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Microsoft Intune MAM: Secure Corporate Data Without Managing Devices
Implement Mobile Application Management in Microsoft Intune to protect your organization's data within specific applications while respecting users' personal devices. Perfect for BYOD scenarios and contractor access.
Last Updated:
July 2025
What Is Mobile Application Management?
Mobile Application Management (MAM) enables your organization to secure and manage corporate data within specific applications—without requiring full management of employees' devices.
MAM uses App Protection Policies (APP) to control how corporate data is accessed, copied, saved, and shared across applications, creating a secure container for business information.
Unlike traditional Mobile Device Management (MDM), MAM focuses on securing applications rather than the entire device, making it ideal for BYOD scenarios where employees use personal devices for work.
BYOD Scenarios
Perfect for employees who use personal devices for work tasks but don't want IT to manage their entire device.
Unmanaged Devices
Secures corporate data on devices that aren't enrolled in your Intune MDM solution.
Microsoft 365 Protection
Protects data in Microsoft 365 apps and compatible third-party applications.
Define Your MAM Strategy First
Identify Use Cases
Determine whether MAM applies to BYOD, corporate-owned devices, or both. Consider which departments or roles should be included in your MAM deployment.
Determine Platform Scope
Decide which platforms to support (iOS, Android) based on your organization's device landscape. Different platforms may require different policy approaches.
Balance Security and Usability
Define the right balance between data protection and user convenience. Overly restrictive policies may frustrate users, while lax policies may leave data vulnerable.
Examples of specific use cases include protecting Outlook and OneDrive data on personal smartphones, or allowing Teams on unmanaged tablets while preventing file downloads to maintain data security.
Prepare Your Environment
Technical Requirements
  • Microsoft Intune must be properly set up and configured
  • Entra ID Premium P1 licenses required for Conditional Access
  • Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses
Application Requirements
  • Ensure Microsoft 365 apps are downloaded from official app stores
  • Only use apps integrated with Intune SDK or wrapped via App Wrapping Tool
  • Verify app compatibility with Intune MAM capabilities
Before implementing MAM, verify your organization has the necessary licenses and that your Intune environment is properly configured. The success of your MAM deployment depends on proper preparation.
Create App Protection Policies
App Protection Policies (APP) are the foundation of MAM implementation. Navigate to Intune Admin Center → Apps → App Protection Policies to create separate policies for iOS/iPadOS and Android devices.
When naming your policies, follow best practices by using clear, descriptive names such as "MAM – iOS – BYOD – Outlook/Teams" to easily identify the policy's purpose, platform, and scope.
Data Protection
Encrypt corporate data, restrict cloud backups, and block copy/paste to unmanaged apps
Access Requirements
Require PIN, biometric, or re-authentication after idle timeout
Conditional Launch
Block rooted/jailbroken devices and enforce timeout policies
Consider the sensitive nature of your corporate data when configuring these policies. Stricter policies provide better security but may impact user experience.
Target Policies Using Entra ID Groups
Effective MAM implementation relies on properly targeting your App Protection Policies to the right users. Assign policies to user-based Entra ID groups rather than individual users for easier management and scalability.
1
Organization-Wide Groups
  • MAM-AllUsers
  • MAM-iOSUsers
  • MAM-AndroidUsers
2
Role-Based Groups
  • BYOD-Contractors
  • Sales-MobileOnly
  • Executive-HighSecurity
Leverage dynamic groups when possible to automatically assign users based on attributes like platform, department, job role, or location. This reduces administrative overhead and ensures policies are consistently applied.
Enforce MAM with Conditional Access
01
Navigate to Conditional Access
Open Entra ID portal and select Conditional Access from the Security menu
02
Create New Policy
Select "New policy" and give it a descriptive name like "Require APP for Microsoft 365"
03
Define Assignments
Select users/groups, target cloud apps (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams)
04
Set Conditions
Configure device platforms and conditions that will trigger this policy
05
Configure Access Controls
Select "Require app protection policy" and "Approved client apps only"
Create a policy that states: "Only allow access to Microsoft 365 services from apps protected by an App Protection Policy on unmanaged devices." This ensures users can only access corporate data through properly secured applications.
Communicate Changes to End Users
Clear communication is crucial for successful MAM implementation. Users need to understand what's changing, why it's important, and how it impacts their daily work.
Emphasize that MAM protects corporate data without affecting personal data or privacy. Explain that IT cannot see personal photos, messages, or browsing history—only corporate app data is managed.
What to Communicate
  • Purpose of MAM implementation
  • Instructions for downloading Microsoft apps
  • Explanation of PIN prompts and restrictions
  • Details about app-level wipe scenarios
  • Support contacts for issues or questions
Consider creating a simple FAQ document addressing common questions and concerns. Provide screenshots of what users will see when policies are applied to make the transition smoother.
Monitor and Optimize Your MAM Implementation
After deploying MAM policies, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. Use Intune Reports to track policy assignments, access denials, app compliance trends, and remote wipe events.
For more advanced monitoring and analysis, integrate Intune with Log Analytics and Azure Monitor to create custom reports and alerts based on your organization's specific needs.

Pro Tip: Schedule regular reviews of your MAM implementation to identify policy gaps, resolve user issues, and adapt to changing business requirements. Consider creating a feedback channel for users to report problems or suggest improvements.
Use the insights gained from monitoring to refine your policies, balancing security requirements with user experience to maximize adoption and protection.
MAM vs. MDM: Understanding the Differences
When implementing Microsoft Intune, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between Mobile Application Management (MAM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) to choose the right approach for your organization.

Important Considerations: MAM doesn't provide visibility into personal data or apps. It only allows for app-level data wipes, not whole device wipes. Only apps with Intune SDK support or wrappers can be managed. MAM-WE (without enrollment) is ideal for BYOD scenarios.
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With our specialized knowledge, we help you streamline operations, enhance security, and ensure a seamless user experience. We tailor solutions to your unique business needs, providing guidance and implementation support every step of the way. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your Microsoft Cloud environment.
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