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Why Intune Integration with PKI Trust Manager is Essential for Modern Enterprise Security

Introduction

As enterprises embrace cloud-based management and zero-trust security models, seamless integration between Microsoft Intune Mobile Device Management (MDM) and a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Certification Authority (CA) with PKI Trust Manager becomes critical. This integration enables secure authentication mechanisms such as Windows Hello for Business, certificate-based authentication (CBA) for Wi-Fi, NAC (Network Access Control), and VPNs. Additionally, extending Intune’s management capabilities to Android and iOS devices ensures a consistent and secure approach to enterprise network access across all endpoints.

A key enabler of this modern device management approach is Windows Autopilot, which streamlines device provisioning while ensuring Intune-managed certificates are deployed seamlessly via PKI Trust Manager.

1. The Need for Intune and PKI Integration for Windows Devices

A. Enabling Windows Hello for Business

Windows Hello for Business replaces passwords with strong, phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) using asymmetric key pairs backed by certificates.

  • Intune integrates with PKI Trust Manager Certificate Management System to automatically issue and manage certificates tied to user identities.

  • Ensures secure biometric or PIN-based logins while maintaining compliance.

  • Autopilot Integration: During Autopilot provisioning, Windows Hello for Business can be pre-configured, allowing users to set up secure authentication right from first login.

B. Certificate-Based Authentication (CBA) for Wi-Fi, NAC, and VPN

Many enterprises rely on PKI Trust Manager and Certificate-Based Authentication for:

  • Wi-Fi (802.1X) – Eliminates shared passwords, reducing credential theft risks.

  • VPN (Always On VPN, IKEv2, SSTP) – Ensures only trusted devices with valid certificates connect.

  • NAC Solutions (Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass, etc.) – Validates device health and identity before granting network access.

  • Smart Card (PIV, Yubikey and Thales / Gemalto) – Strong MFA with NIST and FIPS140 validates keys along with Windows Virtual Smartcards stored on TPM

Without PKI Trust Manager Integration:

  • Admins must manually deploy certificates, leading to scalability issues.

  • Revocation and renewal become cumbersome, increasing security risks.

With PKI Trust Manager Integration & Autopilot:

  • Certificates are automatically issued, renewed, and revoked based on device compliance.

  • Conditional Access policies ensure only compliant, certificate-backed devices access resources.

  • Autopilot pre-provisions devices with corporate policies, including certificate enrollment, before the user even logs in.

2. Windows Autopilot: Streamlining Secure Device Deployment

Windows Autopilot simplifies device onboarding by automating:

  • Zero-Touch Deployment: Devices are pre-registered in Intune and automatically configured upon first boot.

  • Self-Service Setup: Users authenticate via Azure AD, and Intune deploys certificates via PKI Trust Manager, security policies, and apps.

  • Consistent Security Baseline: Ensures all devices, whether new or reset, adhere to corporate security standards.

Autopilot + Intune + PKI Trust Manager = Seamless Certificate Deployment:

  • Device Enrollment: Autopilot registers the device in Intune.

  • Policy Assignment: Intune pushes certificate enrollment profiles (SCEP/PKCS).

  • Automatic Authentication: The device obtains certificates for Wi-Fi, VPN, and Windows Hello without manual IT intervention.

3. Advantages of Intune Managing Android & iOS Devices for Enterprise Network Access

A. Unified Certificate Management for Mobile Devices

  • Intune can deploy SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol) or PKCS certificates to Android/iOS devices.

  • Enables secure Wi-Fi (802.1X), VPN, and email (S/MIME) authentication without manual IT intervention.

B. Seamless Zero-Touch Enrollment & Compliance Enforcement

  • Automated device provisioning (Apple Business Manager, Android Enterprise).

  • Ensures only compliant devices (with certificates) can access corporate resources.

C. Enhanced Security Posture with Conditional Access

  • Intune integrates with Azure AD Conditional Access to enforce:

    • Certificate-based authentication for apps and networks.

    • Device compliance checks (jailbreak detection, OS version, encryption status).

D. Simplified BYOD & Corporate-Owned Device Management

  • BYOD: Certificates are securely deployed via PKI Trust Manager.

  • Corporate Devices: Automated certificate provisioning ensures seamless connectivity.

Conclusion

Integrating Microsoft Intune or any MDM with PKI Trust Manager is no longer optional—it is a foundational requirement for modern enterprises adopting passwordless authentication (Windows Hello), certificate-based Wi-Fi, NAC, and VPN solutions.

Windows Autopilot enhances this integration by ensuring devices are pre-configured with security policies and certificates right from deployment, reducing IT overhead and improving security. Extending Intune’s management to Android and iOS ensures a consistent, secure, and scalable approach to network access across all devices.

By leveraging PKI Trust Manager and Intune’s automated certificate deployment, compliance policies, and Conditional Access, organizations can achieve:

  •  Stronger authentication (eliminating passwords)
  •  Reduced attack surface (preventing unauthorized access)
  •  Simplified IT operations (automated certificate lifecycle management)
  •  Faster device provisioning (via Autopilot integration)

Adopting this integration is a critical step toward a zero-trust security framework, ensuring only trusted and compliant devices access enterprise resources.