Endpoint privilege management (EPM) is essential to modern cybersecurity, enabling organizations to enforce least privilege access and minimize the attack surface. EPM governs users credentials so that admin privileges aren’t distributed inappropriately and in ways that users, unintentionally or maliciously, could exploit functions beyond the needs for their role in the organization.
This blog compares Microsoft Intune EPM and ManageEngine Application Control Plus’ EPM solution—two approaches with contrasting strengths.
Microsoft Intune EPM offers core capabilities such as policy-based privilege elevation, just in time access, and user activity tracking. It is a cloud-native solution available exclusively through the Intune Suite Plan 1, priced at an additional $36 per user annually on top of Intune Plan 1. Elevation support is limited to .exe files, with basic allow and deny configurations and no support for non-executable elevation.
ManageEngine Endpoint Privilege Management, part of the Application Control Plus, is a comprehensive solution tailored for Windows environments. It enables IT administrators to exercise fine-grained control over user privileges and application access, with support for on-premises deployments. This deployment flexibility makes it suitable for hybrid IT infrastructures, including those with air-gapped networks or regulatory constraints.
This solution supports rule-based privilege elevation for executables, scripts, Control Panel components, and file edits—providing significantly broader coverage than Intune. Application control can be enforced using detailed conditions such as user identity, file path, or process context. Just in time access is also available to reduce the risk of privilege misuse. ManageEngine further strengthens administrative oversight with role-based access control, centralized logging, and support for self-service elevation workflows governed by approval mechanisms.
In contrast to Intune’s basic policy-driven model and cloud-only approach, ManageEngine provides a more flexible and comprehensive EPM framework.
ManageEngine EPM stands out with its broad deployment flexibility, advanced rule-based privilege controls, and highly cost-effective endpoint-based pricing. It’s an ideal choice for organizations looking for granular access management and scalable security without straining their IT budgets.
ManageEngine Application Control Plus delivers a straightforward, cost-effective pricing model at less than $1 per endpoint monthly—making it highly scalable for organizations managing large device volumes. Its endpoint-based approach ensures predictable budgeting, particularly for SMBs and enterprises with shared or multi-user environments. In contrast, Microsoft Intune’s Endpoint Privilege Management is available only as an add-on, costing an additional $36 per user annually with Intune Plan 1.
Considering the total cost of ownership (TCO), ManageEngine stands out with its lower acquisition cost, flexible deployment model, and minimal infrastructure dependency. It delivers strong privilege management capabilities and a better return on investment—without locking organizations into user-based licensing or requiring full commitment to the Microsoft ecosystem.
Microsoft Intune EPM can be a suitable choice for organizations already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem—particularly when basic privilege elevation, such as .exe-based controls, is sufficient. However, its limited flexibility and higher cost make it less ideal for environments requiring more advanced privilege management capabilities.
For organizations seeking granular control, broader application support, and scalable deployment options, ManageEngine EPM offers a powerful complement to Intune. By adopting a coexistence strategy, businesses can leverage Intune plan 1 for management use cases while deploying ManageEngine EPM for deeper control and auditing—achieving both operational efficiency and stronger endpoint security.
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Start your 30-day free trial of ManageEngine Application Control Plus and experience advanced privilege management at no cost.