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Microsoft admits Samsung phones under Intune mobile device management are dropping out of compliance
Auto-restart or manual update requires manual interaction to bring a gadget back to the light
Some Samsung phones managed by Microsoft Intune are dropping out of compliance after an automatic restart or update, the Windows giant has admitted.
Samsung Galaxy kit running Android 9 (or later) with Android Device Administrator management or an Android Enterprise personally owned work profile are affected as well as Samsung Android 11 hardware provisioned as Android Enterprise fully managed devices.
The former can drop out of compliance after an auto-restart while a managed update can do for the latter.
Intune is Microsoft's take on Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM). The theory goes that administrators can use the cloud-based service to control how an organisation's devices are used, including smartphones.
The company faces stiff competition in the MDM arena, not least from Apple and Jamf, making the issue all the more awkward. Particularly since the workaround requires some manual intervention on behalf of the user, somewhat defeating the point of a device management platform.
Afflicted Samsung devices show as noncompliant, which could potentially block access to corporate resources. Getting round the issue requires a user to manually unlock the phone and trigger a sync in order to regain compliancy.
Microsoft's admission comes amid growing rumbles of discontent from users finding devices in their fleets dropping out of compliance unexpectedly. One responded to Microsoft's post: "I had a bunch of Samsung devices go non-compliant with a password remediation failed error for no reason."
In recent weeks, Intune customers have found devices dropping out due to password policy enforcement changes. Android 11 work profile devices or device administrator enrolled devices were affected.
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The Intune team assured customers they are "working to resolve this issue with Samsung," but still found time to trumpet the arrival of Feedback for Microsoft 365 apps and services.
We’re pleased to announce the preview of Feedback for Microsoft 365 apps and services including Microsoft Endpoint Manager!
— IntuneSupportTeam (@IntuneSuppTeam) November 11, 2021
Have a feature you love, or when a @MSIntune feature could be better? Share your feedback! https://t.co/1NokkIQaq4#MEMpowered #MSIntune
We imagine there aren't many administrators out there who would describe a device dropping out of compliance and the subsequent support ticket as a "feature you love." ®