Microsoft Intune Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) is a feature designed to provide a unified and seamless experience across Windows devices by synchronizing user settings and application state data to the cloud. This feature, integrated with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), helps users maintain their personalized settings when switching between devices or when re-provisioning a device.
Key Features of Enterprise State Roaming:
- Settings Synchronization:
- Synchronizes Windows settings (e.g., themes, passwords, and language preferences).
- Syncs Microsoft Edge favorites and reading lists.
- Enhanced Security:
- Uses Azure AD to securely store user settings in the cloud.
- Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Reduced IT Overhead:
- Simplifies device provisioning and management.
- Eliminates the need for traditional roaming profiles.
- Seamless User Experience:
- Ensures consistent settings across devices for a smooth transition.
- Helps in restoring settings quickly during device replacement or re-imaging.
Examples of How It Works (with Visual Representations):
1. Before Using Enterprise State Roaming:
- Scenario: A user switches from Device A to Device B.
- They manually reconfigure system settings, browser bookmarks, and passwords.
- Outcome: Time-consuming and prone to missing configurations.
2. With Enterprise State Roaming:
- Scenario: The same user has ESR enabled and switches devices.
- Themes, preferences, and Edge data are automatically synchronized via Azure AD.
- Outcome: The user logs into Device B and immediately sees their personalized settings and data.
3. Security in Action:
- Scenario: A user re-provisions a device.
- Settings are retrieved securely from Azure AD and applied to the new instance.
- Outcome: The device is ready for use with minimal downtime, and sensitive data remains encrypted.