We are evaluating a pure-cloud-PC+mobile-infrastructure with Intune and Office 365. For that, we have created an Intune and O365 test sites, which share the same tenant user accounts.

To get picture complete, we need to be able to use Windows Intune to manage EAS devices thru Office 365 EAS.

In our scenario, there is no on-premises Exchange, so there is no Exchange server to install the Intune Exchange Connector. Instead, we should connect the Intune directly to the O365.

How to link Intune to O365 to manage EAS devices?

Br, Kari Oikkonen
MCITP

Hi, You'll need to download and setup the Windows Intune Exchange Connector and point it to the pop server value found in OWA options in Office 365. The connector needs a machine to run on, typically a stand alone server. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks, Jon L. - MSFT

I'm in a similar situation as Kari. What happens if the server on which the Connector is installed and configured on, is decomissioned or the Connector is later uninstalled?

Same question, too. Does it act as a gateway between Intune and O365 EAS, i.e. does it have to be "always on" for MDM to work?

Hi,

The Exchange Connector contacts your Office 365 service and pulls in registered mobile devices.  If you turn off the connector, the devices will stay in the Windows Intune Console, but they won't be updated further nor receive any policy from the Connector.  If the server was decommishioned you would turn off the Windows Intune Exchange Connector connection in the Intune Admin Console, then you could set it up on a new server, etc.

The Exchange Connector should be on it's own server or server VM and always be connected to the internet so it can pull and update new devices, etc.  The connector can write policies that you set in Windows Intune to your Office 365 account (standard EAS Policies, etc) and pull device information into the Windows Intune Console.

I hope that answered your questions.

Thanks,

Jon L. - MSFT

Will remote wipe work when initiated from Intune console and Exchange Connector server is not online?

Hi Kari,

No, the Exchange Connector needs to be online all the time.  It's not a supported scenario to have the connector offline at any time.  It's routinely checking in, performing delta sync's and relaying data between the Windows Intune and Office 365 services.

Thanks,

Jon L. - MSFT

Thank you Jon for clear answers. I drew one WS2012 virtual server from Azure cloud and installed Exchange Connector there, and it started to sync immediately.

So, for O365 hosted Exchange, the server no need to be in AD. Windows workgroup installation is OK.

Br, Kari

Hi Kari,

Thanks very much for coming back to this thread and adding in that last piece of useful information.  Not a lot of people take the time to do that, and it's tremendously helpful when they do, so thank you.