Android vs Apple: Which Is the Safer System for Your Company’s Employee Mobiles?

Mobile devices are an integral part of our personal and professional lives, making the security of these devices more critical than ever. With the increasing prevalence of mobile data breaches, choosing the right operating system has become a crucial decision for both individuals and professionals. The choice between Android and Apple’s iOS can significantly impact your device’s security. What considerations should you factor in when deciding which operating system is the right one for you?

App Security and Malware Protection

Android’s operating system is highly flexible, allowing users to install apps from third-party sources. However, this feature increases the likelihood of the system being affected by malware infections. Although Google Play Protect scans for malware, it may not be an effective solution for external apps. Due to Android’s open-source nature, employees connecting over unsecured public Wi-Fi networks may benefit from a VPN to protect data in transit. 

According to tech writer Jacob O’Shea, we use our devices for almost anything digital, from paying bills to connecting with friends and family. He emphasizes the strong need for a reliable VPN for Android devices. There are several Android VPN apps available on the market. To ensure that data is encrypted and secure during transmission, use a trusted VPN service like the ones recommended by Techopedia.

VPN features are not all the same, so consider the quality and reliability. There are free versions available with limited features, but if you want additional features, stick to VIP or premium versions. As an alternative to VPNs, companies can also restrict sideloading on company devices, but this requires IT policy enforcement.

When a company decides to allow employees to use their devices for work, providing an official VPN recommendation or policy ensures consistent security levels across both Android and iOS devices.

Apple iOS devices have built-in encrypted communication channels and secure network controls and generally do not rely on third-party VPNs for basic security. It has end-to-end encryption for features like iMessage and FaceTime. However, companies can still require a VPN for an additional layer of security when employees connect to corporate resources remotely.

Regarding app installation, the Apple App Store uses a strict walled garden vetting process, which restricts installing apps outside of the App Store. This approach significantly reduces Apple users’ exposure to potentially harmful apps. It is very rare for malicious apps to get approved and infiltrate the system. In addition to this closed ecosystem, iOS updates regularly, ensuring that user devices are always equipped with the latest security patches. 

Compared to Android, iOS is less prone to malware due to its closed nature. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is immune to all threats. Phishing attacks and targeted malware, particularly through malicious links and social engineering, can still pose threats to iOS systems.

Device Management and Control

Most versions of Apple products have in-built frameworks that support mobile device management (MDM), allowing IT administrators to manage devices whether they are owned by the company or by employees. The administrators can efficiently wipe or lock the devices remotely, manage apps, configure company security policies, and monitor if employees are complying with the policies. There are Apple solutions that allow users to enroll their own devices in MDM, while company devices can be enrolled automatically.

Just like iOS, Android fully supports comprehensive MDM solutions. Android Enterprise, Google’s suite of management tools, offers features like work profiles for BYOD and fully managed device options for company-owned devices. Businesses can secure and manage Android devices to facilitate compliance and avoid device misuse. Both company and personal devices can be managed through a centralized web-based dashboard.

Privacy Considerations in Android and iOS Operating Systems

People are justifiably worried about how their information is collected and used by their service providers. Although both platforms have addressed rising concerns about data collection and user security, their core design principles led them to different approaches to privacy protection. Apple takes the privacy of its users seriously, frequently centering its policies on data collection, while Android has made significant progress in improving privacy controls over the years. 

Both Android and iOS use the Privacy by Design concept. Apple’s closed ecosystem emphasizes user protection, limited data collection, and transparency. The built-in encryption technologies used by iOS protect users without requiring much intervention from them. Android, on the other hand, brings both flexibility and challenges to its privacy approach due to its open-source model. Android is developed by Google and is available on different devices produced by different manufacturers like Hisense and Xiaomi.

This fragmentation means that different devices run various versions of the operating system, making it challenging to implement uniform security updates, leading to inconsistencies in privacy protection. Users can customize their operating systems, but this comes with the risk of security vulnerabilities and data collection by third parties. Collecting user data for advertising purposes can create vulnerabilities, especially if organizations do not handle the process properly. Google has been improving Android’s privacy features over the years, making it more secure in terms of user control and data protection.

App Permissions and Data Collection

If apps are given free rein and allowed to access data on mobile devices without restrictions, chaos would ensue. Both iOS and Android require apps to request permissions before accessing certain data, such as the user’s location, contacts, or camera. Users can choose the data they want an app to have permission to and the frequency of access.

iOS now includes App Tracking Transparency (ATT), which requires apps to ask users for permission before tracking their activity across other companies’ apps and websites. Users can choose to opt out of cross-app tracking, making it so much more challenging for advertisers to track them without their knowledge.

Android is viewed with scrutiny when it comes to data privacy due to Google’s business model,  which heavily relies on advertising revenue. This reliance on ad-based income influenced Android’s data collection policies. 

Although Android gives users the option to limit data collection, Google’s business model still collects a significant amount of user data for marketing purposes. The increased demand for privacy led Android to implement a Privacy Dashboard where users can see and manage all app permissions. Additionally, Google has introduced limited ad tracking options, which allow users to reset their advertising ID and have more control over targeted ads.

Conclusion

Both Android and Apple systems have security protocols that can meet business needs, but Apple (iOS) currently stands out as the safer option for most businesses. Its closed ecosystem, consistent updates, standardized device management, and strong encryption make it easier to manage and secure for IT departments. However, Android can also be a secure choice if the company implements strict security policies and restricts sideloading. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your company’s specific requirements and the resources available for managing device security.