Microsoft is enforcing stricter security requirements for its Intune Mobile Application Management (MAM) service that could block users from accessing Outlook, Teams, and other managed apps if they’re not running current versions. IT administrators need to act now to prevent widespread access disruptions.
What’s Changing
The enforcement targets the Intune App SDK. Any application integrated with this SDK — including Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook and Teams, third-party apps, and custom line-of-business applications — must meet a minimum version threshold.
Apps failing to meet the requirement will be blocked from launching, potentially locking users out of critical business tools. The change aims to enhance security by ensuring all managed apps benefit from the latest protections and features.
Who’s Affected
- End users running outdated versions of managed apps on iOS or Android devices
- IT administrators managing mobile devices through Intune MAM policies
- Development teams maintaining custom or wrapped line-of-business applications
- Organizations with third-party apps integrated into Intune management
Step 1: Audit Your App Protection Status
Your first action is understanding your current environment. Microsoft provides a dedicated report in the Intune admin center:
How to Access the Report
- Navigate to Apps → Monitor → App protection status
- Review which applications users are running
- Check current app versions
- Verify Intune App SDK versions for each app
What to Look For
Prioritize these high-risk areas:
Microsoft 365 apps: Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint—these have the widest user base and highest impact if blocked
Custom line-of-business apps: Internal tools built or wrapped with Intune SDK that may have longer update cycles
Third-party managed apps: Any external applications integrated with your Intune environment
Create a spreadsheet listing:
- Non-compliant applications
- Users affected by each app
- Current SDK versions
- Required SDK versions
- Update availability in app stores
This data will inform your communication strategy and help prioritize urgent updates.
Step 2: Configure Conditional Launch Rules
Instead of abruptly cutting off access, use Intune’s Conditional Launch settings to manage the transition gracefully.
Setting Up Phased Enforcement
According to Microsoft’s official documentation, you can configure conditions like “Min app version” with these actions:
Phase 1 – Warning (Days 1-14):
- Navigate to Apps → App protection policies
- Select or create a policy for your target apps
- Under Conditional launch, add a condition
- Set Min app version or Min SDK version
- Choose action: Warn
- Add message: “Your app version is outdated. Please update from your app store within 14 days to maintain access.”
Phase 2 – Block (Day 15+):
- Create a second condition with the same version requirement
- Choose action: Block access
- Set grace period: 14 days after warning
- Add message: “This app version is no longer supported. Update required to access.”
Recommended Timeline
- Week 1-2: Warning phase with educational communications
- Week 3: Final reminder emails before enforcement
- Week 4: Block enforcement begins for non-compliant apps
This phased approach gives users time to update while ensuring your mobile app ecosystem remains compliant and secure.
Step 3: Verify Custom and Wrapped Apps
Custom and wrapped applications are common failure points because they depend on internal development cycles.
Immediate Actions
For internal development teams:
- Identify all custom apps using the Intune App SDK
- Check current SDK version in each app’s build configuration
- Compare against minimum required version
- Schedule SDK updates in sprint planning
- Test updated apps in UAT environment before production release
For external vendors:
- Contact vendor support with specific SDK requirements
- Request timeline for compliant app version
- Establish SLA for critical business application updates
- Document vendor commitments for compliance tracking
For wrapped apps:
- Re-wrap applications using the latest Intune App Wrapping Tool
- Test wrapped apps thoroughly—wrapping can introduce compatibility issues
- Update internal documentation with new build procedures
Why Custom Apps Matter Most
While Microsoft and major vendors update their App Store listings regularly, custom applications often serve critical business functions with no immediate alternatives. A blocked custom expense reporting tool or field service app can halt operations entirely.
Step 4: Test with “What If” Simulation
Before enforcing new policies, simulate their impact using Azure Active Directory’s Conditional Access “What If” tool.
How to Simulate
- Navigate to Azure AD → Security → Conditional Access
- Select What If tool
- Choose a test user from your audit list
- Select the application (e.g., Outlook)
- Specify device platform (iOS/Android)
- Review which policies would apply
- Check the enforcement outcome
What to Test
- Edge cases: Users with multiple device registrations
- Exemptions: Executive accounts with special policy exclusions
- Conflicts: Overlapping Conditional Access and MAM policies
- Third-party apps: Non-Microsoft apps with Intune integration
Document your test scenarios and results. This creates an audit trail and helps troubleshoot issues after enforcement begins.
Communication Strategy
Technical preparation is only half the battle. User communication prevents helpdesk overload.
Week 1 Announcement
Subject: Action Required: Update Your Mobile Apps by [Date]
Content: Explain the security requirement, list affected apps, provide update instructions, include screenshots of app store update process
Week 2 Reminder
Subject: Reminder: 7 Days Until App Access Changes
Content: Targeted to users still running outdated versions (from your audit report), emphasize the upcoming block date
Day Before Enforcement
Subject: Final Notice: Update Required Today
Content: Last call for non-compliant users, provide helpdesk contact for assistance
Enforcement Day
Helpdesk preparation: Brief support team on expected issues, prepare quick-reference guide for common problems, monitor helpdesk ticket volume
Troubleshooting Common Issues
User updated app but still blocked:
- Check if device is using cached app data—restart device
- Verify app actually updated (check version in app settings)
- Confirm Intune policy sync (may take up to 8 hours)
Custom app not available in app store:
- Expedite internal development update
- Consider temporary policy exemption for critical users
- Communicate alternate workflows until update is ready
iOS/Android version too old for latest app:
- Check if older app versions meet SDK requirements
- Evaluate device replacement timeline
- Provide web-based alternatives where available
Post-Enforcement Monitoring
After enforcement begins:
- Monitor the App protection status report daily for the first week
- Track helpdesk ticket volume for app access issues
- Review blocked access logs in Intune for patterns
- Document lessons learned for future policy rollouts
- Update your compliance playbook with this experience
Why This Matters
Microsoft’s enforcement of minimum SDK versions strengthens mobile security by ensuring all managed apps benefit from the latest protections. However, success depends entirely on proactive IT preparation.
By auditing your environment, configuring gradual enforcement policies, verifying custom app compliance, and communicating clearly with users, you transform a potential crisis into a routine security enhancement.
Organizations that wait until users start getting blocked will face helpdesk overload, productivity losses, and frustrated employees. Those who prepare now will barely notice the transition.
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