What is co-management?
Co-management is one of the primary ways to attach your existing Configuration Manager deployment to the Microsoft 365 cloud. It helps you unlock additional cloud-powered capabilities like conditional access.
Co-management enables you to concurrently manage Windows 10 devices by using both Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune. It lets you cloud-attach your existing investment in Configuration Manager by adding new functionality. By using co-management, you have the flexibility to use the technology solution that works best for your organization.
When a Windows 10 device has the Configuration Manager client and is enrolled to Intune, you get the benefits of both services. You control which workloads, if any, you switch the authority from Configuration Manager to Intune. Configuration Manager continues to manage all other workloads, including those workloads that you don't switch to Intune, and all other features of Configuration Manager that co-management doesn't support.
You're also able to pilot a workload with a separate collection of devices. Piloting allows you to test the Intune functionality with a subset of devices before switching a larger group.
Note
When you concurrently manage Windows 10 devices with both Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune, this configuration is called co-management. When you manage devices with Configuration Manager and enroll to a third-party MDM service, this configuration is called coexistence. Having two management authorities for a single device can be challenging if not properly orchestrated between the two. With co-management, Configuration Manager and Intune balance the workloads to make sure there are no conflicts. This interaction doesn't exist with third-party services, so there are limitations with the management capabilities of coexistence. For more information, see Third-party MDM coexistence with Configuration Manager.
Paths to co-management
There are two main paths to reach to co-management:
Existing Configuration Manager clients: You have Windows 10 devices that are already Configuration Manager clients. You set up hybrid Azure AD, and enroll them into Intune.
New internet-based devices: You have new Windows 10 devices that join Azure AD and automatically enroll to Intune. You install the Configuration Manager client to reach a co-management state.
For more information on the paths, see Paths to co-management.
Benefits
When you enroll existing Configuration Manager clients in co-management, you gain the following immediate value:
Conditional access with device compliance
Intune-based remote actions, for example: restart, remote control, or factory reset
Centralized visibility of device health
Link users, devices, and apps with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
Modern provisioning with Windows Autopilot
Remote actions
For more information on this immediate value from co-management, see the quickstarts series to Cloud connect with co-management.
Co-management also enables you to orchestrate with Intune for several workloads. For more information, see the Workloads section.
Prerequisites
Co-management has these prerequisites in the following areas:
- Licensing
- Configuration Manager
- Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
- Microsoft Intune
- Windows 10
- Permissions and roles
Licensing
Azure AD Premium
Note
An Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) subscription includes both Azure Active Directory Premium and Microsoft Intune.
At least one Intune license for you as the administrator to access the Intune portal.
Tip
Make sure you assign an Intune license to the account that you use to sign in to your tenant. Otherwise, sign in fails with the error message "User not recognized".
You may not need to purchase and assign individual Intune or EMS licenses to your users. For more information, see the Product and licensing FAQ.
Configuration Manager
Co-management requires Configuration Manager version 1710 or later.
Starting in Configuration Manager version 1806, you can connect multiple Configuration Manager instances to a single Intune tenant.
Enabling co-management itself doesn't require that you onboard your site with Azure AD. For the second path scenario, internet-based Configuration Manager clients require the cloud management gateway (CMG). The CMG requires the site is onboarded to Azure AD for cloud management.
Azure AD
Windows 10 devices must be connected to Azure AD. They can be either of the following types:
Hybrid Azure AD-joined, where the device is joined to your on-premises Active Directory and registered with your Azure Active Directory.
Azure AD-joined only. (This type is sometimes referred to as "cloud domain-joined")
Intune
Windows 10
Upgrade your devices to Windows 10, version 1709 or later. For more information, see Adopting Windows as a service.
Important
Windows 10 mobile devices don't support co-management.
Permissions and roles
| Action | Role needed |
|---|---|
| Set up a cloud management gateway in Configuration Manager | Azure Subscription Manager |
| Create Azure AD apps from Configuration Manager | Azure AD Global Administrator |
| Import Azure apps in Configuration Manager | Configuration Manager Full Administrator No additional Azure roles needed |
| Enable co-management in Configuration Manager | An Azure AD user Configuration Manager Full Administrator with All scope rights. |
For more information about Azure roles, see Understand the different roles.
For more information about Configuration Manager roles, see Fundamentals of role-based administration.
Workloads
You don't have to switch the workloads, or you can do them individually when you're ready. Configuration Manager continues to manage all other workloads, including those workloads that you don't switch to Intune, and all other features of Configuration Manager that co-management doesn't support.
Co-management supports the following workloads:
Compliance policies
Windows Update policies
Resource access policies
Endpoint Protection
Device configuration
Office Click-to-Run apps
Client apps
For more information, see Workloads.
Monitor co-management
The co-management dashboard helps you review machines that are co-managed in your environment. The graphs can help identify devices that might need attention.
For more information, see How to monitor co-management.