📱 Intune for iOS and Android: App Protection vs. Device Enrollment — What’s Right for BYOD?
When employees start using personal smartphones to check work email or chat on Teams, IT admins face a critical choice:
Do we enroll the mobile device into Intune, or just protect the apps?
If you get this wrong, you’ll either:
- Overstep and frustrate users (who don’t want IT managing their phone), or
- Leave corporate data wide open on unsecured devices
Let’s break down the real-world difference between App Protection Policies (MAM) and Device Enrollment (MDM) — and when to use each.
🔐 App Protection Policies: Control the Apps, Not the Phone
App Protection Policies (MAM) let you apply security rules directly to Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Teams, Word, and OneDrive — without enrolling the device.
How it works:
- Corporate data is containerized inside the app
- You can block copy/paste, force PINs, encrypt app data, and remote-wipe just the work profile
- Users keep full control of their personal device — no IT access to photos, messages, or personal apps
Perfect for:
- Personal phones (BYOD)
- Executives and sales teams who resist device control
- Contractors or temp workers who use their own phones
Key Benefits:
- No device enrollment required
- Fast to deploy and enforce
- Low friction = high user acceptance
📲 Intune Device Enrollment: Full Control for Corporate Devices
When a phone is company-owned, or when tighter control is required, you’ll want to go with full device enrollment through Intune.
How it works:
- Device is enrolled via Company Portal (or Apple Automated Device Enrollment for corp iPhones)
- You can enforce OS versions, push Wi-Fi settings, install apps silently, and wipe the entire phone if needed
- Combines with compliance policies and Conditional Access to block non-compliant devices
Best used for:
- Company-owned Android or iOS devices
- Shared or frontline devices
- Regulated industries with strict data controls
Key Benefits:
- Strong compliance enforcement
- Remote lock and wipe
- Full control of app installs and device settings
⚖️ MAM vs. MDM on iOS/Android — Quick Comparison
| Feature | App Protection (MAM) | Device Enrollment (MDM) |
|---|---|---|
| Device ownership | Personal (BYOD) | Corporate |
| Enrollment required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| App-level control | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Device-level control | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Remote wipe | ✅ App-only | ✅ Full wipe |
| User impact | 🟢 Low | 🔴 High |
🧠 So What Should You Use?
Here’s the rule of thumb:
| Scenario | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Personal iPhones/Androids | ✅ App Protection Policies only |
| Corporate-owned phones | ✅ Intune Device Enrollment |
| Contractor access | ✅ MAM or Conditional Access with MAM |
| High-security roles (finance, legal) | 🔁 Evaluate need for MDM |
🔒 Pro Tip: Use Conditional Access with MAM
Want to ensure users only access corporate data from protected apps — even if they’re on a personal phone?
Use Conditional Access to block access unless the app has a protection policy applied.
Example: Only allow Outlook mobile access if the App Protection Policy is applied — otherwise block.
This gives you lightweight control without full device enrollment — the sweet spot for BYOD.
✅ Final Take
Don’t treat every mobile device the same.
- BYOD = App Protection Policies. Fast, simple, and protects your data without annoying users.
- Corporate-owned = Intune Enrollment. Full compliance, full control.
- Use Conditional Access to enforce either model and keep your environment secure.
This is modern endpoint management — and if you’re not using App Protection Policies yet, you’re behind.