Microsoft 365 Device Compliance Policies

Microsoft 365 Device Compliance Policies are essential tools for ensuring that devices accessing your organization’s resources meet specific security and compliance requirements. These policies help you secure data, protect against threats, and maintain the integrity of your organization’s network. In this guide, I’ll explain in detail the creation and management of Microsoft 365 Device Compliance Policies, including working examples and usage scenarios.

Prerequisites:

Before creating and managing Device Compliance Policies, you need the following:

1. Microsoft 365 subscription: Ensure that you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or an Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) license, as Device Compliance Policies are typically included in these packages.
2. Access to Microsoft 365 Security Center: You should have the necessary permissions to access and configure Device Compliance Policies. This typically requires admin rights.

Creating a Device Compliance Policy:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Security Center:
   • Go to https://security.microsoft.com.
   • Sign in with an account that has the required admin privileges.
2. Navigate to Device Compliance:
   • In the Security Center, go to “Endpoint security” or “Device Compliance,” depending on your specific interface and version.
3. Create a New Policy:
   • Click on “Policies” and select “Device compliance policies.”
   • Click “Create policy.”
4. Configure Policy Settings:
   • Give your policy a name and description.
   • Define the compliance settings based on your organization’s needs. For example, you can set requirements for OS version, encryption, and more.
5. Assignments:
   • Specify which groups of users or devices this policy should apply to. You can target all devices or specific groups based on Azure AD dynamic groups.
6. Compliance Settings:
   • Define the compliance settings that devices must meet. For example, you can require BitLocker encryption on Windows devices.
7. Actions for Non-Compliant Devices:
   • Specify what actions should be taken when a device doesn’t meet the compliance requirements. You can choose to block access or send notifications.
8. Review and Create:
   • Review your settings, then click “Create” to create the policy.

Example Use Case:

Let’s say you want to create a Device Compliance Policy that requires all Windows 10 devices to have BitLocker encryption enabled.

1. Name and Description:
   • Name: Windows 10 BitLocker Policy
   • Description: This policy ensures that all Windows 10 devices have BitLocker encryption enabled.
2. Assignments:
   • Target: All Users
   • Excluded: None
3. Compliance Settings:
   • Platform: Windows
   • Minimum OS Version: Windows 10
   • Secure Boot: Required
   • BitLocker Encryption: Required
4. Actions for Non-Compliant Devices:
   • Action for non-compliance: Mark device as non-compliant
   • Remediation: None (for this example)
5. Review and Create:
   • Review your settings, then click “Create.”

Managing Device Compliance Policies:

You can view, edit, or delete your Device Compliance Policies in the Microsoft 365 Security Center. You can also monitor device compliance status and take actions on non-compliant devices.

To check compliance status:

1. In the Security Center, go to “Device compliance” or “Endpoint security.”
2. Select “Policies” and then choose the policy you want to review.
3. You can see compliance statistics and details about compliant and non-compliant devices.

To edit or delete a policy:

1. In the “Device compliance” or “Endpoint security” section, click on the policy you want to edit or delete.
2. Use the provided options to edit or delete the policy.

Microsoft 365 Device Compliance Policies are a crucial component of your organization’s security strategy. They allow you to define and enforce specific security requirements for devices accessing your resources. By creating, managing, and monitoring these policies, you can help protect your organization’s data and maintain a secure IT environment.