Connecting Windows Server 2012 R2 to M365

iDadD4 211 Reputation points
2021-09-22T14:55:22.913+00:00

I am migrating to M365 from an on-prem network. We will still be keeping a Windows 2012 R2 member server on-prem for a specific piece of software to run.

I want to be able to connect the Windows 2012 R2 to my M365 Premium portal. I want to be able to manage the server via InTune and protect with Defender and EDR.

I can find no way to connect this server to the M365 Portal.

I have explored doing a site-site VPN, but feel this is an overkill.

I guess my questions would be:

  1. Is there a way to connect / join this server to the M365 Portal (sort of like a Win10 box)?
  2. Is there really a NEED to connect it if I forgo any of the above desires and managed it independently which doesn't really make sense to do.
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune
A Microsoft cloud-based management solution that offers mobile device management, mobile application management, and PC management capabilities.
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  1. Limitless Technology 39,391 Reputation points
    2021-09-23T09:41:16.947+00:00

    Hello @iDadD4 ,

    Unfortunately, this is not possible since a recent change in lifecycle. Windows 2012 R2 is not anymore supported to manage M365.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/endofsupport/windows-server-support

    Hope this clarifies the issue.

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  1. Lu Dai-MSFT 28,356 Reputation points
    2021-09-23T05:37:08.57+00:00

    @iDadD4 Thanks for posting in our Q&A.

    From intune's point of view, intune doesn't support to manage servers. Intune supported operating systems are in the following article:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/fundamentals/supported-devices-browsers#intune-supported-operating-systems

    Thanks for understanding.

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  2. Jason Sandys 31,171 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2021-09-24T04:38:31.463+00:00

    There's no direct way to manage Windows Defender in a Windows Server device using Intune today. No commitments, but we are actively working on a way doing this though. To be clear, this won't give full management, just management of supported Windows Defender capabilities on the device.

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