Mobile data security software plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining the privacy of users. This task is made all the more important (and complex) given the widespread use of smartphones and tablets for both personal and professional use. Mobile data security software solutions protect mobile devices from various risks including data breaches, loss, theft, malware, and unauthorized access. By implementing mobile data security tools, organizations can more effectively manage and secure corporate and employee-owned mobile devices, ensuring sensitive data is protected across various applications and services.
Mobile data security software often comes as part of a broader suite of tools known as Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) or Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions. These platforms tend to incorporate multiple security tools such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) for remote control and monitoring, Mobile Application Management (MAM) for securing and deploying applications, and Mobile Content Management (MCM) for protecting access to sensitive data. It is important that you select a solution that delivers effective integration with your existing systems, compliance with industry standards, cross-platform compatibility, and robust encryption technology.
In this guide, we will explore the top mobile data security software solutions available today. We’ll consider various factors including, ease of use, pricing, and customer reviews.
Broadcom Symantec Endpoint Security’s Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) is part of Broadcom Symantec’s Endpoint Security Complete and Enterprise solutions. It is designed to protect mobile devices from a range of existing and unknown threats. MTD utilizes layered security and predictive technology to deliver accurate insights. In addition to this, it uses crowd-sourced threat intelligence, device-based, and server-based analysis for protection against malware, network threats, and app or OS vulnerability exploits. The solution is able to operate with or without an internet connection.
Broadcom’s platform is designed to integrate with leading Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions, as well as providing real-time visibility into threats and attacks originating from public Wi-Fi networks, OS or app exploits, malicious apps, and user behavior. The combination of MTD and UEM enables centralized security and compliance management, with policy enforcement based on real-time risk assessments. Additionally, Broadcom Symantec Endpoint Security’s MTD delivers enterprise-grade deployment capabilities, easy management, and streamlined maintenance, as well as enhanced mobile security analytics. This results in a well-rounded and secure mobile threat defense solution.
Check Point Harmony Mobile is a market-leading Mobile Threat Defense solution designed to secure corporate data by protecting employees’ mobile devices across all attack vectors, including apps, files, network, and OS. This comprehensive security solution supports any device-ownership program and integrates with any mobile management solution. This makes it highly scalable and easy to manage within a broader security infrastructure.
Harmony Mobile provides complete protection by preventing malicious app downloads, phishing attempts, and network attacks. It is also capable of detecting advanced jailbreaking, rooting techniques, and OS vulnerabilities. The platform prioritizes user adoption and privacy, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience without impacting personal data.
The solution’s simplified management and scalability is clear from its zero-touch deployment. This allows for easy installation on employees’ devices through existing MDM/UEM solutions. The cloud-based management console offers insights into mobile risk posture, thereby enabling admins to set granular policies. Harmony Mobile’s user-friendly approach acknowledges the importance of privacy and user experience, ensuring that no personal information is collected or analyzed and that device usability remains unaffected.
Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security (MES) is a leading platform that offers advanced mobile Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for businesses. The platform was developed using telemetry data from over 185 million mobile apps and 200 million devices running on iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. Lookout MES addresses the evolving security requirements of mobile devices in compliance with expanding industry standards.
The solution provides visibility Into the risks posed by mobile devices and users within an organization, covering both managed and unmanaged devices. It offers in-depth analysis of privacy risks, security issues, and application origins, thereby safeguarding against threats targeting mobile users. The Lookout MES platform also helps mitigate the risk of credential and multifactor authentication compromises.
MES equips businesses with comprehensive security, extending zero trust policies to all devices and users with access to corporate data. The platform continuously evaluates user risk posture throughout a session, taking appropriate actions to minimize risk exposure. The platform also delivers robust mobile Endpoint Detection and Response. It integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure, including mobile device management and SIEM solutions, as well as protecting against a wide spectrum of mobile risks.
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile is a mobile threat defense solution developed for Android, iOS, and Chrome OS devices. It offers effective device, network, and application security that is enhanced through using deep learning technology from Intercept X. The solution can be managed through Sophos Central, which also hosts a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform.
The platform delivers continuous monitoring of device health, notifications for compromised devices, and detection of jailbreaking or rooting. It can also perform real-time examination of network connections to prevent Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, web filtering, and to detect SMS phishing attempts. In terms of application security, the solution detects malicious and potentially unwanted applications on Android devices and integrates with Microsoft Intune for conditional access policies.
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile can be centrally managed and configured through Sophos Central and deployed using existing app stores and UEM tools like Sophos Mobile or third-party Enterprise Mobility Management options. The platform delivers additional security tools including the Authenticator, Secure QR Code Scanner, and Privacy Advisor, as well as integration with Microsoft Intune conditional access.
Trellix Mobile Security is a comprehensive solution that is designed to protect mobile devices running on Apple iOS or Google Android platforms. This platform detects threats and vulnerabilities on devices, networks, and applications, ensuring real-time protection both on and off corporate networks.
Utilizing machine learning capabilities, Trellix Mobile Security analyzes data gathered from millions of devices to identify emerging threats and attacks. The sophisticated on-device protection covers network safety, application intelligence, and potential privacy risks, thereby reducing the risk of data loss and ensuring secure connections.
Integrated with the Trellix ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) software, Mobile Security enables seamless management of mobile devices alongside other endpoints within an organization’s network. The ePO central management platform provides security dashboards, policies, tasks, and reporting features that will adapt to an organization’s specific requirements.
Trellix Mobile Security works with major enterprise mobility management (EMM) vendors, allowing integration of critical mobile data and remediation against security threats. The solution also integrates with security information and event management (SIEM) platforms (such as Trellix Enterprise Security Manager) to enhance visibility and forensic capabilities for mobile devices, effectively resolving mobile blind spots.
Trend Micro Mobile Security is a part of Trend Micro’s complete user protection solution. It aims to provide a balance between user productivity and IT risk. This mobile security solution offers full visibility and control of mobile devices, apps, and data through a single built-in console.
The platform’s key features include Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Application Management, Mobile Application Reputation Services, and Device Antivirus for Android devices. Trend Micro Mobile Security reduces complexity and costs by integrating layers of data protection to secure corporate data, such as encryption enforcement, remote lock and wipe, and password enforcement.
Through a centralized management system, Trend Micro streamlines administration and offers a single view of enterprise users from desktop to mobile devices, helping to detect advanced threats targeting users. The solution also provides mobile device security with features such as malware protection, firewalls, and intrusion detection system (IDS). It can block malicious web content and sites, as well as monitoring for unauthorized access or breach attempts.
In addition, Trend Micro Mobile Security also offers mobile application management. This prevents the use of unauthorized and risky apps, provides inventory management and reporting of apps, and can identify and block apps that pose a security risk. Central to the complete user protection strategy, Trend Micro Mobile Security allows IT departments to maintain control, while empowering mobile employees to improve productivity.
Zimperium Mobile Threat Defense (MTD), previously known as zIPS, is a privacy-focused mobile security application designed for enterprises. It aims to protect corporate-owned and BYO devices from advanced persistent threats without compromising privacy or personal data. Zimperium MTD actively safeguards devices against primary attack vectors, even in the absence of network connection. This is achieved through analyzing risk factors including risky apps and device jailbreaks before permitting access to corporate resources.
With its on-device, machine learning-powered detection, Zimperium MTD offers comprehensive security across four main threat categories: device compromise, network attacks, phishing content, and malicious apps. The system integrates with leading UEM, SIEM, SOAR, and XDR platforms, providing visibility and forensic data for Incident Response teams. This allows them to monitor and address mobile threats effectively. Zimperium MTD’s detailed forensic capabilities minimize the risk of an isolated device compromise evolving into a larger outbreak.
Zimperium MTD is built using a privacy-by-design approach. It offers customizable user settings and transparent insight into collected data used for threat intelligence. The solution is compatible with various cloud, on-premise, and air-gapped environments, and can be deployed according to local data laws and compliance needs. Additionally, Zimperium MTD also enables zero-touch deployment for employee and contractor mobile endpoints. This streamlines the activation process without complex user intervention and provides comprehensive device attestation to enhance Zero Trust architectures through existing integrations.
Everything You Need To Know About Mobile Data Security Software (FAQs)
What Is Mobile Data Security Software?
Mobile Data Security software allows you to secure and protect sensitive data whilst on mobile devices. As our ways of working become more varied and disparate, it is essential that organizations have means of protecting their data wherever it resides, and however it is accessed. With employees using cell phones and tablets in the office, and in the field, mobile data security software ensures that this can be protected too.
Mobile devices have a larger attack surface area than on-premises devices, due to their portability. Not only can they be targeted like any other, on-premises technology, but they are also susceptible to theft or loss. This underlines to the need to have robust access policies in place to prevent a lost device allowing outsider access. It also highlights the importance of backing up data and having a way to recover it.
One risk that mobile devices are more susceptible to is Wi-Fi based attacks. Malicious actors can set up Wi-Fi accounts masquerading as legitimate accounts, but are, in fact, used to install malware on your device. Some Wi-Fi networks may also monitor all traffic that passes through them. These are sometimes known as man-in-the-middle attacks. While any internet connected device can fall victim to this, users may connect portable devices to multiple Wi-Fi networks throughout the day, thereby increasing that risk.
How Does Mobile Data Security Software Work?
Mobile Data Security software comes in a range of forms with different capabilities and features. They tend to incorporate a number of tools and capabilities to give you comprehensive coverage. This type of technology is diverse, with some providers offering Mobile Endpoint Security (MES) services, and others offering Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) platforms.
All these different technologies work by incorporating traditional endpoint and network protection tools that have been redesigned for mobile architecture. They will begin by monitoring and gathering data from devices, then crosschecking this with an organization’s internal security policies. Some common facets of mobile data security solutions include:
- Email Security – this helps to address threats (such as spam and phishing) that are delivered via email accounts
- Endpoint Security – these technologies will monitor and respond to threats as they try to breach a mobile device’s defenses
- VPN – this offers a secure means of connecting to the internet and prevents third parties from snooping or affecting traffic
- Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) – this sits between your device and the cloud, ensuring that governance policies are effectively implemented
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) – delivers remote control and device monitoring
- Mobile Application Management (MAM) – allows you to secure and deploy applications safely
- Mobile Content Management (MCM) – ensures that all content accessed is protected and secure
What To Look For When Selecting A Mobile Data Security Software?
Mobile data security software encompasses a range of technologies that address threats facing your mobile devices. Effective solutions will integrate CASB, VPN, Endpoint, network, and email security technologies. As these technologies are so different and are designed to address different threats, there cannot be a simple checklist of features to look for when selecting an effective solution.
The number one thing that an effective mobile data security solution needs to be is compatible. A mobile data security platform is only able to work to its maximum capacity if it can integrate effectively with the technologies that you are using. If your organization operates a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, your platform will need to integrate with a larger number of devices to ensure all users are covered. For organizations that supply mobile work devices, it can be easier to ensure that all devices are fully compatible with your security platform, through limiting the type of device and provider that are used.
Beyond compatibility, there are several other key features to look for when selecting a platform. These features will depend on your use-case and the way that your organization operates.
- Remote Controls – For occasions where a mobile device is lost or stolen, your solution should offer effective techniques for preventing the device from being used against your organization. You should be able to remotely lock, wipe, and locate the device. This means that you can stop malicious actors from gaining access to critical files.
- Access Requirements – Linked to the idea of ensuring that no unauthorized user accesses a device, your solution should require identity authentication before granting access. This is most commonly achieved through using multi-factor authentication (MFA), with factors including biometrics and hardware keys.
- Encryption Levels – The data that your devices use should have a robust level of encryption applied to it. One of the most secure forms of authentication is AES-256. This is virtually impossible even for the most powerful computers available to decrypt.
- Monitor Threats – Your solution should provide continual threat monitoring to ensure that security policies reflect the threats that you face. This data should be assessed to precisely identify as much contextual information as possible.
- Provide Alerts – When new threats are detected, or ways to better optimize your solution are identified, admins and users should be notified of how they can act on these developments.
