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Data Strategy Breakdown Series - Defender XDR and Intune (4)

  • welka2111
  • 18 hours ago
  • 4 min read
Data Strategy Breakdown Series - Defender XDR and Intune



Introduction

Welcome to Part 4 of the Data Strategy Breakdown Series. If you’ve followed along with Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, you’ll already know this series is about practical, low-fluff guidance on tightening your data posture in Microsoft 365 environments.

In this entry, I’ll focus on Microsoft Defender XDR and Intune - two foundational pillars for endpoint security, policy enforcement, and attack surface reduction. This post is aimed at those of you already using Defender and Intune or who have at least trialled them.

I won’t repeat Microsoft documentation, and I certainly won’t try to outdo the excellent Defender XDR and Intune community.

If you haven’t come across it yet, I highly recommend buying “Mastering Microsoft 365 Defender” by Ru Campbell and Viktor Hedberg, where they cover all things Defender. You won’t regret it! (link to buy here)


I also assume you already use Defender or have at least tested it. What follows are practical, operational insights for decision-makers and security teams.

 

Table of contents


 

Defender XDR and Intune in your data strategy

Microsoft Defender XDR is not just a tool - it's the connective tissue of modern Microsoft security architecture. It correlates threat data across:

  • Endpoints (Defender for Endpoint)

  • Emails (Defender for Office 365)

  • Apps (Defender for Cloud Apps)

  • Identities (Defender for Identity)

  • Configurations and vulnerabilities (Defender Vulnerability Management)

 

 

Defender XDR - 10 configuration tips (Welka’s edition)

These tips presume you’ve got Defender XDR licensed and deployed. They're meant to build maturity, not start from scratch.

1. Enable EDR in block mode

Useful for defence-in-depth, use this even if you’re running a non-Microsoft AV solution (Defender will operate passively).

Reference: How to configure


2. Turn on web content filtering

Use Network Protection + Defender for Endpoint to enforce web access policies - across Edge, Chrome, and more. Great for both compliance and threat defence.


3. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in MDE

Don’t let junior admins have full portal access. Stick to least privilege principles using the RBAC model.👉 Setup path: (security.microsoft.com > Settings > Endpoints > Permissions > Roles)


4. Segment with device groups

Use device groups to scope policies and visibility. Don’t lump everything together.

References:

 

5. Apply ASR rules

Attack Surface Reduction rules close off common exploit vectors (e.g. Office macros, LSASS access).

Reference: Full ASR list


6. Enforce tamper protection

Stop attackers (and users) from disabling endpoint protections. Set it tenant-wide or per device.


7. Minimise exclusions

Only exclude what’s absolutely necessary. Avoid wildcard paths or file types.

Reference: Best practices


8. Use device compliance with MDE risk signals

Tie device compliance policies in Intune to Defender’s risk level to isolate compromised devices. Use MDE risk scores to enforce conditional access.

References:


9. Use update rings to manage Defender versions

Adopt staged rollout models – fast ring for IT, slower for general users.


10. Use MDVM Add-On (Premium) for advanced discovery

Enables advanced visibility like browser extensions, certificates, etc.

 

 *

Intune: your real-time security policy engine

Microsoft Intune is where your strategic intent becomes technical enforcement. Device compliance, application control, and encryption are the main data strategy levers here.


What we focus on: App Protection Policies (APP)

Why APPs natter:They’re crucial for controlling data sprawl, especially on unmanaged devices (BYOD, contractor laptops, etc.). They allow you to restrict cut/copy/paste, block non-corporate cloud uploads, and even wipe corporate data without touching the personal space.

You can enforce APP policies via Conditional Access, making them a powerful tool to ensure that no device touches corporate data without protection in place.

Best practice: regularly review your APPs to ensure no data egress pathways are unintentionally left open.

More on this soon, so stay stuned.

 

Intune – 10 operationally relevant tips (Welka’s edition)

1. Use and enforce compliance policies

This is your baseline. Define what’s acceptable, then block or restrict access for non-compliant devices.


2. Use APP policies + enforce them with Conditional Access

APP alone is not enough – enforce with Conditional Access.


3. Mark devices as non-compliant when no policy applies

Ensure gaps don’t get through.

Reference: Policy settings


4. Block jailbroken/rooted devices

Detect and restrict high-risk devices from accessing corporate data.


5. Customise enrolment restrictions

If your org doesn’t support BYOD, stop personal device enrolment.


6. Use Windows Autopilot

Streamline new device setup with pre-configured policies and apps.


7. Use BitLocker + store keys securely

Encrypt everything. Block user access to their own recovery keys. Reference: BitLocker in Intune


8. Use Scope Tags for RBAC

Assign roles and scope tags to separate duties across regions or teams.

Reference: Scope tag guide


9. Enable device cleanup rules

Avoid cluttered dashboards and get rid of stale devices. 93 days is a good start.

Reference: Cleanup rules


10. Use security baselines (carefully)

Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365 baselines can help – but deploying them via Endpoint Security pushes everything, even Not Configured settings. Use custom profiles where needed.

  


Conclusion

Microsoft Defender XDR and Intune are a potent combination. But only if they’re properly configured and tightly governed.

This blog intentionally skips over “what is Defender” fluff - you already know that. And I won’t pretend to out-explain the incredible Microsoft Docs or community leaders in this space.

Next up? We’ll explore defensive mechanisms in Entra, before we fully immerse ourselves in Conditional Access.

Stay tuned!

 

 

Additional Reading

 

Plus some amazing Defender and Intune-related content from my colleagues at Threatscape and the broader community

 

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