Mobile Threat Defense
Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) is a class of security solutions that continuously monitor mobile devices for threats at the device, network, and application layers, using on-device analysis and cloud-based intelligence to detect and respond to attacks in real time.
MTD products protect the mobile fleet against a broad range of threats that traditional endpoint protection platforms were not designed to handle. At the device layer, MTD detects operating system exploits, rooting and jailbreaking, and configuration changes that weaken security posture. At the network layer, it identifies rogue Wi-Fi access points, SSL stripping attempts, and man-in-the-middle attacks. At the application layer, it scans installed applications for malicious behaviour, excessive permissions, and known malware signatures.
Detection engines in modern MTD solutions combine signature-based matching with machine learning models trained on behavioural telemetry. On-device analysis ensures that threat detection works even when the device is offline or connected to untrusted networks. When a threat is detected, MTD can trigger automated responses such as disconnecting from a malicious network, quarantining a suspicious application, or notifying the MDM platform to revoke access to corporate resources.
Integrating MTD with existing enterprise mobility management (EMM) and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms provides a unified view of mobile risk alongside traditional endpoint and server telemetry. This integration enables security operations teams to correlate mobile alerts with broader attack campaigns and respond more efficiently.
Leading MTD vendors include Lookout, Zimperium, and Check Point Harmony Mobile. Choosing the right solution depends on the organisation's device fleet composition, privacy requirements, and integration needs with existing security tooling.