Yes, Mobile Device Management (MDM), primarily through Our Microsoft Intune, is becoming the new standard for Windows management, and Microsoft is heavily investing in it as the go-forward solution. The company is actively shifting its focus towards cloud-native, modern management over traditional, on-premises Group Policy (GPO).
Key Indicators for 2026
-
- End-of-Life for Legacy Tools: Microsoft’s Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM) will reach its end-of-life on April 14, 2026, signaling a clear move away from legacy GPO tools.
- Intune as the Innovation Hub: Microsoft has stated that Intune will receive “all future investments and innovation,” while Configuration Manager (SCCM), a hybrid management tool, is moving to an annual release schedule. This means new Windows features will likely have MDM support prioritized.
- Cloud-First Focus: MDM is better suited for the modern, hybrid work environment as it can manage internet-connected devices without requiring a VPN or on-premises domain join. Microsoft is emphasizing MDM’s ability to manage devices remotely and apply security policies automatically.
- Enhanced MDM Capabilities: Microsoft is continuously extending the management capabilities available to MDMs in Windows, including advanced update management, security configuration, and new recovery features like “Cloud rebuild” expected in mid-2026, which leverages MDM for zero-touch provisioning.
- GPO Analytics for Transition: To help organizations transition, Microsoft released a Group Policy analytics tool within Intune to assess which existing GPOs have MDM support, facilitating a smoother migration.
Coexistence vs. Replacement
While MDM is the future direction, Group Policy is not disappearing overnight. Many large organizations still rely heavily on legacy infrastructure and GPOs for granular, on-premises management. Microsoft acknowledges this and expects many enterprises to maintain hybrid environments for years to come.
In 2026, the two will likely continue to coexist, but the strategic advantage and new functionality will increasingly reside within the MDM/Intune ecosystem. The trend is a clear push towards cloud-based management as the default approach for modern Windows environments.