TridentStack Control vs Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management and MDM platform with deep EntraID integration. Plan 1 is eight dollars per user per month, with Plan 2 at four dollars and the Intune Suite at ten dollars per user per month as add-ons. Intune supports Linux enrollment and compliance monitoring on Ubuntu and RHEL, but native Linux patch management is limited. TridentStack Control gives you Windows patching, full Linux apt and dpkg patching, third-party app updates, vulnerability detection, and CIS or DISA STIG compliance scoring on one license. The first 200 endpoints are free forever, then five dollars per endpoint per month.
At a glance: TridentStack Control vs Microsoft Intune
| Capability | TridentStack Control | Microsoft Intune |
|---|---|---|
Windows updates | Yes | Yes |
Linux native patch management Intune supports Ubuntu and RHEL enrollment, identity, and compliance monitoring (Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS / 26.04 LTS), but native automated Linux patching is limited and typically relies on custom scripts. | Yes | Partial |
Third-party application updates Intune supports custom Win32 app packaging and the Enterprise App Catalog, but you build and maintain each package. TridentStack uses package manager integration for the long tail. | Yes | Partial |
Compliance scoring (CIS L1/L2, DISA STIG) Intune Compliance Policies focus on device-state checks for Conditional Access. CIS and DISA STIG scoring are not native; available via Defender Vulnerability Management or third-party tools. | Yes | Partial |
Vulnerability detection | Yes | Add-on (Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, ~$5.20/user/mo) |
Policy management without Entra ID or per-user Intune licensing Intune's Settings Catalog, Configuration Profiles, and ADMX-backed CSPs are robust, but require Intune licensing and an Entra ID tenant. TridentStack Control's policy management ships in the base per-endpoint price and works on domain-joined, workgroup, and Entra-joined endpoints with no directory or per-user licensing dependency. | Yes | No |
MDM (iOS, Android, macOS) | No | Yes |
EntraID Conditional Access integration | No | Yes |
MSP multi-tenancy | Yes | Limited (per-tenant contracts) |
Pricing Microsoft is bundling some previously-paid Intune add-ons into core SKUs in July 2026; check current Microsoft pricing for the up-to-date math. | 200 endpoints free forever, then $5 per endpoint per month | Plan 1: $8/user/mo; Plan 2 add-on: $4; Suite add-on: $10. Annual commitment. |
Where Microsoft Intune is genuinely better
Honest about where the competition wins. If your fleet looks like the cases below, Microsoft Intune is the right answer.
- ·Deep EntraID and Conditional Access integration. Native MDM for iOS, Android, macOS.
- ·Microsoft 365 ecosystem alignment. Single vendor relationship.
- ·Defender for Endpoint, Purview, and Copilot integrations available as add-ons.
- ·Established compliance certifications (FedRAMP High and others) for regulated environments.
- ·Intune Plan 1 is bundled with Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 at no incremental cost for those tenants.
Where TridentStack Control is genuinely better
The capabilities that don't exist in Microsoft Intune or only exist as separate paid SKUs.
- ·Single price, all features included. No per-feature SKUs.
- ·Native Linux patch management via apt and dpkg, not just compliance monitoring.
- ·Compliance scoring (CIS L1/L2, DISA STIG, NIST, Microsoft Security Baselines) built in, not gated to Defender for Endpoint Plan 2.
- ·First-class third-party application updates without packaging each app yourself.
- ·Policy management on the same per-endpoint price, no Entra ID tenant or per-user Intune licensing required. Domain-joined, workgroup, and Entra-joined endpoints all work the same way. Intune's Settings Catalog and Configuration Profiles are robust but live behind the Intune license and the Entra tenant.
- ·Multi-tenant for MSPs without enterprise contract negotiation.
- ·Faster onboarding. Most fleets see first agent in minutes.
Pricing at your fleet size
Drag the slider to your fleet size. The math is the math.
How to migrate from Microsoft Intune to TridentStack Control
A plain-language sequence. Skip the steps that don't apply to your fleet.
- 1
Decide what stays in Intune and what moves
TridentStack Control replaces Intune for patch management, vulnerability detection, and compliance scoring. It does not replace Intune for MDM. Most customers keep Intune for iOS, Android, and macOS device management and move Windows + Linux patching to TridentStack.
- 2
Install the TridentStack agent in parallel
The TridentStack agent runs alongside the Intune Management Extension on Windows endpoints. They do not conflict because they manage different concerns. Start with a small canary group.
- 3
Move Update Rings to TridentStack deployment rings
Intune Update Rings map cleanly. Settings like deferral period, active hours, and reboot behavior have direct equivalents in TridentStack rings.
- 4
Stop publishing third-party apps through Intune
Win32 packages for browsers, runtimes, and common apps move to TridentStack's package manager integration. The packaging time savings here are usually the largest single win in the migration.
- 5
Cut over and re-evaluate Intune SKU spend
Once TridentStack handles patching, vulnerability data, and compliance scoring, revisit your Intune licensing. SKUs purchased for Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, or Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 may not be needed.
Frequently asked questions about Microsoft Intune and TridentStack Control
Does TridentStack Control replace Intune for MDM?
No. TridentStack Control is not an MDM and does not handle iOS, Android, or macOS device enrollment. It focuses on Windows and Linux patching, third-party app updates, vulnerability detection, and compliance scoring. Most customers run TridentStack Control alongside Intune.
Doesn't Intune support Linux now?
Intune supports Linux enrollment for Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS and identity-broker scenarios for RHEL, with compliance monitoring. Native Linux patch management is limited as of 2026 and typically relies on custom scripts deployed via Intune. TridentStack Control's Linux agent integrates apt and dpkg natively for full patch lifecycle, kernel update handling, and reboot orchestration.
Can I keep my EntraID Conditional Access policies?
Yes. TridentStack Control does not interact with EntraID or Conditional Access. Conditional Access policies tied to Intune compliance state continue to work.
How does pricing compare for a 500-endpoint Windows fleet?
Intune Plan 1 standalone is eight dollars per user per month. If you need vulnerability management you add Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 at roughly $5.20 per user per month, putting the bill near $13.20 per user per month or about $6,600 monthly for 500 users. TridentStack Control for the same 500 endpoints is $1,500 per month at list price (300 paid endpoints after the first 200 free, at $5 each). For fleets at or below 200 endpoints, TridentStack Control is free entirely. Note: if your tenant already has Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Intune Plan 1 is included at no incremental cost; that changes the math.
Does TridentStack Control patch macOS?
Not currently. Windows and Linux are supported. macOS is on the roadmap.
Can I run TridentStack Control alongside Intune without conflict?
Yes. TridentStack Control's applicability engine runs server-side from telemetry the agent reports on heartbeat. The agent does not interact with the Intune Management Extension and does not depend on WSUS approval signaling, so the two stacks coexist without conflict.
How does compliance scoring compare?
Intune Compliance Policies focus on device-state checks (encryption status, OS version, jailbreak detection) primarily for use by Conditional Access. CIS Benchmark Level 1/2 scoring and DISA STIG scoring for Windows are not native to Intune and typically require Defender Vulnerability Management or third-party tools. TridentStack Control includes both natively, with per-control evidence and trend tracking.
See your fleet on TridentStack Control
200 endpoints free forever. Public beta. No sales call required.
Sources used to verify this comparison
All Microsoft Intune pricing, feature, and lifecycle claims on this page were verified against the sources below on 2026-04-30. Vendor pricing and capabilities change; if you spot something out of date, let us know.