Tutorial / Cram Notes
Device compliance policies help identify the baseline security requirements for devices that access corporate resources. For instance, they ensure that devices have the latest security patches, enforce encryption, and require a minimum operating system version. When a device is deemed non-compliant, access to company resources can be blocked or limited until the device meets the set criteria.
Planning Device Compliance Policies
When planning device compliance policies, consider the following steps:
- Identify Security Requirements: Assess your organization’s regulatory obligations, security needs, and risk tolerance. Common requirements include enabling device encryption, setting password complexity, and ensuring up-to-date antivirus protection.
- Define Compliance Policies for Different Devices: Different types of devices (e.g., iOS, Android, Windows) may require distinct policies reflecting their respective security capabilities and organizational usage.
- Integrate with Conditional Access: Determine how compliance policies will integrate with conditional access policies to control which non-compliant devices can access corporate data.
- User Communication: Develop a plan to communicate compliance requirements and steps for remediation to the end-users.
Implementing Device Compliance Policies
Implementation involves configuring and deploying policies through the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center:
- Navigate to the Admin Center: Log into the Microsoft 365 admin center and go to the Endpoint Manager section.
- Create a New Compliance Policy:
- Select “Devices” > “Compliance policies” > “Create Policy”.
- Choose the platform (e.g., iOS/iPadOS, Android, Windows 10 and later).
- Configure settings specific to the chosen platform.
- Configure Compliance Settings:
For example, Windows 10 policy might include the following settings:
- Device Health: Require BitLocker encryption, Secure Boot enabled.
- Device Properties: Minimum OS version required.
- System Security: Password required, minimum password length, maximum minutes of inactivity before password is required.
- Assign the Policy:
- Choose the user or group assignments for the policy.
- Set the deployment scope, i.e., targeted users or groups.
- Configure Actions for Non-Compliance:
- Schedule a reminder for the user to comply before access is blocked.
- Determine if and when to block access to resources.
- Monitor Compliance Status:
- Once deployed, regularly check the compliance status of devices.
- Use reports to identify trends and compliance issues.
Example of a Device Compliance Policy Table
Here is an example of how a device compliance policy table for Windows 10 devices might look:
| Compliance Setting | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS Version | Windows 10 version 1909 or later |
| Password | Required, at least 8 characters |
| Encryption | BitLocker enabled |
| Secure Boot | Enabled |
| Antivirus | Microsoft Defender Antivirus up-to-date |
Conclusion
Creating and implementing device compliance policies within Microsoft 365 is a significant step towards securing your IT environment. By defining compliance requirements and leveraging the tools available in Microsoft Endpoint Manager, organizations can protect sensitive data and ensure devices comply with essential security practices.
Continuously monitor device compliance and adapt policies as necessary to respond to new threats and changes in organizational requirements. By doing so, your Microsoft 365 deployment will maintain a strong security posture, safeguarding both data and device integrity.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Device compliance policies in Microsoft 365 can only be applied to devices that are enrolled in Microsoft Intune.
- False
Device compliance policies can be applied to any device that is enrolled in Microsoft Intune, as well as devices managed by other Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions that are integrated with Microsoft
True or False: You can require devices to have a certain minimum OS version as part of a device compliance policy.
- True
Device compliance policies can be configured to check for specific operating system versions and enforce minimum OS version requirements for compliance.
Which of the following can be used as a condition in a device compliance policy? (Select all that apply)
- A) Device health
- B) User Role
- C) Network location
- D) System Security
- E) Device model
Answer: A, C, D
A device compliance policy can be configured to include conditions such as device health, network location, and system security settings. User role and device model are not directly used as conditions for compliance policies, though some attributes related to them might indirectly influence compliance.
True or False: Compliance policies in Microsoft 365 can automatically trigger a device to be marked as non-compliant if it has not checked in for a certain number of days.
- True
Microsoft Intune compliance policies can be set to mark a device as non-compliant if it has not checked in for a specified number of days.
What can Microsoft 365 administrators use to ensure that devices encrypt their data storage?
- A) BitLocker
- B) Conditional Access
- C) Mobile Application Management (MAM)
- D) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Answer: A
BitLocker is a feature that can be configured through compliance policies to ensure that devices encrypt their storage to protect data at rest.
True or False: Once a device is marked non-compliant, it will always remain in that state until an administrator manually changes its status.
- False
Devices marked as non-compliant can become compliant again if the issues are remediated and the device meets the requirements of the configured compliance policies.
Conditional Access policies are an essential part of device compliance. Which of the following actions can they enforce? (Select all that apply)
- A) Require multi-factor authentication
- B) Block access to resources
- C) Initiate a device factory reset
- D) Require compliant device
- E) Enforce application usage policies
Answer: A, B, D
Conditional Access policies can require multi-factor authentication, block access to resources, and require the use of a compliant device. They do not initiate a device factory reset directly, nor enforce application usage policies (that’s typically managed through Mobile Application Management policies).
True or False: In Microsoft 365, compliance policies can enforce the use of a VPN when accessing organization data.
- True
Compliance policies can be configured to ensure that devices are connected through a VPN before accessing organization data.
Which of the following is NOT considered when defining compliance in device compliance policies?
- A) Encryption requirements
- B) Device location
- C) Password complexity
- D) User’s age
Answer: D
Compliance policies typically consider device attributes such as encryption requirements, location, and password complexity, but not the user’s age, as it is not relevant to device security.
True or False: In Microsoft Intune, you can grant exceptions to compliance policies for specific users or devices.
- True
In Microsoft Intune, you can configure exclusions within compliance policies that allow exceptions for certain users or devices.
What is the significance of setting a compliance policy to “Report only” in Microsoft Intune?
- A) Devices found non-compliant are blocked from accessing corporate resources
- B) Devices will be automatically retired from Intune
- C) Policy violations are logged, but no enforcement action is taken
- D) The policy applies only to guest users
Answer: C
Setting a policy to “Report only” means that policy violations will be reported within the admin console, but no automatic remediation or enforcement actions will be taken on non-compliant devices.
True or False: You can configure alerts to notify administrators when a device falls out of compliance in Microsoft
- True
Microsoft 365 allows you to set up alerts that notify administrators when a device becomes non-compliant, enabling them to take timely action.
Interview Questions
What are device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune?
Device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune are a way to enforce specific security requirements on mobile devices used within an organization’s IT environment.
What should organizations consider before implementing device compliance policies?
Organizations should plan which policies they want to enforce and for which devices.
What is the process for creating a device compliance policy in Microsoft Intune?
To create a device compliance policy in Microsoft Intune, go to Devices > Compliance policies > Create policy, choose the platform for the policy (such as iOS, Android, or Windows), choose the policy settings, and assign the policy to a group of devices.
What types of policy settings can be configured using device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune?
Policy settings that can be configured using device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune include password requirements, encryption requirements, and others.
How are device compliance policies enforced on mobile devices?
Device compliance policies are enforced on mobile devices through Microsoft Intune.
What is an example of a device compliance policy for Android devices?
An example of a device compliance policy for Android devices is setting password length requirements.
How can reports be used to monitor non-compliance issues with device compliance policies?
Reports can be used to monitor non-compliance issues with device compliance policies by identifying which devices are not meeting the policy requirements.
What is the process for updating a device compliance policy in Microsoft Intune?
To update a device compliance policy in Microsoft Intune, go to Devices > Compliance policies, select the policy that you want to update, make the necessary changes to the policy settings, and save the changes.
Can device compliance policies be assigned to specific groups of devices?
Yes, device compliance policies can be assigned to specific groups of devices.
What should organizations do if a device is not compliant with a device compliance policy?
Organizations should take appropriate action, such as updating the policy or re-assigning the device to a different policy.
How does enforcing device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune help organizations ensure device security?
Enforcing device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune helps organizations ensure device security by enforcing specific security requirements on mobile devices used within the IT environment.
Can device compliance policies be used to enforce security requirements on non-mobile devices, such as desktop or laptop computers?
No, device compliance policies are only available for mobile devices.
What are some common security requirements that can be enforced using device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune?
Common security requirements that can be enforced using device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune include password length requirements, encryption requirements, and others.
How often should organizations review and update their device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune?
Organizations should review and update their device compliance policies in Microsoft Intune on a regular basis, depending on the specific needs of the organization.
Can device compliance policies be used to enforce requirements that go beyond security, such as usage policies?
No, device compliance policies are only designed to enforce specific security requirements on mobile devices.
Great post on device compliance policies! I’m currently preparing for the MS-101 exam, and this has been really helpful.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. How important do you think Conditional Access policies are in achieving compliance?
Can anyone explain the difference between device compliance policies and configuration profiles?
This blog is a lifesaver; I’m halfway through my MS-101 prep!
What are the best practices for setting up device compliance policies?
I have a question about non-compliant devices. How can I automatically remediate them?
Thanks! This really clarified a lot of my doubts.
In your opinion, how effective are device compliance policies in a hybrid environment?