Intune Security Baselines: What They Are and How to Deploy Them

 Setting security policies manually for every device can be time-consuming, error-prone, and inconsistent. Enter Intune Security Baselines, Microsoft’s pre-configured, recommended security settings that you can apply quickly across Windows devices.

They’re a fantastic way to enforce essential protections without starting from scratch.

In this guide, we’ll explore:

  • What security baselines are
  • Which ones are available
  • How to deploy them
  • What to watch out for in real-world environments

1. What Are Intune Security Baselines?

Security baselines are collections of pre-configured security settings provided by Microsoft for:

  • Windows 10/11
  • Microsoft Defender Antivirus
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft 365 Apps (preview)

These settings reflect Microsoft’s own security best practices — the same ones used internally to secure their enterprise environments.

2. Why Use Security Baselines?

Benefits include:

  • Quick rollout of hardened security configurations
  • Built-in recommendations aligned with CIS and NIST guidance
  • Centralized, scalable policy enforcement
  • Great foundation for Zero Trust security models
  • Easier policy version management and updates

They’re especially useful for organizations that:

  • Are new to Intune
  • Don’t have a custom security framework yet
  • Need a fast, auditable starting point for device hardening

3. Types of Security Baselines Available

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4. How to Deploy a Security Baseline in Intune

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Intune Admin Center 👉 https://intune.microsoft.com

Step 2: Navigate to: Endpoint Security > Security Baselines

Step 3: Click + Create Profile

  • Choose the baseline (e.g., "Windows 10 Security Baseline")
  • Select the latest version
  • Name the policy

Step 4: Review or modify settings (optional)

Each setting is grouped by category:

  • BitLocker
  • Windows Defender
  • Windows Hello
  • Firewall
  • UAC
  • SmartScreen
  • Exploit Protection

Step 5: Assign the profile to a device group

Step 6: Review deployment status and compliance under: Monitor > Report > Profile Assignment Status

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5. Pro Tip

  • Don’t assign multiple baselines that conflict, test first
  • Start with pilot groups before wide deployment
  • Review settings before applying, not every setting fits every org
  • Microsoft releases baseline version updates — review and update regularly
  • Use the “What’s changed” tab to compare versions before upgrading

6. When to Use Baselines vs. Custom Policies

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Intune Security Baselines make it easy to roll out enterprise-grade security settings without needing deep GPO knowledge or manual configuration.

They're a smart choice for getting secure fast and evolving your endpoint security posture with confidence.

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