Using Group Tags in Intune for Dynamic Group Membership

A comprehensive guide to automating device grouping

Key Takeaways

Streamline Device Management: Group tags simplify dynamic grouping, enabling automatic assignment of devices based on specific attributes.
Customized Dynamic Rules: Use precise membership rules in Azure Active Directory to target devices based on tags defined during enrollment.
Enhanced Flexibility: Leverage group tags to target configurations, policies, and applications for specific departments or device types with minimal manual intervention.

Introduction

In modern enterprise device management, having the ability to automatically categorize and apply tailored policies to devices is crucial. Microsoft Intune offers a powerful feature known as “group tags,” which, when paired with dynamic groups in Azure Active Directory, enable administrators to streamline device deployment, configuration management, and policy enforcement.

Group tags are essentially custom markers assigned to devices during enrollment (often through Windows Autopilot) which allow these devices to be identified and sorted based on specific criteria such as department, device role, or operational profile. By using group tags in conjunction with dynamic group membership rules, you can automate the inclusion or removal of devices from groups based solely on the assigned tags, thereby reducing manual intervention and ensuring that all applicable policies are deployed seamlessly.

Understanding Group Tags and Their Benefits

What Are Group Tags?

Group tags are identifiers that you can assign to devices when they are imported into Intune via processes like Windows Autopilot. These tags facilitate the categorization of devices in a way that reflects their intended use or department. They are particularly beneficial in larger organizations where devices need to be segmented into logical groups without constant manual updates.

During the device enrollment process, whether manually or using automated methods such as CSV imports, you can specify a tag representative of that device’s role. Common examples include tags like “SalesDevices,” “Accounting,” or "WIN11-CORP-SHD". Once assigned, these tags act as triggers for dynamic group membership rules in Azure Active Directory.

Advantages of Using Group Tags

The benefits of using group tags in Intune include:

Automation: Automatically manage devices as they join or leave the organization without continuous manual updates to groups.
Precision: Allow dynamic group queries to precisely target devices based on specific, pre-defined criteria, ensuring that each device receives the appropriate policy or configuration.
Simplification: Reduce complexity by consolidating administrative tasks; with group tags in place, adding, updating, or auditing group membership becomes a more straightforward process.
Scalability: Support dynamic scaling in large enterprises by ensuring that as new devices are enrolled, they are automatically added to the correct groups based on the tag they are assigned.

Implementing Group Tags in Intune

Step 1: Assigning Group Tags to Devices

The first critical step in the process is to ensure that devices are assigned an appropriate group tag during enrollment. This can be achieved through several methods:

Via Windows Autopilot and CSV Imports

When setting up devices for enrollment via Windows Autopilot, you can include a group tag in the CSV file used during the import process. Each device record within the CSV can contain a field for the group tag, allowing you to segment devices immediately as they are imported.

Manually through the Intune Portal

Administrators can also update or assign group tags manually by navigating to the Intune portal. The process typically involves selecting the device from the “All Devices” list, accessing the device properties, and then entering or modifying the value in the group tag field. Note that the availability of this feature might depend on the type of device or its enrollment method.

Step 2: Creating a Dynamic Group in Azure Active Directory

Once devices are properly tagged, your next step is to create a dynamic group in Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to leverage these tags for automated membership. The process generally follows these steps:

Access Azure AD: Log in to the Azure portal with administrative privileges and navigate to the Azure Active Directory section.
Select Groups: In the Azure AD interface, go to the “Groups” section and choose to create a new group.
Group Type Selection: You can opt for different group types, though typically a “Security” group is used if the target is devices, which ensures that policies and configurations can be appropriately assigned.
Dynamic Membership: Set the membership type to “Dynamic Device” if the rule applies to devices. For rules that might be applicable for users (using a different attribute), “Dynamic User” can be selected, but this guide focuses on device management.

Step 3: Defining Dynamic Membership Rules Using Group Tags

With your dynamic group created, it is now essential to define the membership rule that leverages the assigned group tags. Dynamic membership rules use a query language that filters devices using one of the device's properties. In the case of group tags, the device property is typically referenced as deviceManagementGroupTag or as part of devicePhysicalIds.

Dynamic Rule Syntax Example

For instance, if you have assigned the group tag “SalesDevices” during enrollment, you might create a dynamic rule with the following syntax to automatically include all devices with that group tag:

$$ device.deviceManagementGroupTag -eq "SalesDevices" $$

In some cases, especially if using device physical IDs, the rule may look like:

$$ (device.devicePhysicalIds -any _ -eq "[OrderID]:SalesDevices") $$

Both examples allow Azure AD to evaluate each device’s properties and automatically group them based on the tag. Proper use of these syntaxes makes it possible to target devices with fine-grained precision.

Step 4: Finalizing and Monitoring the Dynamic Group

Once you have defined your dynamic membership rule, the next steps are straightforward:

Rule Testing: Most administration consoles provide an option to test your dynamic rule. Confirm that the expected devices are matched correctly.
Create the Group: Upon successful validation, complete the creation of the dynamic group. Azure AD will then begin the evaluation process, incorporating all devices that satisfy the rule conditions.
Ongoing Monitoring: It is important to periodically review group membership to ensure that devices are being included or excluded appropriately. Changes to enrollment processes or updates to device properties may require modifications to the rule or re-tagging of devices.

Dynamic Group Membership in Action: Practical Examples

Example 1: Targeting Windows 11 Devices

Large organizations often have devices that run different versions of Windows. Suppose you want to create a dynamic group for Windows 11 devices for tailored policy application. When enrolling these devices through Windows Autopilot, you can assign a group tag such as “WIN11-CORP-USER.” In Azure AD, the corresponding dynamic membership rule can use the deviceManagementGroupTag property as follows:

$$ device.deviceManagementGroupTag -eq "WIN11-CORP-USER" $$

This rule automatically ensures that all devices enrolled with this tag become members of the designated group, allowing you to push configurations, apps, and security policies specific to Windows 11 devices.

Example 2: Managing Devices by Department

Consider an organization that rolls out different policies for various departments. For instance, devices assigned to the Sales department might get a tag “Sales.” You can create a dynamic group with a rule that includes:

$$ device.deviceManagementGroupTag -eq "Sales" $$

In this scenario, every device enrolled with the “Sales” tag automatically becomes a member of the Sales devices dynamic group. Policy deployment, application updates, and security configurations can then be targeted specifically to this group.

Example 3: Devices with Special Profiles

Some devices might be enrolled under special configurations like Offline Autopilot, which require unique management strategies. By using a group tag such as “StaffDevice” or a similar identifier, you can leverage a rule such as:

$$ device.devicePhysicalIds -any _ -eq "[OrderID]:StaffDevice" $$

This allows for the segregation of devices using different system images or deployment profiles so that administration tools can apply the correct settings to the respective groups automatically.

Creating a Dynamic Group: A Step-by-Step Table

Step	Action	Details
1	Assign Group Tag	During device enrollment via Autopilot or manual assignment in Intune, designate a descriptive group tag to the device (e.g., “SalesDevices” or “WIN11-CORP-USER”).
2	Create Dynamic Group	Log in to the Azure portal; navigate to Azure AD > Groups > New Group; select the group type (Security or Microsoft 365) and set membership type as Dynamic Device.
3	Define Membership Rule	Specify the rule using the device attribute, e.g., $$ device.deviceManagementGroupTag -eq "SalesDevices" $$ or using physical IDs with syntax such as $$ (device.devicePhysicalIds -any _ -eq "[OrderID]:SalesDevices") $$
4	Test and Validate	Utilize built-in test options to confirm devices matching the rule are correctly identified.
5	Finalize Creation	Create the group and monitor membership to ensure continued compliance with organizational policies.

Best Practices and Additional Considerations

Consistency in Tagging

One of the most critical aspects of using group tags is ensuring consistency during the enrollment and tagging processes. As devices are registered into Intune, it is essential that the tag values are both precise and consistent. Variations in tag formatting (such as unexpected spaces or case differences) can lead to discrepancies where the dynamic membership rule might fail to identify the intended devices correctly. It is advisable to establish a clear naming convention for group tags within your organization and ensure that all IT personnel adhere strictly to it.

Testing Dynamic Queries

Prior to deploying new or updated policies relying on dynamic groups, it is recommended to test your dynamic query rules on a limited number of devices. Testing verifies the accuracy of the rule syntax and ensures that devices are categorized as expected. This can prevent potential misconfigurations or policy misapplications that might affect productivity or security.

Integration with Autopilot and Other Tools

Integrating group tagging with Windows Autopilot enables a more automated and scalable device deployment process. By assigning group tags at the time of device provisioning, administrators can lay the groundwork for automated policy application, reducing overhead post-deployment. Additionally, using group tags in tandem with Endpoint Manager’s tools can further simplify remedial actions in scenarios where devices need to be reorganized based on department changes, updates in device roles, or when new policies are introduced.

Review and Adjustment

Technology environments are dynamic, and so is a device’s lifecycle. Incorporating a periodic review process for dynamic group membership settings is advisable. As devices age, get reconfigured, or are replaced, adjust the dynamic rules if necessary to maintain accurate categorization. Monitoring membership logs and setting up alerts for discrepancies can help proactively manage issues and align the group rules with evolving organizational requirements.

Advanced Considerations and Examples

Leveraging Additional Device Attributes

Beyond the basic use of group tags, administrators may take advantage of other device properties or tags in the dynamic membership rule syntax. For example, in instances where you might want to join multiple criteria together, you can use logical operators to form compound queries. Consider a situation where you want to group devices that have a specific group tag and are running a particular operating system. You might construct a rule such as:

$$ device.deviceManagementGroupTag -eq "SalesDevices" and device.operatingSystem -contains "Windows 11" $$

This advanced rule ensures that only Windows 11 devices with the "SalesDevices" tag are added to the corresponding dynamic group, thereby allowing you to massively tailor the configuration settings dispatched to that group.

Handling Exceptions and Troubleshooting

Even with a robust tagging strategy, exceptions occasionally occur. Devices may be mis-tagged or might not update their physical properties as expected. To manage such exceptions:

Audit Regularly: Regular audits can reveal discrepancies in group membership or errors in tagging. Use Intune's reporting and logging features to keep track of updates and mismatches.
Manual Overrides: In cases where automated rules fall short, administrators can temporarily reassign or manually adjust group tags on individual devices to realign them with the overarching policy framework.
Documentation: Maintaining thorough documentation on your tagging strategy and dynamic rules ensures consistency and provides a reference for troubleshooting should issues arise.

Security Implications

Utilizing group tags and dynamic membership rules can also have favorable security implications. By ensuring that only compliant devices with specific tags receive updated security patches, configurations, or access to certain resources, you can protect portions of your network more effectively. For example, creating a dynamic group solely for devices that have successfully passed compliance checks (and thus carry a “Compliant” tag) allows you to exclusively administer critical security policies to those devices, reducing the potential attack surface.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Group tags in Intune serve as a versatile and powerful tool for automating device grouping and ensuring that policies and configurations are applied consistently across an organization. By integrating group tags into your Windows Autopilot enrollment processes and dynamically managing device group memberships through Azure Active Directory, you can significantly reduce administrative overhead while enhancing the precision and responsiveness of your device policies.

Whether you are targeting devices based on their operating system, department, or special deployment profiles, a well-thought-out dynamic grouping strategy will yield long-term benefits and streamline IT operations. With consistency in tagging, rigorous testing of dynamic queries, and a continual review of group membership rules, your organization can maintain precise control over device management procedures, ensuring that every device receives the correct configurations and security settings automatically.

References

Support Tip: Using Group Tags to Import Devices into Intune with Autopilot - Tech Community
Device Group Mapping in Intune - Microsoft Documentation
Group Tags: How Are You Using Them? - Reddit
Creating AAD Dynamic Groups Based on MDM Intune - Anoop CNAir

How to configure device enrollment in Intune

How to create dynamic membership rules in Azure AD

Best practices for device management using group tags