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Install mobile threat defense app

  • Article

Applies to:

  • iOS/iPadOS
  • Android

Install a mobile threat defense (MTD) app on the personal device you use for work or school. An MTD app works by detecting and alerting you to threats on your device, like suspicious apps or networks, and operating system vulnerabilities. In this article, you'll learn how to set up and activate an MTD app so that you can satisfy your organization's security requirement and access work apps.

Step 1: Install MTD app

Note

An additional step, called device registration, happens prior to app installation on devices that aren't registered. Registration is required to confirm your identity and connect your school or work account to your device. For more information about device registration, see Register your personal device on your organization's network.

Install your organization's preferred mobile threat defense (MTD) app on your device. Your organization chooses the MTD app you need to use. If the app name or listing isn't provided to you during enrollment or app setup, contact your IT support person to determine which app you need to use. The following MTD apps are commonly used on Apple devices. Select an app to open its listing in the App Store.

The following MTD apps are commonly used on Android devices. Select an app to open its listing in Google Play.

Step 2: Activate MTD app

Complete the following steps to activate the MTD app on your iOS or Android device.

Activation for iOS app

  1. Open the MTD app.
  2. The MTD app asks for permission to open Microsoft Authenticator. Select Open.
  3. Sign in with your work account.
  4. Wait while the MTD app scans your device for security threats. If the scan doesn't happen automatically, you can start the scan yourself.
  5. Return to the Company Portal app or website.
    • Company Portal app: Select CONFIRM DEVICE SETTINGS.
    • Company Portal website: Select Check status.
  6. Now that you have the app set up, you can sign in to work apps with your work account. If you're still blocked:

Activation for Android app

  1. Open the MTD app.
  2. Review and grant permissions, as needed, to the MTD app. Permissions vary by MTD app.
  3. Wait while the MTD app scans your device for security threats. If the scan doesn't happen automatically, you can start the scan yourself.
  4. Return to the Company Portal app or website.
    • Company Portal app: Select CONFIRM DEVICE SETTINGS.
    • Company Portal website: Select Check status.
  5. Now that you have the app set up, you can sign in to work apps with your work account. If you're still blocked:

Resolving a threat

If a threat is detected and exceeds an acceptable threat level, your organization can either:

  • Block access: Block you from using apps while signed in to your work or school account.
  • Wipe data: Delete your work or school data from one or more work apps.

To resolve a threat and regain access to work apps, complete the following steps.

  1. Open the MTD app on your device.
  2. Open the threat details in the app. These details explain how the threat could affect your device if left unresolved, and how to resolve it.
  3. Make the required changes on your device. For example, you may need to uninstall an app that's not safe.
  4. Return to the MTD app and start a new scan.
  5. Repeat these steps until all threats are resolved. It can take a few minutes for your changes to sync with the MTD app. Once those changes sync, you can access your work apps again.

Information your organization can see

Your organization can't see any data, such as texts, emails, and pictures, in your personal apps. The MTD app reports information to your organization about apps, including:

  • App name
  • App ID: The unique name that identifies the app in Google Play.
  • App version and short version number: The specific release numbers for an app.
  • App bundle and dynamic size: The amount of space an app uses on your device.

The actual information reported depends on the MTD vendor your organization uses. For more information, contact your IT support person.

Get support

Contact your support person for help with:

  • Identifying which MTD app to use
  • App installation
  • Failed installation
  • Detecting/resolving a threat
  • Uninstalling an MTD app

Sign into the Company Portal website with your work or school account to find your organization's IT helpdesk information.

Next steps

Next, get apps for work or school. For more information, see: