How to Deploy Microsoft Teams and Viva Connections Across Devices
When managing Microsoft Teams in an enterprise, admins often face two major challenges:
- Deploying Teams across a variety of devices and platforms.
- Rolling out new Teams apps like Viva Connections in a consistent way for all users.
Here’s a detailed look at how these can be achieved, with practical scenarios and technical steps.
Scenario 1: Deploy Microsoft Teams During a Migration
Background:
Your company is moving from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams. You have a Microsoft 365 E5 subscription and need to ensure Teams is installed on all devices before the official cutover.
Environment:
- 500 Windows 10/11 laptops (corporate-managed)
- 200 iPhones (BYOD)
- 200 Android devices (corporate-managed with Intune)
- All devices currently have the Skype for Business app installed.
Requirement:
Ensure Teams is installed and available on all devices before the migration date.
Best Approach: ✅ Use Microsoft Intune
Why Intune?
- It supports cross-platform app deployment (Windows, iOS, Android, macOS).
- You can enforce Teams as a required app, ensuring it automatically installs.
- You can configure deployment rings or groups, rolling out Teams in phases.
Steps (Windows Example):
- In Intune admin center, go to Apps > Windows > Add.
- Choose Microsoft Store app (new) and select Microsoft Teams (work or school).
- Assign the app as Required to groups of Windows 10/11 devices.
- Monitor installation status from Reports > App install status.
Steps (Mobile Example – iOS/Android):
- In Intune admin center, go to Apps > iOS/iPadOS (or Android) > Add.
- Select Microsoft Teams from the App Store/Google Play.
- Assign to device groups or user groups.
- Enforce as Required so users cannot uninstall.
Key Point: Unlike policies or GPOs, Intune ensures consistent app delivery across all platforms — making it the most reliable choice for enterprise-scale deployments.
Scenario 2: Deploy Viva Connections as the Default App in Teams
Background:
Your company’s leadership wants to improve employee engagement by using Viva Connections as the default app inside Teams. The goal is to make it the first app in the Teams app bar for all users.
Environment:
- 3,000 employees across North America and Europe.
- Mix of Teams desktop, web, and mobile clients.
- Corporate intranet is already integrated with SharePoint Online.
Requirement:
Deploy Viva Connections and pin it as the first icon in the Teams app bar for every user.
Best Approach: ✅ Use Teams App Setup Policies
Steps:
- Upload the Viva Connections app
- Go to Teams admin center > Teams apps > Manage apps.
- Upload the Viva Connections app package (created with PowerShell or SharePoint integration).
- Publish the app.
- Modify or create an App Setup Policy
- Go to Teams admin center > Teams apps > Setup policies.
- Create a new policy or edit the Global (Org-wide default) policy.
- Under Installed apps, add Viva Connections.
- Drag it to the first position in the app bar.
- Assign the policy to all users
- Either assign directly from the Teams admin center, or
- Use PowerShell for bulk assignment:
Get-CsOnlineUser | Grant-CsTeamsAppSetupPolicy -PolicyName "VivaConnectionsPolicy"
Result:
Every user will see Viva Connections as the first pinned app in their Teams client, making it the primary entry point for company news, intranet, and resources.
Tip: It can take up to 24 hours for changes to propagate.
Alternative Scenario: Differentiate by User Group
Instead of deploying the same setup for everyone, some organizations create different app setup policies:
- Executives → Viva Connections pinned first, plus Power BI.
- Sales Team → Viva Connections pinned first, plus Dynamics 365.
- Operations → Viva Connections pinned first, plus ServiceNow.
This way, Teams becomes role-specific, improving adoption and productivity.
Key Takeaways
- Use Intune for deployment when you need Teams installed across multiple device platforms.
- Use Teams admin center app setup policies to control which apps appear in Teams and in what order.
- Combine both approaches: Intune ensures Teams (the app) is installed, while setup policies ensure the right in-app experience.
- For large organizations, consider different setup policies per department for tailored experiences.
Quick Reference: Deploying Microsoft Teams and Viva Connections
| Scenario | Requirement | Tool to Use | Why This Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deploy Teams to all Windows, iOS, and Android devices | Ensure Teams is installed across 500 Windows laptops, 200 iPhones, 200 Android devices before migration | Microsoft Intune | Cross-platform deployment, enforces required installation, works with corporate and BYOD devices |
| Deploy Teams only to Windows laptops | Install Teams on 100 Windows 10 devices | Intune or GPO (MSI/Store app) | Intune is best for cloud-first management; GPO works only for domain-joined Windows PCs |
| Roll out Teams apps (like Viva Connections) | Make Viva Connections available inside Teams for all users | Teams Admin Center – Manage Apps | Controls which apps are available/blocked in Teams |
| Pin Viva Connections as the first app in Teams app bar | Ensure Viva Connections is the first icon for all users | Teams App Setup Policy | Defines pinned apps and order in Teams clients |
| Assign app setup policies to everyone | Ensure consistent app layout across thousands of users | PowerShell (Grant-CsTeamsAppSetupPolicy) | Bulk assignment is faster than manual assignment in admin center |
| Tailor app experience by department | Executives need Viva + Power BI, Sales need Viva + Dynamics, Operations need Viva + ServiceNow | Multiple App Setup Policies | Allows different groups to have customized Teams app layouts |
✅ Key Exam Tip:
- Intune = installs the Teams app on devices.
- App setup policies = configure the Teams experience inside the app (pinned apps, order, visibility).
