Intune Security Baseline 2026: Enforce BitLocker, Firewall, and Eliminate Local Admin Risks

Most environments I walk into already have Microsoft Intune deployed—but very few are actually secure.

Devices are enrolled, policies exist, but critical controls like BitLocker, firewall enforcement, and local admin restrictions are either inconsistently applied or missing entirely. Even worse, IT teams often assume compliance policies alone equal security—they don’t.

The real issue is this: baseline security controls are either misconfigured, unenforced, or bypassed entirely.

Without:

• Disk encryption (BitLocker)
• Host-based firewall enforcement
• Removal of persistent local admin access

…your endpoints are wide open to data theft, lateral movement, and ransomware.

In this article, I’ll walk through:

• How to build a real Intune compliance baseline (not just tick-box policies)
• How to enforce BitLocker and firewall properly
• How to remove persistent local admin access without breaking support
• Practical lessons from real-world deployments

Quick Fix Summary

If you need a fast security uplift:

• ✅ Enforce BitLocker encryption with recovery keys backed up to Entra ID
• ✅ Enable and lock down Windows Defender Firewall across all profiles
• ✅ Remove persistent local admin rights using Intune policies
• ✅ Use compliance policies to block non-compliant devices from access
• ✅ Validate everything with reporting and device checks

Why Intune Baselines Often Fail

The Reality (From Experience)

Common issues I see:

• BitLocker enabled manually, not enforced
• Firewall disabled for “troubleshooting” and never re-enabled
• IT staff granted permanent local admin access
• Compliance policies configured but not tied to Conditional Access

Result:

• Devices appear compliant—but aren’t secure

Core Components of an Intune Security Baseline

Step-by-Step: Enforce BitLocker with Intune

Step 1: Create BitLocker Policy

Go to:

Intune Admin Center → Endpoint Security → Disk Encryption

Create policy:

• Platform: Windows 10/11
• Profile: BitLocker

Step 2: Configure Key Settings

Step 3: Assign Policy

• Target:
  • All corporate devices (or pilot first)

Step 4: Verify Encryption

On endpoint:

manage-bde -status

Or:

Get-BitLockerVolume

Real-World Tip

I’ve seen devices report “encrypted” but only partially. Always verify:

• Protection status = On
• Percentage encrypted = 100%

Step-by-Step: Enforce Windows Defender Firewall

Step 1: Create Firewall Policy

Navigate:

Endpoint Security → Firewall → Create Policy

Step 2: Configure Profiles

Enable:

• Domain Profile: On
• Private Profile: On
• Public Profile: On

Step 3: Lock Down Settings

• Block inbound connections by default
• Allow outbound connections
• Disable user ability to turn off firewall

Step 4: Validate

On device:

Get-NetFirewallProfile

Expected:

Enabled : True

Step-by-Step: Remove Persistent Local Admin Access

Step 1: Audit Current State

Get-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators"

Step 2: Create Local Group Membership Policy

Go to:

Endpoint Security → Account Protection

Configure:

• Administrators group = approved accounts only

Step 3: Remove All Non-Essential Accounts

Keep:

• Built-in Administrator (managed via LAPS)
• Emergency break-glass account

Step 4: Enforce with Intune

• Assign policy to all devices
• Monitor conflicts with GPO if hybrid

Step 5: Validate

net localgroup administrators

Step-by-Step: Configure Compliance Policies

Step 1: Create Compliance Policy

Devices → Compliance Policies → Create Policy

Step 2: Configure Requirements

• BitLocker: Required
• Firewall: Required
• Secure Boot: Recommended
• Minimum OS version

Step 3: Integrate with Conditional Access

Block:

• Non-compliant devices from accessing:
  • Exchange Online
  • SharePoint
  • Teams

Real-World Deployment Strategy

Phase 1 – Audit

• Identify devices without BitLocker
• Find users with admin rights

Phase 2 – Pilot

• Deploy policies to IT group first
• Validate impact

Phase 3 – Rollout

• Gradually expand to all users
• Monitor compliance reports

Phase 4 – Enforcement

• Enable Conditional Access restrictions
• Remove exceptions

Additional Tips / Pro Tips

✅ Pro Tip: Use Windows LAPS with Intune

• Rotate local admin passwords automatically
• Store securely in Entra ID

⚠️ Warning: Hybrid Environments Can Conflict

• GPO vs Intune policies can override each other
• Use policy precedence carefully

✅ Pro Tip: Monitor Compliance Drift

• Devices fall out of compliance over time
• Set alerts and reporting

⚠️ Warning: Don’t Ignore User Experience

• Firewall misconfig = app failures
• Test business-critical apps

✅ Pro Tip: Combine with Endpoint Detection & Response

• Defender for Endpoint enhances visibility

Troubleshooting Common Issues

BitLocker Not Enabling

Check:

Get-BitLockerVolume

Common causes:

• TPM not ready
• Policy conflict
• Device not Azure AD joined

Firewall Disabled After Policy

Check:

Get-NetFirewallProfile

Possible issue:

• Local override or script disabling firewall

Users Still Have Admin Rights

Check:

• Conflicting GPO
• Incorrect group membership policy

Device Showing Non-Compliant

Check:

• Sync status:

dsregcmd /status

FAQ Section

1. Does Intune enforce BitLocker automatically?

Only if configured via policy. Manual encryption is not sufficient for compliance.

2. Can users disable the firewall?

Not if policies are properly configured to prevent user changes.

3. How do I remove local admin rights safely?

Use phased rollout and provide elevation tools to avoid breaking workflows.

4. What happens if a device is non-compliant?

Conditional Access can block access to corporate resources.

5. Is BitLocker enough to protect data?

No. It protects data at rest, but not against credential theft or active attacks.

Conclusion / Actionable Takeaways

A proper Intune baseline isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about enforcing real controls that reduce risk.

Next Steps

1. Deploy BitLocker enforcement across all devices
2. Enable and lock down firewall policies
3. Remove persistent local admin access
4. Implement compliance policies tied to Conditional Access
5. Continuously monitor and refine

From experience, the biggest gains come from consistency. Even basic controls, when properly enforced, dramatically reduce your attack surface.

Last Updated

April 2026 – Reflects latest Microsoft Intune, Windows 11, and Microsoft 365 security baseline capabilities.

Daniel Lutton

From my early days on the helpdesk through roles as a service desk manager, systems administrator, and network engineer, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the IT world. As I transition into cyber security, my goal is to make tech a little less confusing by sharing what I’ve learned and helping others wherever I can.