Using Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) in Mobile Defense

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) has been a standard method for securing on-premises devices for years. When combined with antivirus software, it’s proven an effective way to uncover threats before they can cause severe damage. However, the growth of smartphones and other mobile devices means more and more work is getting done outside of the office. Organizations can no longer rely on traditional EDR protections as millions more endpoints are now exposed to the threat of a cyber attack.

Whether your employees use personal devices or ones provided by your organization’s IT department, they need purpose-built mobile protection. Here’s how cybersecurity experts have adapted EDR to meet the unique challenges of mobile devices.

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What is endpoint detection and response?

Endpoint detection and response is a security solution that continually monitors end-user devices to spot and respond to cyber threats. When a user logs onto a device with EDR software installed, the EDR will start to track their activity. Your IT team can then see a real-time view of everything that happens on the user’s device.

Traditional antivirus software works by checking files against a database of known threats. When it finds a match, it can automatically quarantine files to prevent them from spreading. As valuable as that may be, it’s powerless against malware it’s never seen before. In a world where threat actors are constantly creating new breach tactics, endpoint detection and response is the leading edge of cybersecurity.

EDR takes protection to the next level by identifying new threats before they cause harm. Rather than check files against a malware database, it examines user activity and compares that activity to regular usage patterns. Using machine learning, it can spot activities that seem out of the ordinary and react instantly, no matter when the risk appears.

Depending on the threat level, EDR can flag the anomaly for human inspection, lock the endpoint down to prevent further access, or perform another threat-mitigating action. That leads to more proactive security and faster response times.

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Why is mobile endpoint detection and response important?

Cybersecurity experts first developed EDR for traditional endpoints such as desktop computers. As a result, conventional EDR often neglects mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and Chromebooks. In a business world full of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, that can be a costly oversight.

Mobile devices, especially personal ones used for business, have significantly expanded the attack surface IT needs to protect. Even though these devices may not store sensitive data locally, they can serve as access points to systems where that data lives. Threat actors can use phishing, smishing, and sideloaded apps to steal login credentials and wreak havoc.

As employees use their mobile devices on the go, they risk connecting to public and potentially unsecured networks. From coworking spaces to train stations, these networks provide threat actors a way onto otherwise secure devices. A 2024 report by Verizon found that more than half of the businesses surveyed had experienced a security incident involving a mobile or Internet of Things (IoT) device. 

Threat actors can also exploit workers who fail to keep their devices up to date. Software updates frequently patch security vulnerabilities in a device’s operating system. If employees don’t update right away — or if they use hardware too old to run the latest operating system — the risk of a breach increases.

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How does mobile endpoint detection and response work?

Designing mobile EDR software isn’t as simple as porting traditional EDR onto a phone. EDR developers have to account for three fundamental limitations. First, if employees use personal phones for work, their EDR software must avoid invading their privacy. Second, it must be able to function without privileged access to the operating system or apps. Third, mobile devices have limited batteries, so EDR apps must use relatively little power.

Here are some of the key features to look for in mobile EDR that will help keep your devices safe:

Continuous monitoring and data collection

Endpoint detection and response works best by keeping a constant eye on the activities of your users and recording what they do for future analysis. By providing this level of visibility, mobile EDR ensures your cybersecurity team can spot and remediate issues anywhere, at any time. The system can use these records in combination with machine learning to improve over time. It can also provide that data when your security team needs to understand how a breach took place.

Behavior analytics

EDR software can use all the data it collects to build a behavioral profile of your users. It can then compare their actions against that profile and spot anything out of the ordinary. For example, if a user starts downloading huge volumes of data in the middle of the night, EDR can flag that activity for closer inspection. When it does, it gives your team the best possible chance of preventing an attack.

Automatic incident response

The sheer volume of possible threats can overwhelm a security team. Your mobile EDR solution can mitigate that volume through automatic incident response. When it detects a potential threat, it can isolate the device in question to prevent a threat actor from moving to other parts of your network. Cybersecurity teams can even customize the automated responses in more sophisticated solutions. That might mean deleting harmful files, rolling back changes, or terminating malicious processes.

Threat hunting

Automation can spot the vast majority of breach threats before they get out of hand, but the small portion they may miss could also be the most dangerous. Breaches subtle enough to evade automatic detection tend to be more sophisticated and damaging. IBM's 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report shows that bad actors can avoid detection for an average of 280 days. The faster you find them, the more quickly you can neutralize them.

Rather than relying solely on automation, your mobile EDR should make it easy for your cybersecurity team to analyze comprehensive telemetry data. That way, humans can double-check the EDR's work and spot threat actors lurking in your systems.

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Defend your mobile devices with Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security

If you’re looking for a fully featured mobile EDR solution, Lookout is here to help. Across more than a decade of innovative iteration, Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security has grown into a leading platform for mobile security. Its built-in EDR combines comprehensive telemetry data, machine learning, and best-in-class threat intelligence to give you a sweeping view of all your devices.

Ready to learn more about securing your mobile attack surface? Claim your free copy of The Mobile EDR Playbook today.