Workplace-independent sync/replication of Windows and app settings in Azure AD

Question

Hi everyone,

I am an apprentice in a small business. We are using Azure AD and several features (SharePoint, Exchange, Office, etc...) with Microsoft 365 E3 Licenses.
Our Windows 10 clients are all Azure AD joined, but are not managed by Intune.
Also, we are not using any sort of Group Policies or Domain Service (AD DS, AAD DS), just basic Azure AD.
Until recently, everyone had his own, personalized clients, which basic windows and app settings they could configure as they pleased.

But now I was given the task to find and test possibilities to synchronize windows and app settings from one workstation to another, so that it is possible to have basically the same working environment on every Azure AD joined client. The desired settings to sync/replicate are:

• Windows design settings
• Windows device settings (e.g. printers, mouse)
• Desktop shortcuts (possible to solve via OneDrive)
• Task bar settings and shortcuts
• user-specific Microsoft Office app settings/preferences
• web browser data (possible to solve via browser account sync)
• if possible, even third party software configuration (e.g. VoIP clients, tools)
  -> only the configuration, provided that given software is present on all clients

While searching for ways to sync those settings, I already tested the "Enterprise State Roaming" feature, but only some design settings (not even the taskbar settings) got synced.

Are there other ways to replicate the desired settings per user between workstations, without having to set up a Domain Service with group policies? Any hint would be much appreciated.

Best regards

Answer 1

HI Kevin,

I think the best feasible way is to leverage Intune for device management for Azure AD joined devices.
You can control all the polices and standard operating environment form the intune portal.