Microsoft is shifting investment from SCCM to Intune. Whether you're planning a migration, evaluating co-management, or trying to build a business case for leadership, this guide breaks down every feature, cost, and timeline consideration from 25 years of hands-on Microsoft experience.
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For most organizations in 2026, the question is no longer "should we migrate from SCCM to Intune?" but "when and how?" Microsoft's investment is squarely in Intune. New features ship Intune-first. SCCM still works and is still supported, but it is in maintenance mode. If you have a remote or hybrid workforce, if you're already on Microsoft 365 E3/E5, or if you're paying to maintain SCCM infrastructure, the math favors migration. The typical timeline is 8-16 weeks, and most organizations already have the Intune licensing they need. Co-management provides a safe bridge strategy so you can migrate workloads gradually with rollback capability.
System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) -- now officially called Microsoft Configuration Manager (MCM) or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM) -- is Microsoft's on-premises endpoint management platform. It has been the gold standard for Windows device management in enterprises since the early 2000s.
SCCM manages devices through a hierarchy of site servers, distribution points, and management points deployed in your own data center. It handles OS deployment via task sequences, software distribution through packages and applications, patch management via Software Update Points (SUPs), compliance settings, and hardware/software inventory.
SCCM excels in large, complex on-premises environments with reliable network connectivity. It supports granular control through collections, maintenance windows, and phased deployments. However, its reliance on on-prem infrastructure makes it increasingly costly and complex for organizations with remote or hybrid workforces.
Microsoft Intune is Microsoft's cloud-native endpoint management service, part of the Microsoft Intune family (formerly Endpoint Manager). It provides mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and PC management from a single cloud console -- the Intune admin center.
Intune manages devices over the internet without requiring VPN or on-prem infrastructure. It supports Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Linux. Device enrollment happens through Windows Autopilot (zero-touch), Apple Business Manager, Android Enterprise, or manual enrollment. Policies, apps, and updates are delivered via Microsoft's global CDN.
Intune integrates natively with Entra ID (Azure AD) for identity, Conditional Access for Zero Trust, Microsoft Defender for endpoint security, and Copilot for AI-assisted management. It is included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Business Premium, and EMS E3/E5 subscriptions -- meaning many organizations already have it licensed.
| Feature | SCCM (ConfigMgr) | Microsoft Intune | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device Management | Windows, some macOS/Linux via agents. Requires on-prem infrastructure and network line-of-sight. | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux. Cloud-native, manages over internet. No VPN required. | Intune -- broader OS support, no infrastructure overhead |
| OS Deployment | Task sequences for bare-metal, in-place upgrade, and re-image. PXE boot, USB media, multicast support. | Windows Autopilot for zero-touch provisioning. Pre-provisioning (white glove) for shared devices. No bare-metal imaging. | Depends -- Autopilot handles 90% of scenarios; keep SCCM only if you need bare-metal imaging |
| App Deployment | Packages, applications with detection rules, task sequence app installs. Content distributed via DPs. | Win32 apps, MSI, MSIX, Microsoft Store, web apps, LOB apps. Content delivered via CDN. Dependencies and supersedence supported. | Intune -- CDN delivery is faster and requires no DP maintenance |
| Patch Management | WSUS integration via SUP role. ADRs, maintenance windows, phased deployments. Granular control. | Windows Update for Business, Update Rings, Feature Update policies, Expedited Updates, Driver Updates. Autopatch for automated management. | Intune -- eliminates WSUS infrastructure, Autopatch automates ring management |
| Compliance Reporting | Built-in reports, SSRS integration, custom SQL queries. Powerful but requires SQL expertise. | Compliance policies, compliance dashboard, Azure Monitor workbooks, Log Analytics integration, Intune Data Warehouse. | Intune -- real-time compliance with Conditional Access enforcement |
| Cloud-Native | No. Requires on-prem site servers, SQL databases, distribution points, management points. CMG extends some functionality to internet. | Yes. Fully cloud-native. No infrastructure to maintain. Microsoft manages availability, scaling, and updates. | Intune -- zero infrastructure cost, automatic scaling |
| Mobile Device Support | Deprecated. SCCM's MDM capabilities were retired. Mobile management requires Intune. | Full MDM and MAM for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. BYOD support with app protection policies. | Intune -- the only option for mobile device management |
| Remote Workforce | Requires VPN or CMG. CMG adds cost and complexity. Content download over VPN is slow and bandwidth-intensive. | Designed for remote-first. All management over internet. Content from CDN. No VPN dependency. | Intune -- built for the hybrid/remote reality |
| Zero Trust Integration | Limited. Can feed compliance data to Entra ID via co-management, but no native Conditional Access integration. | Native Conditional Access integration. Device compliance drives access decisions. Continuous access evaluation. Risk-based policies. | Intune -- essential for Zero Trust architecture |
| Cost Structure | Server hardware, SQL licensing, Windows Server CALs, System Center licensing, staff to maintain infrastructure. High fixed costs. | Per-user subscription (often already included in M365). No infrastructure costs. Predictable monthly spend. | Intune -- lower TCO for most organizations |
| Scalability | Requires additional infrastructure as you scale. More DPs, more site servers, more SQL capacity. Scaling takes weeks/months. | Scales automatically. Adding 1,000 devices requires zero infrastructure changes. Microsoft handles capacity. | Intune -- scales instantly, no infrastructure planning |
| AI/Copilot Integration | None. No AI features planned for SCCM. Microsoft's AI investment is cloud-only. | Microsoft Copilot in Intune for natural language queries, policy recommendations, troubleshooting assistance, and anomaly detection. | Intune -- AI features only available in cloud |
A typical SCCM to Intune migration takes 8-16 weeks, depending on environment complexity. Here is what each phase looks like.
Complete inventory of your SCCM environment: servers, distribution points, packages, task sequences, collections, compliance baselines, and custom scripts. Each workload is scored for Intune readiness. Blockers are identified. A migration sequence is designed with dependencies mapped. This is exactly what our SCCM Readiness Assessment delivers.
Intune tenant configuration, Entra ID integration, Autopilot profile setup, compliance policies, Conditional Access policies (in report-only mode), and enrollment restrictions. If using co-management, the co-management workload slider is configured. Pilot group selected -- typically IT staff and early adopters (5-10% of devices).
Applications repackaged as Win32 apps for Intune. Compliance baselines converted to Intune compliance policies. Update rings configured to replace WSUS/SUP. Scripts converted to Intune remediation scripts or platform scripts. Each workload is tested with the pilot group before broader rollout. Co-management workloads shifted one at a time.
Production rollout in waves: 25% of devices, then 50%, then 75%, then 100%. Each wave is monitored for compliance drift, app deployment failures, and user impact. Conditional Access policies moved from report-only to enforced. SCCM infrastructure decommission plan finalized.
Remaining edge cases resolved. Runbooks created for day-2 operations. IT team trained on Intune admin center, troubleshooting, and ongoing management. SCCM servers decommissioned (or kept in co-management if needed). Conditional Access fully enforced. If issues persist, our Stabilization Sprint can resolve them in 10 days.
The total cost of ownership (TCO) comparison consistently favors Intune for organizations that already have Microsoft 365 licensing. Here is how the costs break down.
For a detailed breakdown by company size, see our Intune Migration Cost Guide.
We believe in honest guidance. There are legitimate reasons to delay migration:
Even in these cases, co-management can bridge the gap. You don't have to choose one or the other -- you can run both.
Co-management is Microsoft's recommended migration path. It lets you run SCCM and Intune side by side, migrating individual workloads at your own pace.
Devices are enrolled in both SCCM and Intune simultaneously. A workload slider in the SCCM console controls which platform manages each workload. You can shift compliance policies, Windows Update, endpoint protection, device configuration, resource access, Office apps, and client apps independently.
Gradual migration with rollback capability. Conditional Access works immediately for co-managed devices. Autopilot provisioning available alongside existing OSD. Cloud-attach features like remote actions, tenant attach, and endpoint analytics available without full migration.
Enable co-management in weeks 1-2. Shift compliance and Windows Update first (lowest risk). Move endpoint protection and device configuration next. Shift remaining workloads after validation. Full Intune authority can be achieved in 8-16 weeks or extended over months if preferred.
We have been managing Microsoft endpoint environments since SCCM was called SMS. We have seen every version, every migration path, and every edge case. This is not our first migration framework -- it is our hundredth.
We don't bill hourly and hope the project drags on. Our SCCM Readiness Assessment is a fixed-fee, 2-week engagement. Our Stabilization Sprint is a fixed-fee, 10-day engagement. You know the cost before you start.
We use co-management as the bridge, phased rollout to control risk, and pilot groups to validate before broad deployment. Your users should not notice the migration happening. If something breaks, we have a rollback plan for every workload.
Every engagement includes complete documentation. Your IT team gets runbooks for day-2 operations, troubleshooting guides, and hands-on training. We don't create dependency -- we transfer knowledge.
Microsoft has not announced a hard end-of-life date for SCCM (now called Microsoft Configuration Manager). Extended support continues, and security updates are still released. However, new feature investment has shifted almost entirely to Intune. New capabilities like Copilot integration, advanced analytics, and enhanced Autopilot features are Intune-only. The practical implication is that SCCM is in maintenance mode -- it works, but it is no longer where Microsoft is innovating. Most organizations should plan their migration timeline now rather than waiting for a forced sunset date.
For most organizations, yes. Intune now handles device management, app deployment (Win32, MSI, MSIX, Store, LOB), patch management (Windows Update for Business, Autopatch), compliance policies, endpoint protection (Defender for Endpoint integration), and device provisioning (Autopilot). The remaining gaps -- complex bare-metal imaging, some advanced task sequence scenarios, and server management -- affect fewer than 10% of typical SCCM workloads. For those edge cases, Azure Arc (for servers) and custom solutions can fill the gap.
Typical timelines by environment size: Small (under 100 devices, simple SCCM) -- 4-6 weeks. Medium (100-500 devices, moderate complexity) -- 8-12 weeks. Large (500-2000 devices, complex SCCM with many packages and task sequences) -- 12-16 weeks. Enterprise (2000+ devices, multiple sites, complex dependencies) -- 16-24 weeks. These timelines include assessment, setup, workload migration, phased rollout, and stabilization.
Migration costs depend on organization size and SCCM complexity. Typical ranges: Small business (20-50 employees) -- $8,000-$15,000. Mid-size (50-200) -- $15,000-$40,000. Large (200-1000) -- $40,000-$100,000. Enterprise (1000+) -- custom. These include assessment, app repackaging, policy conversion, testing, rollout, and documentation. For a detailed breakdown, see our Intune Migration Cost Guide. The ROI typically pays back migration costs within 12-18 months through reduced infrastructure and labor costs.
Co-management is the recommended approach for most organizations with existing SCCM environments. It provides a gradual migration path with rollback capability, lets you validate each workload before committing, and keeps your existing SCCM infrastructure as a safety net. Direct migration (rip-and-replace) is viable for smaller environments with simple SCCM configurations and fewer than 100 devices. The risk of direct migration is higher but the timeline is shorter.
SCCM task sequences do not have a 1:1 equivalent in Intune. Simple deployment sequences (install app, run script, configure settings) are replaced by Intune Win32 app deployments, PowerShell scripts, and configuration profiles. OS deployment task sequences are replaced by Windows Autopilot profiles and Enrollment Status Page (ESP) configurations. Complex task sequences with custom logic need individual assessment -- many can be simplified for Intune, some need alternative approaches.
Intune is included in Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Premium, F1, F3, and Education A3/A5 plans. It is also included in Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3 and E5. If you have any of these plans, you already have Intune licensing at no additional cost. Standalone Intune Plan 1 is available at approximately $8/user/month. Intune Plan 2 (additional features) and Intune Suite (premium features) are available as add-ons.
Intune has limited server management capabilities -- it was designed for endpoints (workstations, laptops, mobile devices). For Windows Server management, Microsoft recommends Azure Arc, which provides cloud-based management for servers regardless of location. Most organizations maintain separate management solutions for servers and endpoints. If you currently use SCCM for both, your migration plan should account for a server management solution alongside Intune.
Intune delivers application content through Microsoft's global CDN rather than on-premises distribution points. For most applications, this is actually faster -- especially for remote users who previously had to VPN in to reach a DP. For very large applications (multi-GB installers), you can use Delivery Optimization (peer-to-peer content sharing on the LAN) or Microsoft Connected Cache to reduce bandwidth impact. The DP infrastructure can be decommissioned after all apps are migrated to Intune.
Intune uses Windows Update for Business (WUfB) instead of WSUS. You create Update Rings that control deferral periods, maintenance windows, and update behavior. Feature Update policies control which Windows version devices target. Expedited Updates can push critical patches immediately. Windows Autopatch automates the entire ring management process. The result is faster patching with less admin overhead -- no WSUS server maintenance, no content synchronization, no ADR management.
The biggest risk is application deployment gaps -- apps that were deployed via SCCM packages or task sequences that haven't been properly repackaged and tested for Intune deployment. The second biggest risk is compliance policy gaps -- SCCM compliance baselines that don't have equivalent Intune compliance policies, leading to devices falling out of compliance after migration. Both risks are mitigated by a thorough readiness assessment and phased rollout approach.
No. With co-management, devices are enrolled in Intune without wiping or re-imaging. The Intune management agent is installed alongside the existing SCCM client. Users keep their profiles, data, applications, and settings. There is no disruption to the end user. The only scenario that might require a device reset is if you decide to move from hybrid Azure AD join to Entra ID join -- but this is optional and can be done as a separate project.
2 weeks from kickoff to a complete migration roadmap. Fixed fee. Read-only access. No obligation to proceed with migration.