Co-management and Hybrid Strategies: Practical Patterns for Large Enterprises

Large enterprises rarely migrate to cloud management in a single leap. Co-management — running Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr/SCCM) alongside Intune — and other hybrid strategies provide a pragmatic path. Organizations consolidating on Microsoft 365 often engage enterprise Intune consultants to design secure Entra ID and device policies that account for hybrid realities, while relying on Intune deployment and migration services for large Microsoft 365 environments to execute staged transitions. This article outlines co-management patterns, migration decision criteria, and practical steps to reduce risk while modernizing device management.

When co-management makes sense

Co-management is valuable when:

The organization has a large existing Configuration Manager footprint.

There are complex Win32 apps or imaging workflows not yet reworked for Intune.

You need staged migration of workloads like patching, compliance, and endpoint protection.

Co-management lets you shift workloads one at a time, validating each before proceeding.

Workload planning and sequencing

Choose workload sequence deliberately. A common approach:

Start with endpoint protection (Defender for Endpoint) and inventory.

Move Windows Update for Business next to modernize patching.

Transition compliance and configuration profiles later once app delivery is validated.

enterprise Intune consultants to design secure Entra ID and device policies will create a workload transition plan that aligns technical constraints with business windows.

Hybrid identity and authentication patterns

Hybrid identity is usually part of the co-management picture. Consider these patterns:

Azure AD Connect with password hash sync for a simple start.

Federation only where necessary; prefer modern auth for better conditional access.

Phase in MFA and conditional access carefully to avoid blocking legacy clients.

Hybrid identity planning must align with conditional access and device compliance policies to avoid unexpected lockouts.

Migrating non-Windows endpoints

Macs, iOS, and Android devices typically require parallel strategies since ConfigMgr doesn’t manage them. Plan for:

Modern enrollment for macOS with Intune + JAMF where needed.

App protection policies for mobile apps on BYOD.

Phased enrollment and pilot programs for mobile-heavy user groups.

Intune deployment and migration services for large Microsoft 365 environments often include platform-specific playbooks for these device types.

Exit criteria and full cloud transition

Define clear exit criteria for leaving co-management:

Target workloads fully operational in Intune.

Migration of legacy app delivery pipelines to cloud-native mechanisms.

Decommissioning of on-prem infrastructure as appropriate.

Having measurable exit criteria prevents indefinite hybrid operating models and helps realize cloud benefits.

Conclusion

Co-management and hybrid strategies let enterprises modernize at a sustainable pace. With the right architecture and execution — provided by enterprise Intune consultants to design secure Entra ID and device policies and Intune deployment and migration services for large Microsoft 365 environments — organizations can reduce risk, maintain service continuity, and chart a clear path to complete cloud-based device management. The result is a modern, flexible endpoint estate that supports business needs without sacrificing security.