Sophos Mobile Alternative: Why IT Teams Are Switching to Hexnode

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode’s architectural strength lies in its broad, platform-agnostic coverage. It is designed to act as a single pane of glass for diverse environments, supporting traditional knowledge-worker devices alongside specialized frontline endpoints.

Core OS Support:

• Apple Ecosystem: Supports macOS, iOS, visionOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, and uses Apple Business Manager for automated device enrollment and Volume Purchase Program (VPP) app distribution.
• Android & Specialized OS: Supports Android Enterprise (Device Owner and Work Profile) and legacy Android devices, and natively manages Amazon Fire OS, which is useful for organizations using cost-effective tablets for digital signage or kiosks.
• Windows & Linux: Supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, and also provides dedicated management for Linux endpoints and Google ChromeOS devices.
• Rugged & IoT Devices: Provides OEM-specific management for rugged hardware from manufacturers including Zebra, Honeywell, Kyocera, and Datalogic through OEMConfig and related integrations.

Sophos Mobile

Its platform coverage centers on mainstream mobile and desktop operating systems, and it can also deploy Sophos Intercept X for Mobile for on-device threat protection.

Core OS Support:

• Apple Ecosystem: Supports iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices and uses Apple Business Manager for automated enrollment; Apple TV (tvOS) is not among its supported platforms.
• Android Ecosystem: Supports Android Enterprise deployments, including fully managed devices, work profiles, and dedicated (kiosk) devices; Amazon Fire OS is not among its supported platforms.
• Windows & ChromeOS: Manages Windows desktops and manages ChromeOS through the Sophos Chrome Security extension, which supports web filtering and basic device tasks, with automatic enrollment available through Google Workspace.
• Unsupported Platforms: Linux, Apple TV (tvOS), and Amazon Fire OS are not among Sophos Mobile’s supported platforms, so organizations that manage Linux developer machines, Apple TVs, or Fire tablets alongside their other devices can consolidate that coverage under Hexnode UEM.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode’s cross-platform flexibility lets IT teams use native zero-touch provisioning tools and run silent application deployments across major platforms.

Zero-Touch Provisioning:

• Multi-OS Automation: Integrates with Apple Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) for macOS, iOS, and tvOS, Android Zero-Touch Enrollment, and Windows Autopilot.
• Specialized Hardware Support: Supports Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME), which keeps enrollment persistent even after a factory reset, along with ROM-based enrollment for rugged Android devices (embedding the agent into the firmware) and CLI-based enrollment for Linux endpoints, including servers and IoT devices.

Application Lifecycle Management:

• Desktop Deployments: Administrators can silently install, update, and uninstall enterprise applications over the air, with support for MSI, MSIX, and EXE packages on Windows and PKG and DMG files on macOS, along with pre- and post-installation scripting.
• Mobile & Frontline Apps:Integrates with Apple VPP and Managed Google Play, and can update in-house enterprise apps in the background while a device stays locked in kiosk mode on supported Android devices (such as Samsung Knox and Android Enterprise Device Owner), reducing downtime for frontline workers.

Sophos Mobile

Sophos Mobile provides enrollment and application management for standard corporate devices, covering the main zero-touch provisioning frameworks for mainstream mobile and desktop platforms.

Zero-Touch Provisioning:

• Standard Automations: Supports Apple Business Manager (ADE) for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and Android Zero-Touch Enrollment for corporate-owned Android devices.
• Samsung KME Integration: Supports Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME) to bulk-enroll Samsung devices into Android Enterprise management modes automatically when the user powers on the device.

Application Lifecycle Management:

• Android App Management: Integrates with Managed Google Play, supporting unattended installation of store and in-house Android apps and managed app configuration that can be applied before the user first opens the app.
• Apple VPP & Windows MSI: Supports Apple VPP for iOS and macOS app distribution, and deploys Windows apps through MSI links and the Microsoft Store.
• Windows and Specialized-OS App Deployment: Sophos Mobile deploys Windows apps through MSI links and the Microsoft Store, while Hexnode UEM additionally supports EXE and MSIX packages with pre- and post-installation scripting; Apple TV (tvOS) and Amazon Fire OS are not among Sophos Mobile’s supported platforms.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode’s security approach centers on configuration enforcement, conditional access, and maintaining compliance baselines across a wide range of operating systems.

Certifications & Infrastructure:

• Holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification (issued by BSI) and has completed a SOC 2 Type 2 report.
  
• Corporate data is protected with encryption at rest across its AWS-based infrastructure and TLS for data in transit.

Core Security Features:

• Automated Drift Detection: Hexnode uses a triple-channel engine (FCM, MQTT, and Pushy) to maintain a live connection with managed devices. When a device falls out of compliance – for example, a user disables BitLocker or an iOS device is jailbroken – Hexnode detects the drift and can trigger automated remediation without waiting for a scheduled sync.
• Compliance-Driven Conditional Access: Integrates with identity providers including Microsoft Entra ID and Okta, and can use a device’s compliance status to drive Conditional Access so that noncompliant endpoints are blocked from corporate email and cloud apps.
• Encryption & DLP: Enforces BitLocker (Windows) and FileVault (macOS) full-disk encryption and escrows the recovery keys in the Hexnode portal. It also applies managed-app data controls that restrict document and data sharing between managed and unmanaged apps.
• Threat Defense Integrations: As a dedicated UEM, Hexnode integrates with third-party Mobile Threat Defense partners such as Check Point Harmony Mobile to add malware scanning and phishing protection on iOS and Android.

Sophos Mobile

Sophos Mobile is integrated into the broader Sophos Central cybersecurity ecosystem, connecting device management with Sophos’s security operations tooling.

Foundation & Frameworks:

• Managed entirely from within Sophos Central, allowing IT and security teams to view mobile device health alongside firewall, server, and email security alerts in a single pane of glass.

Core Security Features:

• Native Intercept X for Mobile: Sophos Mobile includes native mobile threat defense through Intercept X for Mobile – malware and potentially-unwanted-app detection, anti-phishing, web filtering, and protection against malicious network connections such as Man-in-the-Middle attacks – without requiring a separate third-party MTD partner.
• Synchronized Security (Security Heartbeat): Through Synchronized Security, Sophos Mobile shares a device’s health status (green, yellow, or red) via the Security Heartbeat. If a device is compromised, Sophos Mobile can signal Sophos Wireless access points to restrict or isolate the device at the network level until the threat is resolved.
• Compliance Remediation: Sophos Mobile’s compliance engine checks for conditions such as jailbroken or rooted devices, outdated OS versions, and missing encryption, and can trigger predefined actions when a rule is violated, including restricting access to corporate resources or wiping the device.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode integrates with a wide range of third-party platforms and is designed for organizations that use a mix of software vendors across their IT operations.

Identity & Directory Services:

• Cloud Identity: Integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Okta, and Google Workspace, so organizations can use single sign-on for device enrollment and synchronize user groups whether they run a Microsoft or Google environment.
• On-Premise: Supports Active Directory (AD) for legacy identity federation.

ITSM & Helpdesk Automation:

• Ticketing Integrations: Integrates with ITSM platforms including ServiceNow, Zendesk, and Freshservice.
• ServiceNow Integration: Technicians can view Hexnode user incidents inside ServiceNow and run remote device actions – such as locking or scanning a device and installing or uninstalling apps – directly from a ServiceNow incident, while Hexnode admins can view ServiceNow incidents in the Hexnode console.

Developer Tools & Custom Automations:

• APIs and Webhooks: Provides a REST API and supports webhooks, letting developers build custom event-driven automations, such as sending an alert to Slack when a device drops out of compliance.

Sophos Mobile

Sophos Mobile’s integrations center on the Sophos Central platform and the Microsoft ecosystem, connecting device management with security operations.

The Sophos Central Ecosystem (Synchronized Security):

• Sophos Wireless & Firewall: Through Synchronized Security and the Security Heartbeat, Sophos Mobile shares the health status of mobile devices with Sophos Firewalls and Sophos Wireless access points. If Sophos Mobile detects a threat on an iPhone, the Sophos network hardware can restrict that device’s Wi-Fi access until the threat is resolved.
• Intercept X for Mobile: Managed within Sophos Central alongside Sophos’s endpoint, server, and email security products, giving security teams cross-platform visibility from a single console.

Identity & Access Management:

• Identity Integration: Sophos Mobile integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) for user synchronization and administrator single sign-on, and Sophos Central federated sign-in also supports OpenID Connect and Microsoft AD FS.
• Intune App Protection: Sophos Mobile integrates with Microsoft Intune to manage Intune app protection policies (MAM) directly from the Sophos Mobile console, letting admins secure Microsoft 365 and other Intune-SDK apps on personal devices without enrolling them for full device management.

Third-Party Integrations & Limitations:

• Remote Support Dependency: Sophos Mobile provides remote support for Android and iOS through its TeamViewer integration, which requires a separate TeamViewer license, whereas Hexnode includes built-in remote view and control.
• ITSM Limitations: Hexnode UEM offers built-in two-way integrations with ITSM platforms such as ServiceNow, Zendesk, and Freshservice for mobile lifecycle management, while Sophos Mobile’s integrations are focused on the Sophos Central and Microsoft ecosystems.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode uses a per-device pricing model, so IT teams can forecast budgets based on the number of endpoints they manage – a fit for kiosk and frontline environments where devices often outnumber users.

Licensing Details:

• Licensing Model: Organizations pay per managed device, and Hexnode offers four tiers – Pro, Enterprise, Ultimate, and Ultra – so businesses can choose the feature depth they need.
• Minimums: A subscription requires a minimum of 15 device licenses to get started.
• Support: Hexnode provides technical support through chat, email, and phone.
• Included Remote Support: Native remote view and control are built into the platform on applicable tiers, without a separate software purchase.

Sophos Mobile

Sophos Mobile uses a per-user pricing model and is typically purchased as part of the broader Sophos Central portfolio, often alongside Sophos Intercept X for Mobile.

Licensing Details:

• Per-User Licensing: Sophos Mobile is licensed per user rather than per device, which suits BYOD programs – a single employee can enroll multiple devices, such as a corporate laptop, personal smartphone, and tablet, under one user license.
• Purchasing Channel: Sophos Mobile is largely sold through authorized Managed Service Providers and security resellers, and exact pricing usually requires a custom quote based on volume and whether it’s bundled with other Sophos products.

Hexnode UEM

Hexnode offers direct support channels alongside self-service educational resources aimed at helping IT teams build their endpoint management skills.

Support Channels:

• Direct Availability: Hexnode provides technical support through live chat, email, and phone.
• Direct Access: Administrators can contact Hexnode’s support team directly through live chat on the website, email, or toll-free phone numbers in regions including the US, UK, and Australia.

Self-Service & Community:

• Hexnode Academy: Offers free, self-paced courses and hands-on labs, along with paid certification exams at Professional and Expert levels covering iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and tvOS.
• Knowledge Base & Developers: Provides searchable help documentation, how-to videos, and a developer portal with REST API documentation for building custom integrations.
• Community Forum: Operates Hexnode Connect, a peer-to-peer community forum where IT administrators can discuss deployment practices, troubleshoot issues, and share scripts.

Sophos Mobile

Sophos Mobile is supported within the Sophos Central ecosystem, and Sophos’s most responsive support options are available through paid Enhanced support plans.

Support Channels:

• Tiered Support Plans: Sophos offers tiered support, with its Enhanced support plan adding 24/7 multi-channel support beyond base support.
• VIP & Direct Access: Sophos’s Enhanced Plus plan adds priority case handling and VIP access to its Senior Technical Resource team, and a dedicated Technical Account Manager is available through the separate TAM plan, for which Enhanced Plus is a prerequisite.
• Partner-Led First Line: Because Sophos Mobile is largely sold through authorized Managed Service Providers and security resellers, initial support and account management are often handled by the partner that deployed the solution.

Self-Service & Community:

• The Sophos Community: Operates an active community forum covering the full Sophos portfolio, including a dedicated Sophos Mobile section alongside its firewall, endpoint, and XDR discussions.
• Sophos Techvids: Provides a library of technical video tutorials covering setup and configuration across the Sophos Central platform.
• Documentation: Offers detailed release notes, service and architecture guides, and administrator documentation for the Sophos Central platform.