As mobile fleets grow, so do the threats – malicious apps, spoofed Wi-Fi networks, SIM-jacking, mobile phishing – yet research from IDC shows that Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) remains missing from most enterprise security stacks. MTD protects at the source, providing continuous threat monitoring, detection, and remediation at the device level. Only 35% of organizations have this in place, despite mobile devices playing a role in 59% of recent security incidents.
By contrast, nearly every enterprise protects PCs at the device level: 95% use management software and 98% deploy antimalware. That means companies are securing endpoints unevenly, leaving their most personal, portable, and easily compromised devices most exposed.
Is your mobile security strategy missing this critical layer? Read on for a look at the latest research and what full protection should look like.
Three Misconceptions about On-device Security
- Solutions like MDM or UEM Are Enough
Many IT leaders point to their existing Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) tools as proof of protection. Management, however, isn’t the same as security.
MDM and UEM tools operate at the management layer – enforcing policies and monitoring compliance – but they don’t provide deep, real-time visibility into what’s happening on the device: app behavior, network connections, or emerging threats like phishing or SIM-jacking. This is where Mobile Threat Defense steps in, protecting where the most risk lives and where most mobile attacks begin: on the device itself.
IDC reports that less than half of corporate smartphones are enrolled in MDM or UEM, leaving most organizations with limited visibility and control across their fleet. Tangoe’s Managed Mobility Services (MMS) platform closes this gap, harmonizing the entire mobile ecosystem – any device, anywhere, under any policy – while delivering a unified, 360-degree view of devices, expenses, and security.
- Mobile Devices are Inherently Secure
For years, companies have invested heavily in endpoint protection for PCs. Mobile devices, however, can come with a false sense of security. There’s the belief that built-in OS protections are sufficient or that all apps from the official app store are safe. It’s also easy for consumer comfort to bleed into enterprise perceptions (“If I’m personally comfortable using a device for sensitive personal transactions, it must be secure for work”).
The fact is that mobile endpoints are just as exposed as any other part of the enterprise environment, if not more. Mobile threats are evolving fast, and they’re much harder to control as more devices enter the workplace (the average employee now uses 2-3 mobile devices daily, according to IDC).
- If We Haven’t Been Breached, We’re Safe
It’s easy to assume that if you haven’t been hit yet, your defenses must be working. This is a reactive mindset, and a risky one. Mobile attack surfaces are expanding fast, and attackers are taking advantage. Mobile Threat Defense is the only way to detect and stop active, on-device threats in real-time. It’s like having an alarm system and live monitoring for mobile “break-ins.”
What Does Full Stack Mobile Security Look Like?
Mobile Threat Defense is just one piece of the puzzle. In Tangoe’s experience managing millions of mobile endpoints globally, a complete mobile security stack must include the following:
- Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): A centralized platform to manage all device types and apply uniform security policies.
- Mobile Threat Defense (MTD): On-device protection to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
- AI-powered Automation: Transforms mobile threat detection and response from reactive to proactive – improving early detection with behavioral analysis (in other words, flagging suspicious behaviors outside of normal activity), accelerating mitigation, and reducing risk at scale.
- Service Partners: Mobile experts who can manage mobility end-to-end and help reduce the burden on internal IT.
Every phase of the device lifecycle carries risk, from procurement and configuration to data wiping and decommissioning. Device lifecycle management ensures devices don’t slip through the cracks, making it an essential part of a truly secure mobile program. Learn more about Tangoe’s Mobile Device Lifecycle Management.
5 Steps for Mobility Leaders
How can you start covering all the bases? IDC lays out a five-step playbook for mobility leaders.
- Identify critical mobile use cases that need greater security oversight.
- Anticipate leaner IT teams and prepare for fewer hands on deck.
- Automate endpoint management with AI-driven tools that scale with your needs.
- Consolidate device management platforms to reduce gaps and complexity.
- Partner with mobility experts who can help manage, secure, and optimize your mobile fleet.
This last step is critical. With fewer IT admin roles and more mobile vulnerabilities, internal teams often can’t do it all alone.
How Tangoe Delivers Full Stack Security (and ROI)
- Complete Endpoint Protection: From procurement to decommissioning, Tangoe provides centralized visibility and control across the entire device lifecycle – including on-device protection – via one unified interface.
- Integration Ecosystem: Eliminate tool sprawl and streamline processes with hundreds of out-of-the-box integrations. Connect with your finance and IT systems, vendor systems, UEM platforms, and more.
- Extend IT Capacity: With 60+ global consultants at the ready, Tangoe’s Advisory Services team provides serious IT manpower to extend your reach.
- Optimize Costs: Our AI-powered platform doesn’t just streamline device management and security – it uncovers financial waste, helping you do more with less.
Explore IDC’s latest research for more insights into how mobile management is evolving, and the strategies enterprises are adopting to keep pace.
From real-time threat detection and proactive lifecycle support to expense management and expert consulting, Tangoe’s Managed Mobility Services (MMS) platform and Advisory Services team deliver full stack protection. Request a demo to explore what’s possible for your organization.