Use the Correct Tool for the Job: Mobile Management Solutions are Not Security!

By Yael Macias, Product Marketing Manager, Threat Prevention

In the past decade, the world went mobile. And businesses had to catch up and adapt to this trend, by allowing their employees to access corporate assets and seamlessly work from their mobile devices.

For several years now, organizations have used mobile management solutions (UEM, EMM, MDM, …) to facilitate a mobilized workforce. These management solutions have helped streamline processes, manage device lifecycles, and create a managed workspace on smartphones and tablets. However, many organizations bought these solutions believing that once deployed they would lock down the devices and protect them from mobile threats. This is a dangerous misconception.

Download the Whitepaper, Mobile Management Solutions Are Not Security

Most mobile management solutions enforce some device-level policies to maintain basic hygiene too, such as device encryption, remote wipe, and in some cases, have a basic jailbreak/root detection function, too. But do not be mistaken: these basic features do not provide the protection needed to withstand even the most basic mobile malware attack. Because UEMs do not scan for mobile related threats like malicious apps, vulnerable operating systems, network-based attacks, or protect users against phishing and other social engineering attacks, users and organizations remain exposed to credential theft, data leakage, and device takeover.

So how can organizations enable a mobile workforce, while having the confidence that their sensitive corporate data is safe from cyberattacks?

By using the correct tool for the job.

Only by deploying a market-leading Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solution, can organizations protect their fleet of mobile devices from threats across all attack vectors. MTDs prevent enterprise threats on iOS and Android devices using a variety of techniques, including machine learning and behavioral analysis based on mobile threat intelligence. MTD solutions offer protections for each of the three pillars of mobile security:

• Operating systems: Protecting the device’s operating system against vulnerable configurations, OS exploits, advanced rooting/ jailbreaking, etc.
• Apps: Protecting against application-based risks, such as malicious apps that can exfiltrate data, malware embedded on seemingly legitimate apps, abuse of privileges, etc.
• Networks: Protecting against network-based attacks, such as Man-in-the-Middle traps, data exfiltration to command & control servers, or phishing campaigns attempting to steal credentials.

Together, UEMs and MTDs can provide an integrated management, security and enforcement solution.

We invite you to read the white paper “Mobile Management Solutions are Not Security: Use the Best Tool to Secure Mobile Devices,” to help you understand the main use cases of management and mobile threat defense solutions and how they differ, how mobile devices can be breached (even with a UEM solution in place), and how to adopt a comprehensive and effective security approach to your mobile business.