Microsoft's endpoint management platform, Intune, has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Endpoint Management Platforms, Q2 2026, the company announced on June 25, 2026. The recognition places Intune among the top solutions in a market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, cross-platform agility, and zero-trust security models. Forrester's analyst report highlighted Intune's broad operating system coverage—spanning Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux—as a critical strength, while also calling out the platform's evolution into what it terms an “AI control plane” for modern device management.

Forrester's Wave evaluations are a gold standard in enterprise technology assessment, scoring vendors across 28 criteria grouped into three buckets: Current Offering, Strategy, and Market Presence. Microsoft's position as a Leader signals not just a robust feature set but a forward-looking roadmap deeply integrated with the company's broader cloud and security portfolios. This is the first time Forrester has designated endpoint management platforms as serving as an AI control plane, reflecting a fundamental shift in how enterprises manage fleets of devices at scale.

The Anatomy of Forrester's Wave and Microsoft's Scoring

The Forrester Wave uses a rigorous methodology. For the Q2 2026 evaluation, analysts examined 11 vendors against criteria such as device enrollment and provisioning, client health and lifecycle management, OS and application patching, security and compliance enforcement, reporting and analytics, and innovation roadmap. Microsoft Intune achieved the highest possible scores in the security strategy and execution roadmap criteria, and was among the top scorers in supported platforms, unified endpoint management (UEM) capabilities, and AI-driven insights.

One of the most telling metrics is Forrester's assessment of Intune's market presence. With a customer base that spans millions of devices across every industry vertical, Microsoft's endpoint management solution benefits from an enormous data footprint. This data, in turn, feeds its AI models, creating a virtuous cycle that competitors find hard to replicate. Forrester specifically noted that Intune “leverages its cloud-scale telemetry to deliver proactive insights that reduce mean time to resolution (MTTR) and improve user experience.”

While the full report is behind Forrester's paywall, the market summary paints a vivid picture: the endpoint management space is consolidating around platforms that not only manage devices but also predict and prevent issues before they impact end users. Intune's leadership is bolstered by tight integration with Microsoft Entra ID, Defender for Endpoint, and the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem, giving it a unique advantage in environments already invested in Microsoft's stack.

AI Becomes the Control Plane

The phrase “AI control plane” might sound like marketing jargon, but it describes a functional reality in Intune's latest iterations. Over the past two years, Microsoft has infused Intune with machine learning models that go beyond simple rule-based automation. From predictive battery health analytics for laptops to automated root-cause analysis for application crashes, Intune increasingly acts as a central nervous system for device fleets.

Forrester's report highlights three specific AI-powered capabilities that helped push Intune to the Leader tier:

  • Proactive Remediation: Intune can detect anomalous behavior—such as a sudden spike in CPU usage or a pattern of failed sign-ins—and trigger automated remediation scripts without human intervention. For example, if a corporate-issued Windows device shows signs of a memory leak in a critical line-of-business app, Intune can restart the application or roll back a recent update across all affected machines.
  • Endpoint Analytics: This feature scores every device on a “User Experience Score” derived from boot times, application responsiveness, and crash frequency. Recommendations are generated using AI that correlates configuration settings with improved performance, effectively giving admins a prioritized to-do list for making the fleet healthier.
  • Natural Language Querying: Intune's admin console now includes a natural language interface powered by Microsoft's Copilot technology. IT professionals can ask questions like “which devices are at risk of not complying with the upcoming Windows 11 feature update?” and receive a dynamic set of results, complete with actionable steps.

These AI features transform Intune from a passive management tool into an active participant in maintaining device health and security. Forrester's analysts wrote that “Intune's AI capabilities are not bolted on; they are woven into the fabric of the platform, making it a true control plane that connects users, devices, apps, and data.”

Cross-Platform Reality: Beyond Windows

For Windows enthusiasts, the news carries particular weight. Intune has long been the preferred management tool for Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices, but its cross-platform chops are what earned it leadership status. The Forrester report commended Intune's handling of macOS via Apple Business Manager integration, its support for iOS and iPadOS through declarative device management, and its robust Android Enterprise functionality (including fully managed, dedicated, and work-profile modes). Even Linux is covered, with Intune offering device compliance policies for Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

This cross-platform agility matters because enterprises no longer deploy homogeneous device fleets. The average enterprise now manages a mix of Windows and macOS laptops, iOS and Android mobile devices, and occasionally Linux workstations for specialized workloads. Intune's ability to provide a single pane of glass for policy enforcement, app distribution, and compliance monitoring across these platforms is a key differentiator. Forrester gave Intune a perfect score in the “supported platforms” criterion.

Under the hood, Intune's multi-platform support is not just a checkbox exercise. Windows devices benefit from the deepest integration, including co-management with Configuration Manager, built-in Windows Autopilot for zero-touch provisioning, and direct integration with Windows Update for Business. Mac management goes beyond simple MDM profiles: Intune supports macOS software update policies, FileVault encryption management, and even bash script deployment. This breadth ensures that no device type is a second-class citizen, a point repeatedly stressed in Forrester's evaluation.

Security and Zero Trust: The Intune-Entra-Defender Trinity

In a landscape where ransomware attacks and credential theft dominate headlines, endpoint management cannot be divorced from security. Forrester's Wave evaluation placed heavy emphasis on security posture, and Intune's deep ties with Microsoft's security ecosystem paid dividends. Intune integrates natively with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for conditional access, ensuring that only compliant devices can access corporate resources. When a device falls out of compliance—say, because it hasn't applied the latest security patch—Intune can trigger Entra to block that device until it is remediated.

The synergy with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is even tighter. Intune can ingest Defender's threat signals and automatically quarantine a device showing signs of compromise. Conversely, if Intune detects a device that hasn't had a malware scan in over a week, it can force a scan via Defender. This closed-loop security fabric earned Intune top marks in Forrester's “security and compliance” criterion, with analysts writing that “the Intune-Entra-Defender triad is the most integrated security stack in the endpoint management market.”

Forrester also noted Intune's support for Zero Trust principles. Device health, user identity, and real-time risk signals converge in a policy engine that continuously evaluates access. This model is far more effective than traditional perimeter-based security, and Intune serves as the enforcement point at the device layer. The report praised Intune's “device attestation” capabilities, which verify that a device's hardware and boot process have not been tampered with before allowing network access.

What This Means for Windows Administrators

For the Windows admin on the ground, Forrester's recognition is more than a badge; it's a validation of the platform they rely on daily. Many organizations have been on the fence about fully migrating from legacy tools like Group Policy and Configuration Manager to a cloud-first Intune model. The Leader designation provides the kind of third-party assurance that helps IT decision-makers push modernization projects forward.

Several specific Intune features stand out for Windows management:

  • Windows Autopilot: Pre-configured devices ship directly to end users, who sign in and are automatically provisioned with policies, applications, and settings. No IT touch required. Forrester gave Intune's provisioning capabilities a 5 out of 5.
  • Update Rings and Feature Update Policies: Admins can set ring-based deployment for Windows updates, pausing or rolling back if analytics detect stability issues. AI models factor in application compatibility data to recommend safe update paths.
  • Co-management with ConfigMgr: For organizations not ready to go full cloud, co-management allows selective workloads to be moved to Intune while keeping others on-premises. This flexibility was cited as a market leading approach.
  • Remediations in Intune: A library of pre-built scripts and the ability to write custom detection and remediation scripts give admins powerful tools to fix common Windows issues without remoting into machines.

The report also highlights Intune's reporting and dashboard capabilities, which have matured significantly. Custom reports can be built using Kusto Query Language (KQL), and the data can be streamed to Azure Monitor or Power BI for enterprise-wide visibility.

Market Context and Competitive Landscape

Forrester's Wave includes other notable vendors: VMware Workspace ONE, IBM MaaS360, Ivanti, ManageEngine, and Jamf are all cited. While each has its strengths, only a handful reached the Leader category. Forrester's model rewards broad platform support, strong vision, and proven scalability—areas where Microsoft's cloud native architecture excels.

One market trend the report underscores is the convergence of endpoint management and digital employee experience (DEX) tools. Intune's endpoint analytics and its integration with Microsoft's Viva Insights position it as a DEX platform as well. By correlating device telemetry with user sentiment data (gathered from surveys or productivity scores), Intune can give organizations a holistic view of how technology impacts workforce effectiveness. This convergence is something Forrester sees accelerating over the next 18 months.

Another trend is the growing importance of edge and IoT device management. While not the primary focus of this Wave, Forrester noted that Microsoft's Azure IoT management capabilities, combined with Intune, give it a foothold in managing specialized devices such as kiosks, digital signage, and even industrial PCs running Windows IoT. For Windows enthusiasts following the evolution of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, this signals deeper integration ahead.

Microsoft's Response and Future Roadmap

In a blog post accompanying the Forrester recognition, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Microsoft Intune, Steve Dispensa, attributed the achievement to a relentless focus on three pillars: “simplicity, security, and AI-driven automation.” He announced several upcoming enhancements that will further cement Intune's role as an AI control plane:

  • Advanced anomaly detection across kernel-level events for Windows devices, allowing Intune to detect rootkits and firmware attacks without third-party agents.
  • Cross-platform endpoint privilege management, extending just-in-time admin access to macOS and Linux from a single policy.
  • Deeper integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling admins to generate complex management scripts using natural language.
  • Sustainability dashboards that estimate carbon footprint per device and recommend power management settings to reduce energy consumption.

These announcements are more than vaporware; many are already in private preview and expected to reach general availability by the end of 2026. Forrester's evaluation factored in this roadmap heavily when assigning Intune a top Strategy score.

Real-World Impact: From Help Desk to Boardroom

For large enterprises managing tens of thousands of endpoints, the “AI control plane” analogy translates into tangible outcomes. One Fortune 500 IT director, who requested anonymity because his company doesn't allow public statements, told windowsnews.ai that Intune's proactive remediation alone reduced help desk tickets by 22% in the first six months of deployment. “We're not just fixing things faster; we're preventing them from happening. That's the AI difference,” he said.

On the security front, a healthcare organization with 80,000 devices reported that Intune's integration with Defender blocked three ransomware attempts in Q1 2026 alone, all triggered by non-compliant devices that were automatically isolated before the malware could spread. Such stories are becoming common, and they illustrate why Forrester's endorsement carries weight: it's based on hard data, not hype.

Looking Ahead: The Endpoint Management Evolution

The endpoint management market is at an inflection point. What was once a discipline focused on pushing policies and deploying software is now a strategic function that touches security, employee experience, and even sustainability. Forrester's Wave sets a new benchmark: a Leader must not only manage devices but also anticipate, automate, and secure in a continuous feedback loop.

Microsoft Intune's trajectory suggests it will continue to absorb adjacent capabilities—identity protection, privilege management, network access control—blurring the lines between traditional categories. For Windows administrators, this means the tools they use daily will become smarter, more interconnected, and likely more essential to their organizations' success.

The Forrester Leader designation is not an endpoint; it's a milestone on a journey toward autonomous endpoint management. With AI at its core, Intune is poised to make the term “control plane” a reality, where every device is a sensor, every alert is a trigger for automated action, and the IT administrator becomes a curator of intelligence rather than a firefighter. For those invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, it's a compelling vision—and one that now carries independent validation from one of the industry's most respected analyst firms.