Microsoft has announced that mobile network protection is now generally available in Defender for Endpoint. The feature first launched in public preview back in July to help organizations protect iOS and Android devices against Wi-Fi-related threats in enterprise networks.
“As the world continues to make sense of the digital transformation, networks are becoming increasingly complex and provide a unique avenue for nefarious activity if left unattended. To combat this, Microsoft offers a mobile network protection feature in Defender for Endpoint that helps organizations identify, assess, and remediate endpoint weaknesses with the help of threat intelligence,” the company explained.
The mobile network protection feature provides security against rogue hardware (Hak5 Wi-Fi Pineapple devices) and Wi-Fi-related threats. There is also an in-app guided experience that helps to ensure that users connect their mobile devices to secure networks. However, if a suspicious network is detected, the feature recommends users to switch to a secure network connection.
How to enable network protection on iOS and Android
According to Microsoft, Android users need to allow location permissions to let Defender for Endpoint monitor networks and send notifications about security threats. Moreover, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint requires onboarding permissions on iOS devices.
Microsoft recommends users to turn on location permissions to detect Wi-Fi-related security threats on mobile devices. Keep in mind that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can only protect from bogus certificates if a user refuses to provide location permissions.
The network protection feature is disabled by default in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Microsoft says that administrators can configure the feature on their Android and iOS devices in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin center.
Last month, Microsoft announced its plans to launch a new Intune Premium Suite in 2023. The cost-effective endpoint management plan will include Microsoft Tunnel for Mobile App Management, Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, and advanced endpoint analytics features.