ForeScout Technologies has introduced ForeScout Mobile, a set of plug-in modules to enable Android and iOS security management, as well as a plug-in module for mobile device management (MDM) integration.

By combining ForeScout Mobile as an add-on to ForeScout CounterACT, the company's network access control (NAC) platform, security professionals can use one console for visibility and uniform control over managed and unmanaged mobile and PC devices.

According to IDC, 40.7% of the devices used by information workers to access business applications are ones they own themselves including home PCs, smartphones and tablets like the iPad. Evidently organizations underestimate the number of information workers using consumer devices for work by 50%.

In a recent North American survey by the Boston Research Group, 78% of the IT security professionals surveyed believe that network access control is essential in protecting enterprises from mobile device risks such as data loss, malware, unauthorized use and unauthorized access.

ForeScout Mobile is supposed to offer implementation flexibility and a policy-based method to secure corporate and personal mobile devices and address MDM network security gaps. A security administrator can apply pre- and post-connection policies to desktops, servers and mobile devices from one integrated system.

The widgetry is supposed to be the first unified approach for NAC, BYOD and MDM.

CounterACT identifies mobile devices, forces unknown users to register, and can automatically allow, deny or restrict access to specified network resources and wireless access point from a single appliance without software agents running on the endpoints.

ForeScout Mobile provides information about the device, its user, its configuration, its apps and its security posture. This lets CounterACT enforce more granular network access and endpoint integrity policies for mobile devices.

The Mobile Security Module for Android uses a mobile app that extends CounterACT's visibility and control for Android 2.1 or greater. The Mobile Security Module for iOS takes advantage of Apple's native push notification service and MDM capabilities. Beyond blocking or limiting access to network resources, additional iOS remediation options include the ability to remotely wipe and lock; enforce password policy; require apps such as anti-virus, MDM or virtualization; remove or disable native apps such as the camera; and enforce specific Wi-Fi access.

CounterACT can be delivered as a physical or virtual appliance.

ForeScout Mobile starts at $2,800 for 100 devices. The ForeScout Mobile Security Module for Android and iOS are in beta and will be available in April. The ForeScout Mobile MDM Module will be available in June.