Background Agents
Deploy background agents on company-owned Windows and Mac computers with PowerShell, Terminal or MDM, then set idle rules and sync profiles from Entra ID.
Background agents are admin-managed tracking agents that run silently on a computer without a visible timer or UI. They are often the better choice for company-owned devices because they are easy to deploy and maintain across a large number of computers.
How Background Agents Work
Once deployed, the background agent runs as a system process on the target computer. There is no visible timer, no system tray icon, and no user-facing interface. The agent quietly collects:
- Time worked — tracks when the computer is in active use
- Application and website usage — records which tools are being used
- Activity levels — detects keyboard and mouse interaction to distinguish active time from idle time
The agent is not completely invisible — a technical user could find the process in a task manager — but it does not present itself to the user in any noticeable way during normal use. It is the company's responsibility to inform employees if background tracking is in place, in accordance with local regulations.
All collected data is sent to Intelogos and appears in the same Dashboard, Profile, Daily, and Reports views as desktop agent data.
When to Use Background Agents
Background agents are often the better choice for company-owned computers. They are the easiest to deploy — especially at scale — and the easiest to maintain, since the admin handles everything centrally without relying on individual users.
Background agents tend to be a good fit when:
- Your company provides work computers — centralized deployment is straightforward and there is less concern about capturing personal activity
- You need to deploy at scale — using MDM or RMM tools, you can roll out agents to hundreds of machines in minutes
- Ease of deployment and maintenance matters — the admin handles installation and updates without involving end users
- Minimal user interaction is desired — the agent starts and runs automatically without requiring user action
Who Can Deploy Background Agents
Only Owners and Admins can access the Background Agents page and deploy agents. Administrator rights are also required on the target machines (or within your remote management tool).
How to Deploy Background Agents
Step 1: Open the Deploy Agents Drawer
- Navigate to Background Agents from the left sidebar (under Tools), or go directly to
https://team.intelogos.com/backgroundagents - Click the Deploy agents button (hard drive upload icon) in the page header
Step 2: Select OS and Method
In the drawer, choose:
- Operating system: Windows or macOS
- Deployment method: Remotely or Locally
The drawer then displays step-by-step instructions specific to your selection.
Deployment Options
Windows — Remote (PowerShell)
Best for deploying to multiple Windows machines via your RMM or MDM tool.
- Open your Remote Deployment tool (RMM/MDM)
- Create a new script job with administrative privileges
- Paste the installation script shown in the drawer
- Assign the script to target devices and run or schedule it
- Verify the devices appear on the Background Agents page (may take up to 20 minutes)
Windows — Local (PowerShell)
Best for deploying to a single Windows machine you have physical access to.
- Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator
- Copy the installation script from the drawer
- Paste and run the command
- Complete the verification code step if prompted
- Verify the device appears on the Background Agents page (may take up to 20 minutes)
macOS — Remote (MDM)
Best for deploying to multiple Macs via your MDM solution.
- Download the required files from the drawer:
- Intelogos installer
- PPPC profile
- Preinstall script
- Postinstall script
- Upload these files into your MDM and configure the deployment policy
- Assign to target Macs and deploy
- Verify the devices appear on the Background Agents page (may take up to 20 minutes)
macOS — Local (Terminal)
Best for deploying to a single Mac you have physical access to.
- Open Terminal on the target Mac
- Copy the installation command from the drawer
- Paste and run to complete installation
- Verify the device appears on the Background Agents page (may take up to 20 minutes)
Installation Code Expiration
Installation codes shown in the drawer expire every 30 days. If a code fails unexpectedly, reopen the drawer to get a fresh one.
Managing Background Agents
Once deployed, background agents appear in a sortable table on the Background Agents page. From here you can:
- View agent details — computer name, user, IP address, serial number, platform, last data sent, and more
- Edit user information — update the agent's name, email, job title, and department
- Remove an agent — removes the agent from your organization and frees a license (you must also uninstall the software from the device separately)
- Bulk edit — select multiple agents and update their information at once
- Customize columns — show, hide, and reorder table columns to fit your workflow
Do Not Track (Per-Agent)
Use this when you want to quickly stop tracking for one specific agent/user without deleting the agent.
Where to find it:
- Go to Background Agents
- Find the user/device row
- Open the Actions menu
- Click Do not track (or Resume tracking to turn tracking back on)
What happens:
- Status changes from Tracking to Not tracking
- The agent remains visible in the list
- You can re-enable tracking anytime with Resume tracking
Best use case: Temporary exceptions such as test devices, shared admin logins, or special cases.
Background Agent Settings
Access settings via the Background Agent Settings button (server/cog icon) in the page header. These settings apply to all background agents in your organization.
Idle Thresholds
Set how long a user must be inactive before time is classified as idle:
| Category | Options |
|---|---|
| Non-communication apps (editors, browsers, etc.) | 10, 20, 30, or 60 minutes; or Disable |
| Communication apps (Slack, Teams, email, etc.) | 10, 20, 30, or 60 minutes; or Disable |
Save or Discard Idle Time
Choose how idle periods are handled:
- Always save — idle time counts as work time but is highlighted as idle in reports
- Always discard — idle time is removed from time reports entirely
Auto-Discard Long Idle
When "Always save" is selected, you can set a maximum idle duration (2–12 hours) after which idle time is automatically discarded. This prevents inflated work hours from situations like leaving a computer on overnight.
Microsoft Entra Sync
Use this to sync employee profile information from Microsoft Entra ID into Intelogos:
- First name / Last name
- Work email
- Job title
- Department
It helps reduce manual edits and improves profile consistency.
Option A: Live Entra Connection (recommended)
Where to find it:
- Go to Background Agents
- Open Settings
- In Microsoft Entra ID, click Connect Microsoft Entra ID
How it works:
- You authorize access via Microsoft login
- Intelogos fetches a sync preview
- You review matches
- You apply the sync
Extra option: New agent email notifications can suggest matches for newly detected agents.
Option B: CSV Import (if you don't connect live)
Where to find it:
- Go to Background Agents
- Open Settings
- In Microsoft Entra ID, click Import from CSV (Intune / Entra)
Files to upload:
- Users CSV (from Entra users export)
- Devices CSV (from Entra devices export)
What happens:
- System attempts to match background agents with directory users
- You review matched / unmatched / ambiguous rows
- You apply only the rows you approve
Uninstalling Background Agents
Removing an agent from the Intelogos app does not uninstall the software from the device. After removing an agent in the app, follow the uninstall instructions that appear automatically:
| OS | Local | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Download and run the uninstall script in PowerShell as Administrator | Download the uninstall script, upload to MDM, deploy to target devices |
| macOS | Copy and run the uninstall command in Terminal | Download the uninstall script, upload to MDM, execute on target devices |
Supported Platforms
| Platform | Supported |
|---|---|
| Windows | Yes |
| macOS | Yes |
| Linux | Not supported |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Can't access the Background Agents page | Only Owners and Admins have access |
| Newly deployed device not appearing | Wait up to 20 minutes, then refresh the page |
| Installation script failed | Ensure you have admin rights; copy a fresh code from the drawer |
| Removed agent but it's still active on the device | Follow the uninstall instructions to remove the software from the computer |
Next Steps
- Need to understand the difference between agent types? Read Understanding Agents
- Want to deploy desktop agents instead? Read the Desktop Agents guide
Up next
Understanding Performance →