Check Point Harmony Mobile vs Check Point Remote Access VPN comparison

Check Point Harmony Mobile is a unified security solution for user devices and access. It is a complete threat defense solution for mobile devices that prevents cyberattacks and enforces security for remote workers and users. It prevents threats on apps, networks, and OS while enhancing the user experience and preventing the disruption of device performance. 

Check Point Harmony Mobile Benefits

Some benefits of Harmony Mobile include: 

• Advanced app analysis that detects known and unknown threats
• Mitigates threats regardless of the mobile management platform or what the user is doing
• Prevents infected devices to send data to botnets
• Blocks phishing attacks on social media, email, and messaging
  

Harmony Mobile integrates with UEM systems to assess the device’s level of risk. The UEM quarantines and activates security policies, such as blocking access to corporate assets. 

Check Point Harmony Mobile Key Features

Harmony Mobile's key features include: 

• App protection: The platform detects and blocks the download of malicious applications in real-time. It runs the application in a cloud-based environment and tests it by leveraging techniques such as sandboxing, advanced static analysis, anomaly detection, and other techniques. By doing so, it prevents malware from infiltrating employees’ mobile devices. 

• Network protection: The platform’s unique infrastructure extends Check Point security capabilities to mobile devices. It includes features such as anti-phishing, safe browsing, conditional access, anti bot, and URL filtering. 

• Simple and easy to use management: Check Point Harmony Mobile integrates with almost all mobile management solutions (MDM/UEM), and supports BYOD programs and remote work settings. It delivers scalability and efficiency with zero-touch deployment. The system works for all Android deployment models. The management console is cloud-based, delivering visibility over the risk posture and enabling admins to roll granular policies. 

• User friendly: The platform is easy to adopt, with no disruption of the user experience or the device's usability. The system delivers detailed threat notifications in real time as well as weekly reports. The platform doesn’t impact battery life or data consumption. Additionally, it keeps the user and corporate data private without collecting or analyzing personal information. Finally, the platform anonymizes the context metadata from apps and networks it uses for analysis.  

Check Point Harmony Mobile Components 

• Behavioral risk engine: The engine uses data received from the app about the network, configuration, and OS data integrity, detects and analyzes suspicious activity, and produces a risk score.
   
• Mobile gateway: A multi-tenant architecture and mobile devices are registered. The gateway manages the solution communications with connected mobile devices and with the dashboard.
   
• Management dashboard: The dashboard enables administration, provisioning, and monitoring of devices and policies. It integrates with Unified Endpoint Management.
  
  
• Mobile Protect app: This lightweight app for iOS and Android collects data and analyzes threats to devices. It monitors the operating systems, applications, and network behavior and collects data to detect malicious behavior.
  
  
• ThreatCloud: A database with real-time threat intelligence on indicators of compromise from hundreds of thousands of Check Point gateways and millions of endpoints worldwide.  

Check Point Harmony Mobile Capabilities

• Prevents malicious app downloads
• Prevents phishing on applications
• Prevents man-in-the-middle attacks
• Stops infected devices from accessing corporate applications
• Detects OS exploits

Reviews from Real Users

"The easy navigation of the admin portal is a welcome change to how some other admin portals are not very user-friendly," says G.S., a Manager of Infrastructure Services at an energy/utilities company.

Kadeem C., an IT Security Analyst at an energy/utilities company, says, "I really like the application scanning portion where it scans your current applications and any new applications that you add to the device to let you know if it is malicious."

Oleg P., Senior Network/Security Engineer at Skywind Group, says, "The most impressive thing is the SSL VPN Portal."

Hans V., an Engineer at Caldoo, adds that “We've found that the product is quite stable."

Remote secure access VPN is a solution that provides users with remote access to an organization’s network. The host may have VPN client software loaded or use a web-based client. The solution leverages security features like multi-factor authentication, endpoint scanning, and encryption of all data in motion.

Check Point Remote Access VPN provides individuals with protected and efficient access to a company network from anywhere. This strategy fosters collaboration and connectivity between distributed teams and offices.

Features of Check Point Remote Access VPN

Key features of the secure remote access VPN include:

• Compliance Scanning

The system enforces endpoint security with endpoint compliance. It monitors and verifies the security status of each endpoint and reports back to the Security Gateway. The gateway, in turn, checks the compliance level and directs the connectivity to the right resources.

• 3 Deployment Options

Users can deploy the Remote Access VPN in one of three ways:

1. Integrated with an Endpoint Security solution. In this case, you get a firewall, an application control (not in macOS), the remote access VPN, and compliance features included in the package.
2. As a Standalone Check Point Mobile for Windows. This package includes a remote access VPN and compliance features.
3. As a Standalone Secure Remote. This tier only includes the Remote Access VPN.

• Central Management

Remote Access VPN is centrally managed. The centralized console enables management and enforcement of policies with a single log-in.

• Mobile Access Option

The Remote Access VPN has a web portal that users can use to connect securely to corporate applications, such as web-based resources, file-sharing, and email. Administrators can customize the web portal to match the brand identity.

• 2 Remote Access Options

Remote Access VPN offers two choices for remote access:

1. SSL VPN Portal: Includes the mobile access web portal, an SSL network extender, Check Point Mobile for iOS and Android, and a capsule workspace for iOS and Android.
2. Layer 3 VPN Tunnel: Includes the endpoint security remote access VPN, Check Point Mobile for Windows, the capsule connect for iOS and Android, the VPN plugin for Windows 8.1, and the capsule VPN for Windows 10.

• Authentication Support

The authentication features include password management, RADIUS challenge/response, CAPI software, and hardware tokens. P12 certificates, and SecurID.

• Encryption Tunnel

The system establishes a VPN tunnel on demand. It also re-arranges connections when roaming. The tunnel can automatically tear down when the user is on the corporate LAN.

• Connect Options

There are several connection features, such as Hotspot detection, office mode IP, split tunneling, and automatic fallback to HTTPS.

Benefits of Check Point Remote Access VPN

One of the key advantages of Remote Access VPN is that it provides remote workers with a secure way to connect to a corporate network from any device, including their personal devices. The data encryption in transit enables them to securely access the resources they need for their tasks.

It also provides IT support and technicians with a faster way to troubleshoot software issues. In the case of a ticket, IT doesn’t need to go to the server location to fix the problem but can troubleshoot it remotely.

A remote secure access VPN is also an affordable alternative for small and medium-sized businesses, without requiring expensive infrastructure.

Reviews from Real Users

A Global IT Network and Security Service Senior Specialist at a manufacturing company who uses Check Point Remote Access VPN says, "I found the MEP feature the most valuable. This has improved users' latency allowing the users to connect to the nearest Azure Check Point VM."

"Organizations that already use the Check Point NGFW Solution do not require any additional hardware, which makes the implementation straightforward and reduces the time to go live," explains Basil D., Senior Manager at a financial services firm.

Manuel B., a Voice and data infrastructure specialist at a tech services company, says that "The IPSec VPN, Mobile Access, and Identity Awareness are three of the blades with which we have been working with since the pandemic. This has given us great mobility, making our network more dynamic."