The dominance of Android mobile devices in the market means that many companies have employees working for them under BYOD (bring your own device) policies. Additionally, many companies have purchased Android devices to distribute them to employees. Companies must adopt solutions that let them manage and secure their growing mobile device fleet to defend themselves against mobile threats, secure their sensitive data, and maintain regulatory compliance.
What Is Android device management?
Mobile device management (MDM) solutions offer companies the tools they require to monitor and manage their mobile devices effectively. Android device management (ADM) focuses on protecting and managing devices that run the Android mobile operating system.
As usage grows, mobile devices become more common, and so have the attacks from cyber-criminals who can target mobile devices in different ways, including:
1. Mobile malware
Cybercriminals are developing mobile malware to exploit mobile devices. The malicious applications often pretend to be legitimate mobile applications and are distributed through the app store or malicious SMS messages.
2. Social engineering
Cybercriminals can distribute phishing content over different media platforms such as SMS messages, email, corporate communications platforms, and social media. Mobile devices’ support for all these platforms makes them more exposed to phishing attacks.
3. Excessive permissions
Users commonly grant permissions to mobile applications, allowing them to access the location, camera, and other unnecessary information. Additionally, users can jailbreak or root their mobile devices, providing applications with access to more advanced permissions. Malicious applications with elevated permissions pose a significant risk to device users and companies.
4. Patching gaps
Mobile device manufacturers are bad at offering on-time updates and often terminate the device update support. Additionally, users can wait to apply available updates leaving their devices potentially susceptible to exploitation by attackers who target vulnerable devices.
5. Advertising modules
Malicious advertising allows cybercriminals to install malware, steal confidential information, and earn money by asking companies to pay for views of their advertisements. Mobile malware can be designed to display unwanted advertisements to users or simulate fake views and clicks in the background so that the attackers can earn money.
6. Data leakage through malicious applications
Malicious applications installed on devices can access a wide range of sensitive data, mainly when granted specific permissions. These applications can gather and exfiltrate this information with fewer risks of detection because of the decreased visibility users and companies have on mobile devices.
7. Unsecured public wifi
Mobile devices probably will be connected to public WiFi networks compared to other devices. If users connect mobile devices to unsecured WiFi or malicious networks masquerading as legitimate, it exposes them to man-in-the-middle (MitM) and other attacks.
8. Encryption gaps
Unlike browsing the web on laptops, mobile applications are not transparent about communicating with cloud-based infrastructure. Mobile applications often do not use encryption for data in transit leaving their communications susceptible to eavesdropping and potential modification by attackers.
9. IoT (Internet of Things) devices
IoT devices are generally designed to be managed and monitored from mobile devices. However, IoT devices are also known for their poor security. Cyber-criminals can use insecure IoT devices to attack mobile devices and vice versa.
Conclusion
Android device management solutions allow companies to efficiently and effectively take control of their increasing mobile infrastructure. An ADM solution offers vital device monitoring, management, and security capabilities.
