Scripts
Last Updated: May 2025
Implementation Effort: Medium – IT admins need to write, test, and deploy shell scripts, and ensure they are scoped correctly to device groups and executed securely.
User Impact: Low – Scripts run silently in the background; users are not required to take action or be notified unless the script affects visible settings.
Introduction
Scripts are a powerful tool for macOS administrators using Intune. They allow IT teams to automate configuration, enforce settings not natively exposed in Intune, and remediate issues at scale. Scripts are especially valuable in macOS environments where MDM capabilities may be limited compared to other platforms. From a Zero Trust perspective, scripts help enforce device integrity, configuration consistency, and least privilege by automating secure baselines.
Why This Matters
- Extends Intune’s native capabilities for macOS management.
- Automates secure configuration and remediation tasks.
- Supports Zero Trust by enforcing consistent, policy-driven device states.
- Reduces manual intervention and human error.
- Improves visibility and control over device posture.
Key Considerations
Supported Script Types
- Intune supports shell scripts for macOS devices.
- Scripts can be written in
sh
,bash
, orzsh
, as long as the appropriate shebang (e.g.,#!/bin/bash
,#!/usr/bin/env zsh
) is included and the shell is available on the device. - Scripts are executed by the Intune Management Agent, which is automatically installed on macOS devices during Intune enrollment.
From a Zero Trust perspective: Scripts allow enforcement of custom security controls that align with organizational policy.
Common Use Cases
- Demote local admin accounts to standard users.
- Create or manage hidden IT admin accounts.
- Enforce system settings not available in the Intune UI (e.g., disabling Siri, configuring login window text).
- Rotate FileVault recovery keys and re-escrow them to Intune.
- Audit or remove unauthorized apps.
From a Zero Trust perspective: These use cases support least privilege, device hardening, and continuous trust enforcement.