Modern Workplace Management aims to make the digital workplace simpler to manage, more secure, and easier to scale.
Key points:
Management is centralized: devices, applications, identities, access, and policies can be managed consistently;
The workstation can be provisioned and configured remotely, requiring less manual intervention by IT;
Security no longer depends solely on the company’s network: identity, the device, and its level of compliance all play a role in access control;
The transition must take existing systems into account: legacy applications, GPOs, local resources, BYOD, or hybrid management models can slow down the migration;
The goal is not to increase oversight across the board, but to apply the appropriate level of management based on usage and risks.
What is Modern Workplace Management?
Is this a Microsoft product?
No, the term “Modern Workplace Management” is not the name of a Microsoft product. In its technical documentation, Microsoft uses it to describe Modern device, application, and identity management.
This expression can be found:
- In the Microsoft Marketplace.
- In the title of the Microsoft Learn course “Modern Management with Cloud-Native Windows Accreditation 2026.”
- In the description of the certification “Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate,” updated on July 24, 2026, which mentions the “essential elements of modern management.”
How would you define it?
Modern Workplace Management refers to the management of the digital work environment made available to employees.
It is designed to enable IT teams to deploy, manage, secure, and scale the workstations and services that users access, both in the office and remotely.
Specifically, this management involves, among other things:
- computers, smartphones, and other devices;
- deploying, configuring, and updating workstations;
- application management;
- identities and access rights;
- security policies;
- the automation of certain tasks, such as setting up a new workstation;
- monitoring and replacing equipment throughout its lifecycle.
Modern Workplace Management is therefore not limited to tools used. It also includes the rules, the processes and administrative practices necessary to maintain a work environment that is operational and suited to the company’s needs.
How is this different from Microsoft Modern Workplace?
Microsoft clearly uses “Modern Workplace” to refer to the work environment made possible by Microsoft 365.
In contrast, Microsoft primarily uses “modern management” to describe how IT deploys and manages this environment.
Modern Workplace | Modern Workplace Management | |
Question | What kind of digital environment and usage options should we offer our employees? | How can we manage, secure, and scale this environment? |
Point of View | Employee / Organization | IT / Administration |
Subject | Experience | Operational Management |
Examples | Teams, documents, collaboration, remote access | provision a PC, manage an endpoint, deploy an app, manage access, apply configurations, update devices |
👉 For an overview of the tools and practices that make up the work environment itself, check out our guide Microsoft Modern Workplace: What Is It, and What Are the Benefits of Implementing It?
What are the pillars of Modern Workplace Management?
At Qim info, we believe that Modern Workplace Management can be organized around several key areas.
Device and Endpoint Management
That’s the heart of the matter. Modern Workplace Management begins with the centralized management of the devices used to access company resources: computers, smartphones, tablets, and other work devices.
This equipment may belong to the organization or, depending on the policies in place, be personal devices.
The goal is to enable IT teams to:
- take inventory of the devices,
- place them under management,
- monitor their condition,
- provide remote support throughout their use.
Within the Microsoft ecosystem, these features are primarily provided by Microsoft Intune, which Microsoft defines as a cloud-based endpoint management service.
Provisioning, Deployment, and Configuration of Workstations
Modern Workplace Management aims to simplify and standardize the setup of workstations. The specific objectives include:
- reduce manual tasks by IT,
- provide users with devices that are configured consistently in accordance with company policies.
Provisioning can therefore help to:
- automatically assign a position to the organization,
- enter it into the management system,
- apply the settings that correspond to the user’s account, group, or usage. IT teams can then remotely deploy various settings.
In the Microsoft ecosystem, Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune make it possible to automate a large part of this process.
Identity and Access Management
Access to company resources no longer depends solely on being connected to the internal network. The Identity Management and access (IAM) ensures that each user is properly authenticated and has only the necessary access to the applications, data, and services they need.
Example: Authorization to access a resource may take into account:
- the user’s identity,
- the requested application,
- the device used,
- its location,
- level of risk associated with the connection.
Access can then be granted, denied, or subject to additional requirements.
Within the Microsoft ecosystem, this management relies in particular on Microsoft Entra ID.
Microsoft Entra ID Governance also allows you to adjust and review access over time
Application and Update Management
Depending on your needs, an app can be assigned to specific users or devices, installed, configured, updated, and then removed when it is no longer needed. The goal is to facilitate access to work tools while maintaining centralized control over the software installed on the devices.
In the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft Intune enables you to, among other things:
- deploy different types of applications,
- target their distribution based on the users and devices involved,
- define strategies for quality and feature updates, as well as for drivers,
- organize their rollout in a phased manner.
Security, Compliance, and Data Protection
Modern Workplace Management helps secure devices and the data they provide access to, even when employees are working remotely.
Device compliance provides another layer of control. Rules can specify the conditions a device must meet to be considered compliant: minimum operating system version, encryption enabled, no jailbreak or root access, or a risk level below a defined threshold.
Finally, protection extends to data processed on workstations. Data loss prevention (DLP) mechanisms can monitor certain actions performed on sensitive information and, depending on the defined policies, audit them, alert the user, or restrict them. In the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft Purview Endpoint DLP extends these controls to Windows and macOS devices, among others.
Management, Governance, and Lifecycle
Modern Workplace Management first and foremost requires having a sufficiently detailed understanding of the current state of the equipment fleet in order to manage it effectively.
Governance also involves setting guidelines for how the environment is managed.
Finally, this management process covers the entire lifecycle of devices, from their enrollment to their decommissioning. When a device is replaced, lost, reassigned, or no longer needs access to company resources, IT teams must be able to properly remove it from the management system.
How to Implement Modern Workplace Management?
Support for users and teams is not a one-time effort: it must be an ongoing process throughout the entire transformation, from pilot preparation through to day-to-day operations.
1. Map land uses, the building stock, and outbuildings
Before choosing a target architecture or deploying new tools, you must determine what actually needs to be managed and what constraints will need to be taken into account. The goal is not to replicate the existing environment exactly!
Start by identifying the main user groups (admin, developer, sales rep, etc.) and their uses. For each user group, document at least the following:
- the devices used and their owner: company or user;
- operating systems and versions currently in use;
- work location and arrangements: on-site, remote work, travel, job sharing, etc.;
- applications essential to the business;
- the resources that users need to access;
- any specific requirements: administrator privileges, peripherals, VPN, certificates, line-of-business applications, or access to local resources.
Next, you need to map out the applications, services, and technical dependencies. For each mission-critical application, ask specific questions:
- Does it work without a connection to the internal network?
- Does it depend on Active Directory, a file server, a VPN, a certificate, or a specific version of Windows?
- Can it be installed silently?
- Is user data stored locally or synced to the cloud?
The current situation regardingadministration and security must also be reviewed.
At the end of this step, you should be able to create a simple matrix linking each population to its needs and constraints. For example:
Population | Devices | Critical Applications / Resources | Dependencies | Special Requirements |
Office Software Applications | Corporate Windows PCs | Microsoft 365, business applications | VPN for a Legacy Application | Remote Work |
Sales Representatives | Work computer + personal smartphone | CRM, Teams, Outlook | None for CRM | Mobile BYOD |
Production | shared terminals | business application | local network, specific device | shared position |
IT | Corporate PC | administration tools | internal resources | high privileges |
Above all, this mapping exercise should highlight the exceptions and obstacles.
2. Define the target model and the migration path
Based on the mapping completed earlier, define the target management mode for each population and each type of device.
Start by answering a few specific questions for each population:
- Does the device belong to the company or to the employee?
- Should it be fully managed, or is it sufficient to simply protect business applications and data?
- How will the user and the device be authenticated?
- Which resources should remain accessible from the internal network?
- Which applications or configurations still prevent fully cloud-based management?
- Which tool will be responsible for each function: configuration, applications, updates, security, compliance, etc.?
A decision matrix helps make these choices explicit.
Population | Device | Target Model | Target Management | Addiction to be treated |
Office Software Applications | Corporate Windows PCs | Microsoft Entra joined | Intune | business application still accessible via VPN |
Sales Representatives | Personal smartphone | Unmanaged device + application protection | Intune protection policies | none |
Production | Shared PC | To be determined based on the job requirements | scenario-based management | local application and device |
Historical Windows Park | PCs Currently Managed with Configuration Manager | temporary coexistence | Configuration Manager + Intune | workloads to be transferred gradually |
💡Qim Info Tip: Plan for coexistence rather than an abrupt transition. In a Windows environment already managed with Microsoft Configuration Manager, migrating to Intune does not necessarily require transferring all functions at once. However, this coexistence must have a clear objective and a defined timeframe.
We also need to decide when existing devices will be upgraded to the new model. A realistic plan might therefore involve:
- directly deploy the new positions according to the target model;
- migrate certain existing positions when a reset or redeployment is acceptable;
- take advantage of the natural turnover of the fleet to gradually replace the legacy systems;
- Temporarily keep certain devices in a hybrid model when a business requirement warrants it.
Finally, don’t let exceptions become the default. Each scenario that does not yet meet the target must be associated with a measurable exit criterion.
For example:
- “Migration after replacing Application X”;
- “Migration to Intune after the deployment of Software Y has been validated”;
- “Removal of the VPN dependency after migrating the document share”;
- “Replacement of the unit during the next equipment upgrade.”
At the end of this step, you should therefore have two deliverables:
- a matrix showing the target management model by population and by device,
- a path showing how each current situation will lead to that goal—either directly, gradually, or after an identified obstacle has been resolved.
3. Build a foundation for management and security
Once the target model has been defined, build a minimal management and security foundation. The goal is not to replicate all the configurations of the legacy environment.
💡Qim info tip: Avoid applying the same setting through multiple different policies. In Intune, conflicting settings can cause conflicts.
Before moving on to the pilot phase, create a checklist to verify that a workstation is truly ready. This foundation forms the minimum configuration for testing—not the final configuration.
Field | Validation Criteria |
Enrollment | The device successfully joins the intended management model |
Configuration | The required profiles are applied without error |
Applications | The necessary applications are available |
Security | The expected protections are active |
Compliance | The device complies with the established rules |
Access | The user accesses authorized resources |
Updates | The planned update policy is being implemented |
Supervision | IT can identify the main failures and discrepancies |
4. Test on a pilot project before rolling it out to the entire organization
Microsoft recommends starting with a limitedlimited number of users, and then gradually expand the pilot before the general rollout.
However, avoid selecting only IT administrators. The pilot should cover the main scenarios identified during the mapping process: different user profiles, device models, business applications, connection methods, and mobility scenarios.
Next, try the entire process—not just the Intune enrollment process.
Give it a try | Question to be validated |
Stocking | Can a new or factory-reset device be set up properly? |
Configuration | Are the expected policies being implemented without conflict or error? |
Applications | Do the essential software programs install and run properly? |
Access | Does the user have access to the resources they need, both on-site and remotely? |
Security / Compliance | Are compliant and non-compliant devices handled as intended? |
Updates | Do the update policies produce the expected behavior? |
Support | Is the help desk able to diagnose and resolve common issues? |
5. Roll out in phases, then manage over the long term
Gradually roll out the system by user group, site, or device type to minimize risks. After each phase, analyze incidents, compliance issues, and deployment failures. Then adjust policies, support, and configurations before expanding the scope further.
What are the main points to watch out for?
Underestimating the dependencies of the existing system
This is the number one point to watch out for.
The risk isn’t so much the migration itself. The problem is realizing too late that a business application, a device, an authentication method, a certificate, a GPO, or a local resource is preventing the target model from working.
Microsoft actually recommends:
- to identify the dependencies of each workload,
- to avoid migrating certain scenarios to cloud-native endpoints when they are not suitable for that environment.
💡Qim Info Tip: Before any migration, identify any blocking issues and assign a decision to each one: delete, modernize, replace, temporarily work around, or exclude from the target model.
Manage all users and devices the same way
For certain BYOD scenarios, Microsoft allows you to protect work data in apps using Intune MAM without fully enrolling the device in Intune.
Conversely, Microsoft recommends that devices owned by the organization generally be enrolled and managed.
The level of control should depend on the context : a company-owned Windows PC, a personal smartphone, a shared workstation, or a dedicated device do not necessarily require the same management model.
Resist the temptation to configure everything
Microsoft is quite clear on this point: for cloud-native endpoints, it recommends configuring only what is necessary in the baseline and not creating policies that control users’ common preferences.
For each new policy, ask yourself:
- whatever business need or risk it addresses,
- who is responsible for it,
- How will you know when it can be deleted?
And for the exceptions, each should have an owner, a justification, and, when possible, an exit condition.
Managing the environment as a set of adjustments
Important to know:
- who can create or modify policies;
- which manages which populations;
- that handles an exception;
- which is responsible for a family of parameters;
- Which features are actually available with the selected licenses?
Intune specifically allows you to restrict administrators’ permissions and visibility using RBAC and scope tags. Microsoft also recommends using appropriate roles rather than unnecessarily granting full administrative access.
Verify the license prerequisites for the features actually planned in the target architecture before deployment, not after the policies have been designed.
What budget should you allocate for a Modern Workplace Management project?
There is no standard budget. The cost depends, among other things, on the size and diversity of the infrastructure, the applications to be migrated or adapted, dependencies on the existing environment, the desired level of security, and the scope of the deployment.
To create a realistic budget, break it down into four categories:
- licenses, after checking the features already included in your Microsoft 365 subscriptions;
- Implementation : architecture, configuration, application packaging, testing, pilot, and deployment;
- Migration and remediation, particularly when an application, a Group Policy Object (GPO), or a technical dependency needs to be adapted;
- Operation, including administration, support, and the ongoing development of policies over time.
The first step, therefore, is to audit the licenses already available before purchasing additional options. Microsoft Intune is included in several Microsoft 365 plans, and the features included in each plan vary depending on the licenses you hold.
💡Qim Info Tip: Is your company using Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 ? Check the Intune features that are already included.
A sound budget should therefore be based on the gaps between the current situation and the target model, rather than solely on the list price of a per-user license.
Qim Info, your partner for implementing Microsoft's Modern Workplace
Qim info is here to help you install Microsoft’s modern workplace. Experts in the field accompany you in this transition to ensure it goes smoothly. The end goal? That in your company, neither the location nor the device of your employees are constraints to their work.
Qim info unveils a comprehensive range of modern solutions for managing your IT infrastructure. We develop a collaborative and flexible environment to boost your employees’ productivity and well-being . Beyond technology, transformation requires a cultural shift: we support you along this journey to adopt new ways of working within your organization. In this way, we can become your ideal partner to implement—either with you or independently—Microsoft’s modern workplace in your company.
