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Microsoft Intune and Configuration Manager (SCCM, now called Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or MECM) are both Microsoft endpoint management products, but they target very different scenarios. This 2026 guide helps you choose the right one — or design a co-management strategy that gets the best of both. The answer is almost always "both", but the workload split matters.
The fundamental difference
Intune is cloud-native, multi-platform (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux), and managed from the Microsoft Intune admin center. Configuration Manager is on-premises, Windows-only, and managed from a Windows Server console. Intune is what you would build today; Configuration Manager is what you have if you started managing endpoints before 2015.
When to use only Intune
If you are a new business with no legacy Configuration Manager investment, choose Intune. It is faster to deploy, lower operational overhead, and works on every modern platform. The trade-off is less mature patching and software distribution for Windows Server workloads.
When to use only Configuration Manager
If you have deep investment in Configuration Manager (custom reports, custom integrations, on-prem software distribution for Windows Server), do not rip and replace. Configuration Manager is still supported, and Microsoft has committed to ongoing investment through 2030+.
The co-management answer
For most enterprises, the answer is co-management. Keep Configuration Manager for the workloads it does best (complex Windows Server patching, OSD for Windows, custom reporting) and move modern workloads to Intune (mobile device management, cloud-based compliance, Autopilot, endpoint security).
Workload split recommendations
Recommended split for a typical Indian IT firm: keep OSD, software distribution, and software updates on Configuration Manager. Move Compliance, Resource Access, Device Configuration, Endpoint Protection, and Client Apps to Intune. Review the split every 6 months.
Migration path
The migration to Intune is staged. Enable co-management, attach Configuration Manager as a connector to Intune, then move workloads one at a time. Once you have 90% of devices on Intune for most workloads, retire Configuration Manager gradually.
Cost comparison
Intune is licensed per user or per device. Configuration Manager is licensed per user but requires Windows Server, SQL Server, and operational staff. For a 1,000-device estate, the total cost of ownership is roughly comparable at $20–25 per device per year.
Future of both products
Microsoft is investing heavily in Intune. Configuration Manager continues to be supported but is no longer where new features land. The longer you wait, the more you will be playing catch-up. Start your co-management journey this quarter.
Talk to a Chennai Counsellor
SkilBrill’s Microsoft Intune Training in Chennai covers both Intune and Configuration Manager with co-management labs, Autopilot, MAM, Windows Update for Business, and three real capstone projects.
Ready to start? Call +91 8610964691, WhatsApp us, or enrol online. Visit us at No 22, 200 Feet Radial Road, Thoraipakkam, Chennai 600097.
