As a device management lead and long-time enthusiast of Microsoft technologies, I’m writing this post to share a concern and a hopeful request that I believe many in the IT and endpoint management community share.
There’s no question that Microsoft Co-pilot has been a game-changer. Since its global rollout, we’ve seen first-hand at Advania UK the positive impact Co-pilot has had on productivity. It’s seamlessly integrated into our daily workflows, and I personally rely on it every day to streamline tasks and surface insights that would otherwise take significantly longer to uncover.
But this leads me to a key question: Why is Intune Co-pilot not available as a standalone product or an optional add-on to the Intune Suite?
This question surfaced again during client workshops this week. We were discussing the new “Explorer” feature within Intune a capability that has real potential to change how teams interact with data. Yet, as soon as clients hear it requires a Co-pilot license, the response is often the same: “Ah, that’s a shame.” The interest is there, but the barrier to access is frustrating.
One client even added their devices to a Digital Employee Experience (DEX) platform and demonstrated how their AI assistant could run the same types of queries without additional licensing hurdles. That moment was a wake-up call. It reinforced a growing concern: Microsoft may be unintentionally ceding ground in the device management space by locking valuable Co-pilot features behind a bundled licensing model.
Intune is, in my view, the leading MDM platform today. It offers deep functionality, broad ecosystem integration, and unmatched enterprise value. But as DEX platforms introduce innovative AI capabilities at highly competitive pricing, Microsoft risks eroding its lead by making some of these AI-enhanced features harder to access.
Intune Co-pilot has enormous potential. With millions of devices managed globally, and countless custom scripts and reports created by end-user services (EUS) teams every day, the need for smarter, more efficient reporting and automation is only growing. Intune Co-pilot is exactly the kind of tool that could transform how we manage and optimise environments at scale if only it were easier to adopt.
I strongly believe there’s a clear business case for making Intune Co-pilot available as a standalone offering or, at the very least, including it as part of the Intune Suite. Bundling it exclusively within Security Co-pilot feels misaligned. Intune Co-pilot is about so much more than just security. It delivers operational, analytical, and user-experience value that stands on its own.
In speaking with dozens of clients, there’s a consistent message: They would gladly purchase Intune Co-pilot as a separate product. The interest is there. The need is real. The opportunity is now.
I may not have all the answers, but I know I’m not alone in this sentiment. As someone deeply invested in the future of device management, I hope Microsoft hears this as the constructive feedback it’s intended to be: Let’s make Intune Co-pilot accessible to those who need it most without unnecessary barriers.
Passionate about modern device management? Let’s continue the conversation reach out or share your thoughts below.
The Modern Endpoints Brief 