Mobile Threat Defense: Safeguarding Your Data on the Go

Smart devices are everywhere — and one common cybersecurity myth is that security teams don’t need to worry about sensitive data stored on them. However, in a landscape where 75% of organizations have experienced phishing attacks against their employees, a robust security posture that includes coverage of your employees' personal tech is a must.

Mobile threat defense solutions offer the best path forward for organizations that need to monitor devices beyond their inventory to protect employees and data from malicious actors. Here, we’ll explore mobile threat defense, the types of threats it protects against, and how your organization can leverage this powerful tool to protect against unauthorized access. 

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What is mobile security?

Mobile security is the process organizations take to protect their mobile devices and the sensitive data they may hold (even temporarily) from cyber attacks. 

Modern infrastructure security is more complex and mutable than it’s ever been. Not only does an organization need to monitor its inventory of internal workstations, it also needs to keep tabs on any devices that remotely access its infrastructure. This includes smartphones and tablets that the organization provides to employees, as well as hardware used in conjunction with corporate bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.

Even if an employee’s mobile device doesn’t contain sensitive data, malicious actors can use it to gain access to an organization’s network. As such, security teams must take mobile cybersecurity as seriously as any other aspect of their infrastructure. While many tools are available to manage and protect your devices, implementing a mobile threat defense system remains one of the most effective mobile device security best practices to keep your data out of the hands of malicious actors.

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What is mobile threat defense?

Mobile threat defense is a proactive strategy designed to monitor and secure a variety of mobile devices with real-time analysis and protection. 

In the past, organizations usually relied on one solution or a combination thereof, like mobile device management (MDM) or mobile application management (MAM) systems. While these mobile security solutions can be part of a holistic approach to improving an organization’s security stance, they cannot always detect or prevent attacks across a broader range of devices.

For example, MDM systems are beneficial for locating or remotely wiping employer-controlled devices. However, they cannot do the same for personal devices, which employees increasingly turn to as more aspects of their workflow transition into the cloud. 

Instead, mobile threat defense uses advanced intelligence processes to safeguard controlled and external mobile devices. It can automatically detect if a device has been compromised and immediately respond to lock down attempted malware installations, unauthorized access, or other potential threats.

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What does mobile threat defense aim to mitigate?

Because organizations need to monitor and secure personal devices alongside the devices that they control, they need a solution that can detect and respond to a much wider variety of threats. Mobile threat defense relies on a wealth of tactics, including threat intelligence, data forensics, and incident response tools, to proactively track and hunt down many of the most frequently used and emerging threats across the entire kill chain, including:

• Phishing scams: Savvy cyber attackers can craft text messages and web pages impersonating real security messaging and login screens in an attempt to steal valid authentication data.
• Malicious apps: Some apps masquerade as legitimate while secretly harvesting user data, logging keystrokes, or installing malware in the background.
• Operating system vulnerabilities: Zero-day vulnerabilities in mobile OS platforms remain a potential cyber threat risk until they are patched.
• Unsecured networks: As remote employees enjoy the free WiFi at their favorite coffee shop, they may accidentally expose sensitive data that otherwise moves only through secure channels

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How does mobile threat defense work?

Mobile threat defense relies on a number of technologies working in concert to protect mobile access points against attacks in real time.

• Threat detection and analysis: Mobile threat detection platforms manage a database of known and potential threats. They then rapidly compare these data points against access attempts, app installs, text messages, and other data to detect whether the user has been compromised — or is in the process of being compromised.
• Threat mitigation: Use a single pane of glass to get visibility into your entire device infrastructure, learn about new threats, push out over-the-air security updates, and send secure warning messages to employees. 
• Automated security policies: Limit remote access to specific IP addresses or prevent access to secure systems without the proper credentials. You can also set automated download, time of day, or file access alert thresholds to notify your security team if your mobile threat defense system detects suspicious activity.
• Breach response tools: If a security breach happens, mobile threat defense systems can automatically respond to attacks and lock out unauthorized users as they’re detected. When integrated with mobile device management systems, your mobile threat defense solution can even gain full access to remote hardware to delete malicious apps, lock down devices, or wipe sensitive data if necessary.
• AI and ML processes: The next generation of mobile threat defense systems rely on both AI and ML sub-systems to train their detection and response capabilities against a constantly evolving threat landscape. 

All of these tools work in the background, allowing your organization to monitor for threats without disrupting the end user’s day-to-day operation of personal or work-related devices. 

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How can I add mobile threat defense capabilities to my cybersecurity infrastructure?

Making mobile threat detection a part of your overall security stance is essential for protecting your infrastructure at the scale and speed of the modern workplace. Luckily, Lookout makes adding this capability to your current tech stack easy.

Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security offers robust AI-driven threat detection and response systems trained on the world’s largest mobile security dataset, giving you peace of mind that your assets remain protected against evolving threats. Contact us today for a free demo and discover how to protect your mobile inventory — managed, unmanaged, BYOD, and more.