keli 
Introduction:
Modern endpoint management has undergone the most significant change since the shift from on-premises server solutions, such as ConfigMgr with Intune, to cloud-based solutions. As we move into 2026, Microsoft has transitioned from viewing Intune as simply another Mobile Device Management platform to a command centre that will be powered by AI for businesses within the growing zero-trust ecosystem. The core part of this transition will include incorporating high-end security technologies directly into each of the core licenses.
AI-Native Security and Copilot Agent Integration:
Microsoft Security Copilot is integrating seamlessly with the Intune admin centre, making it easier for organisations to move to proactive management rather than reactive troubleshooting. By 2026, Microsoft will be using the new unified AI Security Agent Framework across Intune, Microsoft Defender, and Entra ID, providing administrators with a complete view of the health of their devices. It will allow admins to explore extensive data sets and ask high-level questions about business requirements and automatically convert them into precise KQL syntax for fleet analysis. Many institutes provide Microsoft Intune Certification courses.
- The automated rollout of Security Copilot to all Microsoft 365 E5 tenants will begin in Q3 of 2026.
- New Artificial Intelligence-Powered Root-Cause-Analysis Tools will assist administrators in solving enrollment grouping failures.
- Elevation Requests for Endpoint Privilege Management will be summarised intelligently, identifying high-risk Applications using Microsoft Defender’s threat intelligence.
- Natural Language Policy Generation will allow junior-level administrators to create complex configuration profiles via guided conversational prompts.
- Real-Time What-If Analysis will predict how specific security baselines may impact user productivity before they are implemented and deployed to Production.
- Unified AI Security Agents will connect signals from Identity, Endpoint, and Cloud Applications and automatically respond to new emerging AI-Enhanced Attack Vectors.
The Intune Suite Consolidation and License Evolution:
2016 marks a major milestone in Microsoft 365: the introduction of Intune Suite as a standard feature of every Microsoft 365 license. All features previously offered as a separate subscription, including Remote Help and Advanced Analytics, are being consolidated with the standard E3 and E5 license tiers to reduce the total cost of ownership of Intune and make way for Intune’s position as the lead platform for all endpoint operations within an organisation. This results in less confusion and redundancy caused by the use of disparate third-party applications for remote support and reporting. Many institutes provide an Intune Course, and enrolling in them can help you start a career in this domain.
- Also included in the E5 Tier for all licensing types is Enterprise App Management and Microsoft Cloud PKI. These new features will facilitate the deployment of security applications.
- Additionally, customers will now have access to detailed reporting on advanced battery health as well as overall resource performance on all managed Windows devices. This data will guide customers in their planning for hardware refresh cycles.
- New levels of functionality will allow administrators to provide near-instantaneous troubleshooting of the end-user experience with near-zero latency. This capability will be accomplished through the Intune Portal.
- Centralised application of Windows security updates during the Enrollment Status Page will ensure that devices are fully patched before they ever reach the personal desktop of the end user.
- Additionally, the consolidation of cross-platform support for Linux, macOS, and Android Enterprise into one experience will provide administrators with a streamlined administrative interface at no additional cost.
Conclusion:
The roadmap through 2026 signals a definitive end to fragmented endpoint management and the complexity of hybrid-cloud dependencies. By embedding advanced security, AI agents, and identity-aware privilege management into the core fabric of Microsoft 365, MS Intune is set to become the primary defensive layer against emerging threats. While significantly lowering the administrative burden. For IT leaders, the priority now shifts from managing individual devices to orchestrating a secure, AI-native digital ecosystem that prioritises both ironclad security and a seamless employee experience.
