Updated this quarter
Last updated:
Migrating from on-premises Group Policy to Microsoft Intune is the biggest endpoint management project most IT teams will run in 2026. Done well, it gives you cloud-native management, modern security baselines, and zero-touch deployment. Done badly, it creates months of broken policies, frustrated users, and rollback to GPO. This guide walks you through the four-phase migration plan that has worked for hundreds of enterprises in India.
Why migrate at all?
Group Policy is 25-year-old technology tied to on-premises Active Directory. It cannot manage macOS, iOS, Android, or Linux. It cannot enforce security baselines consistently. It cannot deliver zero-touch deployment. Intune is cloud-native, multi-platform, and integrated with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. The business case is clear.
Phase 1: Inventory and analyze
Use the MDM Migration Analysis Tool (MMAT) in Intune to scan every GPO in your domain. The tool maps GPO settings to Intune configuration profiles (CSPs) and shows the percentage that can be migrated automatically. The first deliverable is a "migration readiness" report per GPO.
Phase 2: Co-management setup
Enable co-management on a pilot collection of devices. Co-management lets you move specific workloads (Compliance, Device Configuration, Windows Update, Endpoint Protection, etc.) from Configuration Manager / GPO to Intune one at a time. Start with Compliance and Resource Access; leave the rest on GPO.
Phase 3: Pilot with 50 devices
Pick 50 representative devices — different departments, different OS versions, different use cases. Apply the Intune configuration profiles that map to the GPOs. Monitor compliance, user feedback, and any broken settings for 30 days. Have a rollback plan ready.
Phase 4: Wave rollout
Roll out in 4 waves of 25% each, with 30 days between waves. Each wave is a chance to learn. Update the GPO-to-Intune mapping based on issues. Communicate the change clearly to the help desk and end users.
Security baselines first
In parallel, deploy the Microsoft Security Baseline for Windows 11 and the Windows Autopilot profile. These are pre-built, Microsoft-curated, and apply best-practice security settings. Most enterprises enable these early in the migration.
Common mistakes
Migrating too fast (skipping the pilot), not having a rollback plan, not training the help desk, not testing on all OS versions in your estate, and trying to migrate every GPO setting (some have no Intune equivalent — accept the gap).
Timeline and resources
A typical 1,000-device migration takes 6 months. 5,000 devices: 12–18 months. 20,000+ devices: 18–24 months. You need a full-time project lead, 2 engineers for the migration, and 1 engineer for help desk support during the rollout. The SkilBrill Microsoft Intune Training in Chennai covers this end-to-end.
Talk to a Chennai Counsellor
This is one of three capstone projects in the SkilBrill Microsoft Intune Training in Chennai. The programme also covers Autopilot, MAM, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows Update for Business, with hands-on labs in real environments.
Ready to start? Call +91 8610964691, WhatsApp us, or enrol online. Visit us at No 22, 200 Feet Radial Road, Thoraipakkam, Chennai 600097.
