Debunking 12 Android Enterprise myths
Have you ever heard statements like “Android just isn’t secure” or been asked whether BYOD is too risky for enterprise? These concerns, often based on outdated perceptions, can prevent businesses from fully realizing the benefits of Android Enterprise. So, let’s cut through the noise. Here we’ll address 12 common misconceptions and explore the realities of deploying and managing Android devices in today’s modern workplace. Myth 1: Is Android really less secure? Reality: Always-on security. Android offers proven, multi-layered, proactive security With a zero-trust approach to security, Android operates under the principle of "never trust, always verify." It continuously assesses the security posture of devices and applications, and grants access based on real-time risk assessments. Built-in security at every level includes hardware-level safeguards like verified boot and encryption, software-level protections such as application sandboxing, and proactive threat detection with Google Play Protect. The result is robust defense. Combined with granular control organizations maintain a high level of security while empowering employees with the flexibility of mobile work. Want to dive deeper? Enjoy a cup of tea while you explore our security paper. Myth 2: Android Enterprise is only suitable for large enterprises Reality: Designed for scalability, Android Enterprise can be effectively deployed by businesses of all sizes Android Enterprise offers a range of options to deploy and manage Android devices, so businesses of all sizes can choose the model that best suits their needs and budget. For smaller businesses, BYOD can significantly reduce upfront costs associated with purchasing and managing a fleet of company-owned devices. Plus, the Google Admin console provides a user-friendly interface, simplifying tasks like device provisioning and policy enforcement, making it easier for businesses with limited IT resources to manage their mobile workforce effectively. By offering a range of deployment options, simplified management tools, and cost-effective solutions, Android Enterprise empowers businesses of all sizes to leverage effective device management. Myth 3: BYOD is too risky for enterprise environments Reality: With the right approach, Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) can be a secure and cost-effective strategy Android Work Profile provides a self-contained profile on an Android device that isolates work apps and data from personal apps and data, enabling businesses to safely implement BYOD policies. This secure container safeguards sensitive company data through robust encryption and remote wipe capabilities, even if personal apps are compromised. Work Profile also empowers organizations with enhanced app management capabilities. Businesses can implement approved app lists, ensuring only necessary applications are used for work, without impacting personal app usage. Additionally, they can enforce restrictions on specific app functionalities within the work environment. With these advanced security and management features, Work Profile empowers organizations to securely embrace the flexibility of BYOD. For more detail explore this Work Profile Security on Company Owned Devices paper. Myth 4: Android Enterprise is too complex to implement and manage Reality: Android Enterprise simplifies device management with powerful tools designed for businesses Android Enterprise has significantly simplified management with features like zero-touch enrollment for easy device setup and streamlined policies for controlling work apps and data. Managed Google Play empowers IT administrators with granular control over app distribution and management, ensuring only approved applications are installed on company devices, including tailored company apps. By integrating with leading EMM providers to leverage these tools, businesses can easily customize devices to meet their specific needs, enforce security policies, and manage their mobile workforce efficiently. Myth 5: Android devices are more susceptible to malware Reality: All mobile devices can be targets for malware, but Android has implemented robust security measures to protect against threats Google Play Protect leverages machine learning to proactively detect and combat malware, phishing attacks, and ransomware. It scans apps both before and after installation, even monitoring them for suspicious behavior after download. This proactive approach, combined with regular security updates, provides a robust defense against malicious software, significantly reducing the risk of installing and running harmful apps on Android devices. See for yourself with our Transparency Report. It highlights just how rare downloading potentially harmful applications on an Enterprise device really is. Myth 6: BYOD makes it difficult to achieve a good work-life balance Reality: Android Work Profile allows employees to easily switch between work and personal profiles, enabling them to disconnect from work when they need to By separating work and personal data and apps, Work Profile helps employees maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life, reducing stress and enhancing well-being. Employees can seamlessly switch between the Work Profile, and their personal profile, enjoying a familiar device environment while empowered to toggle off work notifications and fully disconnect for a better work-life balance, increased productivity and employee wellbeing. Myth 7: Android Enterprise is not suitable for highly regulated industries Reality: Android Enterprise provides the robust security and compliance features necessary for highly regulated industries Highly regulated industries require robust mobility management solutions with exceptional flexibility and control. Android Enterprise delivers strong security, powerful device management, and innovative solutions to manage and deploy devices seamlessly across diverse use cases. Continuously evolving to address dynamic compliance requirements, Android 15 introduced enhanced security logging aligned with the latest NIAP regulations. Plus, the Android Management API empowers businesses with the agility to adapt policies and ensure compliance with developing industry regulations and security standards. Discover how Android Enterprise empowers financial services in our customer stories, or explore exactly how we comply with industry standards and Android’s certifications in our security paper. Myth 8: Android is fragmented and updates are slow Reality: Android ensures a smooth and consistent user experience alongside simple and robust management capabilities While Android's open nature has historically presented challenges in terms of device fragmentation and update consistency, this view is outdated. As an open-source platform, Android benefits from rigorous scrutiny by a diverse community, including developers, security researchers, and even government agencies. This constant feedback accelerates security advancements. Initiatives like Project Treble have revolutionized the update process by decoupling core Android components from device-specific software. This allows manufacturers to deliver the latest security patches and feature updates more quickly and efficiently. The Android Enterprise Recommended program prioritizes timely security updates and OS upgrades for participating devices, ensuring a more consistent and secure user experience. More widely, Google releases monthly security updates to the platform, the details of which can be found on the Android Security Bulletin. Recommended EMM partners provide essential tools for managing these device updates, ensuring timely patching to maintain a secure mobile environment. Myth 9: Android devices aren't premium Reality: The Android ecosystem boasts a wide range of devices, from budget-friendly options to high-end flagships that rival the best in the industry Premium Android devices offer cutting-edge features like powerful processors, high-resolution displays, and advanced camera features, and innovative designs for a premium user experience. To ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for businesses, the Android Enterprise Recommended program certifies devices and solutions that meet Google's strict enterprise requirements, giving businesses confidence in their chosen devices. Myth 10: The Play Store is limited Reality: The Google Play Store is a vast marketplace with millions of apps, including a wide range of enterprise-grade solutions. From productivity tools and communication apps to industry-specific solutions, the Play Store offers a diverse range of applications to meet the unique needs of any business. Plus, the Play Store empowers businesses to develop and distribute custom applications. By leveraging Android developer tools, businesses can create tailored solutions and securely distribute them to their employees through Managed Google Play. This effectively creates a custom app store while benefiting from the built-in security and robust infrastructure of Google Play Protect. Myth 11: Android Enterprise devices are separate to regular Android devices Reality: The hardware remains the same Android Enterprise is not a separate operating system. It's a suite of tools that enhances the core Android OS with enterprise-grade features and management capabilities. This means any Android device can leverage Android Enterprise, providing businesses with the flexibility and control to meet their specific mobility requirements while maintaining the familiar Android user experience. Myth 12: You can only use Android Enterprise with Google's products and services Reality: While Google offers a robust suite of productivity and collaboration tools, Android Enterprise is designed to be highly interoperable Android Enterprise is only supported on Play protect certified devices. These devices often come pre-installed with popular Google services like Chrome, Google Play Store, and Google Maps (GMS). However, this does not limit users to Google's ecosystem. Android Enterprise seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party enterprise applications and services, including those from Microsoft, Salesforce, and others. This flexibility empowers businesses to choose the best software solutions for their specific needs, regardless of their preferred technology stack. Were you surprised by any of these myths? Have you encountered similar challenges or misconceptions in your own experiences? Let us know in the comments below.
Android device management - Unable to enroll: DEVICE_MODE_QUARANTINED
Hello everyone, New to Google device management and hoping someone is able to help me out. I had tried to enroll various Android devices in COPE, Work Managed and Work Profile (BYOD) modes but each of them are failing at the "Registering profile" screen. It look like the Work Profile has been created, but does not appear to be functional and devices are not appearing in the Google admin console. Pertinent (I think) are of the logcat logs are showing: 10-09 18:06:39.752 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [PolicyLogHelper.java:logPolicies:103] Device mode: quarantined 10-09 18:06:39.752 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [PolicyLogHelper.java:logPolicies:105] Got policy. Size: 0 10-09 18:06:39.752 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [OverrideLayer.java:loadFromFile:98] No override for compliance_rules 10-09 18:06:39.752 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [EventLogManagerImpl.kt:logMessage:1641] Event logged: PolicyPulled details: [id=default, version=0, mode=DEVICE_MODE_QUARANTINED] metadata: [isNetworkConnected=true] 10-09 18:06:39.753 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [EventLogManagerImpl.kt:logMessage:1641] Event logged: PolicyPulled details: [currentPolicy=PolicyIdentifiers(policyName=default, policyVersion=0), flowId=f02e170ef5ae087b3d825321c3dbee57bb0cd4aa3b1bba061dd934da8cb7937b] metadata: [isNetworkConnected=true] 10-09 18:06:39.754 22672 28291 I clouddpc: [RestoreUtilImpl.kt:getRestoreIntent:66] Getting restore intent 10-09 18:06:39.756 22672 28291 E clouddpc: [PolicyUpdaterImpl.java:retryPullApplyAndExecuteCompliance:478] Policy update mitigation failed, 1 tries done, 0 tries left 10-09 18:06:39.756 22672 28291 E clouddpc: dbc: Device mode: DEVICE_MODE_QUARANTINED Looks like my devices are being quarantined? Not sure what this means... Is there some kind of allow-list that I need to populate? Appreciate any help you can offer!
Fido2 key and their issues using them on Android
First, do Android support using Fido2 keys on Android? Yes, it does support both using bluetooth, NFC and USB authentication. For reference: https://developers.google.com/identity/fido/android/native-apps But does it mean that it is straight forward to use it in a enterprise environment without hiccups? No, the support lacks many features that both Windows and iOS has supported for long time. If I buy a modern Fido2 with OTP support, will it work straight out of the box for using the USB? No, you need to disable the OTP support first. Here is how you can do that from yubikey manager, this works for Yubikey. Other vendors might have something similar. But for Fido2 keys without OTP support, it should work out of the box for USB-C, like Google titan. Why this happens, dont know. Can we use NFC for Entra ID authentication like we can on Windows and iOS? No. Android does not currently support CTAP2 for NFC, only for USB-C input. CTAP1 (FIDO U2F) supports certificate based authentication, but CTAP supports user verification with PIN and biometrics. Entra ID requires UV (user verification) before accepting login. As far as I know, there is also support for bluetooth. But I dont have any fido2 keys that support bluetooth yet. So why does this matter? With Android you can have shared devices with secure login for multiple users with a single log in for all supported apps, auto log off and many other possibilities. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity-platform/msal-shared-devices Other sources/discussions: https://www.reddit.com/r/yubikey/comments/1oncuh2/whats_the_point_of_nfc_on_android/ https://www.reddit.com/r/yubikey/comments/13tlzoc/fido2_inconsistent_across_windowsandroid/ https://fidoalliance.org/specifications/Microsoft Company Portal App
Hi all, Seems that latest Company Portal version from Microsoft is having some issue. Problem description: Installation from Play Store is working but launching Company Portal app, it just freezes with logo on the screen. Never does anything, just freezing. We have case opened to Microsoft. Keep you all posted. Version 5.0.6170.0 Published 28.2.2024 Please test if you have BYOD method setup for your company. -jarmo
Enhancing Android Enterprise OS Update Management
Hi, The way the Android API implements OS update management on Android Enterprise devices is not particularly useful for devices with user affinity. Are there any upcoming API changes for EMM solutions like Microsoft Intune? From my experience with the current API: AUTOMATIC – The OS update is installed as soon as it becomes available via OTA, which is not practical for real-time scenarios. WINDOWED – Similar to AUTOMATIC but with the limitation that OS updates can only be installed within a defined maintenance window. This means that if a user needs to update their device due to a software bug fixed in the latest OS version, they may not be able to do so immediately if the maintenance window is set outside working hours. Source: https://support.google.com/work/android/answer/13791272?hl=en#zippy=%2Cmanaging-system-updates-using-system-update-policies Suggested Improvements: Provide an option to control OS updates on BYOD (Work Profile only). I understand that when enrolling a device through Work Profile, only the work container can be managed via EMM. Google may need to reconsider this approach. It would be beneficial to have an approach similar to Apple’s, where EMM admins can manage OS updates (e.g., push specific updates, set deadlines, etc.) through DDM (Declarative Device Management - Source: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/depc30268577/web ), even on BYOD devices (Device Enrollment) — without requiring supervision like DO (Device Owner mode). I’m aware that Samsung Knox E-FOTA exists, but it is limited to Samsung devices. Expanding this capability to all Android devices (like Google Pixel devices) would greatly improve update management in enterprise environments. BR, MarcoBYOD AE Work Profile - Samsung Device with Android 12, 13 - Sharing Serial no/IMEI details with Intune MDM
We are observing, Intune started displaying the Serial no's /IMEI's of Samsung Android 12, 13 device and device type is BYOD -> Work Profile. did you see this in your environment? Model affected are SM-A,G,S,G,M SERIES.
Work contacts not recognized when ringing - works fine otherwise
Hello, I am having an issue with contacts from my work profile not being recognized when I have an incoming call, the notification is showing the phone number, but as soon as I pick up the contact name shows up. Calls history also displays the contact name. I am using my personal phone (aosp android 13) as a work phone, with two sim cards and a work profile linked to an enterprise google account. Both profile have Google contacts and dialer apps installed, with the "Identify callers numbers" option turned on. Gave all the permissions I could to both apps, but this hasn't fixed it. Any suggestion ?The Security patch level data missing - MS Intune
Hi everyone, We are using MS Intune to manage our Android devices. The Security patch level data on our Android BYOD enrolled devices seems to be blank on all devices as they do a new sync via Company portal app. It seems like this has all happened in the last few days. Any other MS Intune customers seen this behavior last days? This is very critical to our device compliance. Currently we have a little over 3000 devices enrolled in BYOD mode, and patch info is now missing for about 2/3 of them. On some of our devices where we still saw the info, we did a check device settings in the company portal, and then the info went away. This was with Company Portal version 5.0.5981.0. First guess was that some change to company portal app was causing this issue. There are a lot of devices with recent contact time that still show patch info now, but not sure what CP version is on them. thanks Jarmo
