Microsoft Intune Named a Leader in Forrester Wave

Introduction

Microsoft has announced that Intune was recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Endpoint Management Platforms, Q2 2026. For IT administrators, the bigger story is not the analyst ranking itself, but how Microsoft is positioning Intune as a unified platform for endpoint management, security, compliance, and emerging AI governance.

What’s new

Intune positioned as a broader endpoint platform

Microsoft highlighted Intune’s role across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with a single admin center that connects with Microsoft Entra, Defender, Windows, and Windows 365. The message is clear: endpoint management is moving beyond traditional device inventory and policy enforcement into a more connected Zero Trust model.

AI-assisted admin workflows

The announcement puts strong emphasis on AI features inside Intune, including:

• Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM) with AI-assisted decision support
• Security Copilot in Intune for investigation, vulnerability review, and remediation guidance
• Vulnerability Remediation Agent in public preview, using Defender Vulnerability Management signals to surface CVEs on Intune-managed Windows devices and apps

These capabilities are designed to reduce manual triage and speed up admin decision-making.

New licensing and platform updates

Microsoft also called out several practical updates for customers:

• Advanced Intune Suite management solutions, including EPM, are now being added automatically to Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans
• General availability is planned for July 2026 for unattended remote access sign-in in Intune Remote Help
• Automatic updates for required apps in Intune Enterprise Application Management are also expected in July 2026
• Intune now supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and 10

Why this matters for IT admins

For organizations already invested in Microsoft 365, this strengthens the case for standardizing on Intune rather than maintaining multiple management tools. Bundled licensing may lower costs, while tighter integration across Entra, Defender, and Intune can simplify compliance, privilege management, and remediation workflows.

The AI governance angle is also important. Microsoft is positioning Intune as a control layer not just for user devices, but for AI agents running locally or in cloud-based environments such as Windows 365 for Agents.

Next steps

IT teams should review whether newly included Intune capabilities in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 affect current licensing or third-party tool usage. It is also worth evaluating upcoming features like Remote Help improvements, Enterprise Application Management updates, and expanded Linux support.

For security-focused organizations, now is a good time to assess how Intune, Defender, and Entra can work together to support Zero Trust and future AI governance requirements.