The best MDM for a startup is usually the one that matches its fleet and is already included in what it pays for. Here is how Intune, Mac-focused tools, and Google endpoint management compare.
Key Takeaways
- On Microsoft 365 Business Premium, start with Intune because you already pay for it.
- If you’re almost entirely on Macs, compare it with a Mac-focused tool such as Jamf.
- Choose by what you can prove: inventory, encryption, patch status, and remote wipe.
The short answer
Start with your email and identity platform. If you’re on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Intune is already included and connects directly to Conditional Access, so it’s the default choice. If you’re nearly all Macs with no Microsoft dependency, a Mac-focused tool is worth comparing. If you’re on Google Workspace with simple needs, try its built-in endpoint management first.
A disclosure: we set up and manage Intune, so we’re closer to it than to the other tools here.
How the options compare
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Intune | Microsoft 365 companies with Windows or mixed fleets | Needs careful setup, and Mac management takes more work than Windows |
| Mac-focused MDM (such as Jamf) | Mac-heavy companies that want deeper Apple controls | A separate cost, and it may not cover your Windows laptops |
| Google endpoint management | Google Workspace companies with simple needs | Less depth on Windows and laptops; features vary by edition |
What an MDM needs to do
Whichever you choose, it should let you do these things and show evidence on demand. They are what customers and auditors usually ask about:
- Show an inventory of every device and who uses it
- Prove full-disk encryption (BitLocker or FileVault)
- Enforce screen lock and report patch status
- Remotely wipe a lost or former employee’s laptop
- Set up a new laptop with zero touch, through Windows Autopilot or Apple Business Manager
- Block non-compliant devices from company data, or at least report them
Common mistakes
Buying laptops outside Apple Business Manager or Autopilot. Zero-touch setup depends on devices being registered, so sort out your purchasing process early.
Enrolling devices without policies. A device list with no encryption or compliance rules won’t satisfy a security review.
Never connecting it to access. The real value comes when an unmanaged device can’t reach company data.
Waiting too long. Enrolling 15 laptops is an easy project. Enrolling 80 laptops already in use across remote staff takes much more coordination.