasingly common with smaller companies and startups. For most mid-to-large organizations in transition, co-management is the recommended approach because it provides flexibility while the migration to cloud-based management progresses.