MOBILE THREAT DEFENSE – A Secure Work Environment, Everywhere

Cybersecurity is one of the major issues organizations face when it comes to allowing employees to bring their own devices to work and connect to either ‘trusted’ or ‘untrusted’ networks to access company data using mobile devices. In the past couple of decades, cybercrime has evolved and increased in number and approach targeting big companies.

The most common security issues mobile device users face are data leakage, unsecured Wi-Fi, network spoofing, spyware, and many more. 91% of cybercrime starts with email, according to a 2018 report by a security firm fire eye. It has grown by 65% by one year, and around a 1.5million new phishing sites are created each month. 76% of businesses reported being victims of phishing attacks. Another report from a checkpoint in 2020 shows that nearly a third of organizations worldwide suffer from attacks directed at mobile devices, and 60% of IT security professionals doubt their organizations will be able to avoid a mobile security breach.

Mobile devices play a crucial role in our day to day activities, either in our work lives, personal or both! Because of their portability nature, it allows users to work from anywhere. In recent studies, 26% of the people say their smartphone will replace traditional computers in a few years, and 14% already have. Another 18% says it will happen within five years from now.” All these numbers indicate that mobile devices are taking over, and they need maximum attention when it comes to protecting and securing them. Employing a strong mobile management strategy plays a vital role in preventing data breaches in a company. Some of the solutions and management tools are Mobile Device Management, Mobile Application Management, Mobile Information Management, Unified Endpoint Management, and Enterprise Mobility Management.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows IT administrators to monitor, manage, and secure company and/or personally owned end-point devices. Devices can be tracked and monitored remotely. It can also enforce different security policies, perform a remote wipe if the device got lost or stolen, avoid unsecured Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, enforce VPN tunnel connection between mobile devices and enterprise server, etc.

Mobile Application Management (MAM), as the name implies, is protection for specific applications on the mobile device. This is most suitable when employees bring their own devices to work, but those devices are also for personal use. It creates a virtualized environment for end-users to separate their personal lives and work. This also makes it easier for the company to track and manage any data related to the organization.

Mobile Information Management (MIM) is a security strategy that is well suited to any system. It keeps sensitive data secure and encrypted by only allowing approved applications for that specific information. It uses cloud-based services to sync files and documents across different devices.

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) manifests itself in various ways like MDM, MCM (Mobile Content Management), MSM (Mobile Security Management), MEM (Mobile Expense Management), and Identity and Access Management. It is designed to protect company data on employees’ mobile devices. It consists of mobile management systems and services that ensure the safety and intellectual property of the company.

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) approach unites all endpoints' management, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, and IoT devices. It is the combination of MDM and EMM, along with the capabilities of traditional client management tools. It has other enhanced features like no-touch deployment of devices under different platforms to make business-ready over-the-air. It manages any of the business scenarios like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), CYOD (Choose Your Own Device), COPE (Corporate Owned Personally Enabled) or COBO (Corporate Owned Business Only).

MTD provides your mobile devices the protection they need from various cybersecurity attacks, but it doesn’t just stop there. MTD uses various techniques to remediate these attacks on the device, network, and application level. The corona Virus has played a major role in cyber breaches since employees have implemented BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Unfortunately, millions of people will be forced to stay home and keep using their mobile devices for a considerable amount of time. Many businesses have allowed their employees to use their own personal devices to save money and time.

Companies that allow their employees to use their personal devices for work are risking their network tremendously. Mobile Threat Defense is the only way to safeguard your company’s network.

How Does Mobile Threat Defense work?

For Device

MTD applications on mobile devices monitor vulnerabilities by checking system parameters, firmware, OS versions, and device configurations. The MTD solutions will continually check unauthorized access to the systems within the organization's security parameters.

For Network

MTD solutions protect your mobile devices from networks by encrypting traffic when connected to open Wi-Fi networks. They also identify risks and allow the admins to block ‘leaking’ data to align with attacks like Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attacks.

For Application

MTD solutions will inspect the applications on the users’ mobile devices to ensure there aren’t any gray-ware and malware.

The Difference between Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Threat Defense (MTD)

Most business owners have a Mobile Device Management (MDM) implemented. However, MDM is very different from Mobile Threat Defense (MTD). 

Mobile Device Management (MDM) - includes storing necessary information about mobile devices, helps implement company security policies. MDM does not protect mobile devices against cyber threats. 

Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) - is a tool designed to detect, protect, and notify mobile users against cyber threats. They analyze and respond to threats in real-time while providing risk level assessment for all connected devices. 

Benefits of implementing MTD

• A policy such as BYOD can be implemented with MTD solutions, allowing personal device usage for employees

• MTD responds faster to threats and thwarts them before they cause any problems

• An MTD provides you with valuable insight into your mobile workforce risk level

• Ensures there will be no compromise of organization data regardless of where it's stored