What is MTD, and how can it improve mobile security?

Posted on Monday December 20, 2021

Protecting your business data goes beyond securing your office computers and networks. Especially now that implementing remote and hybrid work environments is critical to business survival, you need to put up digital barriers around your company’s mobile devices to block malware and other threats. Here’s how to do just that with mobile threat detection (MTD) tools.

MTD and malware detection

Mobile threat detection solutions prevent network-based attacks and malware infections on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Since most malware programs are cleverly disguised as legitimate apps, the key to finding and defending against them is to recognize irregular patterns in user behavior and device function — something that MTD tools excel at.

When applied to business networks, MTD solutions can monitor network traffic for suspicious activity, such as invalid or spoofed certificates, in order to stop man-in-the-middle attacks. This enables them to respond to threats in real time while providing insight on the risk level of all devices connected to the network.

MTD and machine learning

All MTD tools are supported by a machine learning mechanism, which allows them to recognize usage patterns and flag any behavioral outliers. MTD solutions are also very scalable, and they are able to monitor dozens of Android mobile devices simultaneously. When one of these devices starts functioning in a way that deviates from the rest, machine learning helps the MTD tool log the anomaly and notify IT administrators.

Implementing an MTD solution

Integrating an MTD solution into your mobile security strategy requires a thorough evaluation of various critical factors, including industry regulations and the sensitivity of the data stored and/or exchanged on your mobile devices. Ideally, your MTD solution should be part of a larger security strategy that allows you to block harmful network traffic and strengthen the business’s overall cybersecurity posture.

Developing strong defenses for mobile devices is fast becoming a critical component in many businesses’ cybersecurity strategies. And although mobile threat detection remains an imperfect means to detect malware, it is far more powerful than traditional anti-malware solutions.

Other benefits of using MTD tools

Rolling out an MTD solution comes with several benefits essential to today’s remote or hybrid work environments. For one, it gives a company confidence in implementing a bring your own device policy. Not only is an MTD solution able to thwart cyberattacks before they become serious problems, it also gives IT administrators critical visibility into the risk level of the company’s mobile workforce. What’s more, deploying MTD solutions makes regulatory compliance a breeze, as it ensures that the organization’s sensitive data is safe regardless of where it’s stored.

Businesses like yours need comprehensive security solutions to fend off cyberattacks, whether on your PCs, laptops, or smartphones. For expert IT security recommendations, call our experts today.