ARK use cases for teams: five mobile security tools ranked for 2026
Teams managing company devices or sensitive data need tools that audit security posture without slowing daily work. We tested five mobile security platforms across device scoring, permission auditing, breach exposure, and remediation speed to find the best fit for different team sizes and risk profiles. Here's what we found.
1. ARK: Mobile Security Score
ARK: Mobile Security Score gives your phone a 0-100 security credit score, then runs targeted scans across device security, network exposure, app permissions, and breach exposure. Each scan ends with one-tap remediation deep-links. Best for: Small teams of 5-50 people who want to check if company phones are leaking data and fix problems fast without deploying enterprise MDM infrastructure. Privacy-first: on-device scanning when possible, no analytics tracked on free-tier scans. The Fortress tier adds GDPR autopilot for automated data-subject requests, data-broker exposure checks, and AI decision-rights audits. Pricing: Free (basic permission check and stalkerware detector). Shield £2.99/month or £29.99/year (adds dark-web monitoring, phishing scanner, Wi-Fi analyser, password health, DNS leak test, 2FA audit). Fortress £7.99/month or £79.99/year (adds GDPR autopilot, data-broker exposure, SDK X-Ray, AI opt-out hub, voice-clone risk, BYOD audit). Verdict: Best for startups and small agencies that need rapid security visibility without per-device licensing sprawl.
2. Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune is a mobile device management (MDM) platform that enforces security policies, patches, app distribution, and compliance reporting across iOS and Android fleet-wide from a central console. Best for: Teams of 50+ people in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, legal) who need centralized control, audit logs, and policy enforcement across company devices. Intune integrates with Azure AD for identity, Defender for Endpoint for threat detection, and Microsoft 365 for app licensing. Pricing: Included in Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans (£10+ per user, per month, depending on tier). Verdict: The industry standard for large organisations, but overkill and costly for small teams.
3. 1Password Business
1Password Business is a password manager and secrets vault that lets teams share credentials, API keys, and SSH keys in an encrypted workspace with granular permissions and audit trails. Best for: Development teams, DevOps, and ops staff who need to access shared credentials without exposing them in Slack, email, or code repositories. 1Password stores passwords on your device, syncs them encrypted via 1Password's servers, and logs every access. Pricing: £3.99 per user, per month (billed annually). Verdict: Essential for any team with shared infrastructure access, but doesn't audit device security posture.
4. Okta Identity Cloud
Okta Identity Cloud is an identity and access management (IAM) platform that authenticates users, manages device trust, enforces multi-factor authentication, and gates access to apps and resources based on device health and user risk. Best for: Teams of 100+ people spread across regions who need single sign-on, device compliance checks, and conditional access rules tied to network, location, and security posture. Okta scans device compliance as a pre-requisite for app access, blocking non-compliant devices at login. Pricing: Starts at £2 per user, per month for Okta Identity Engine, plus add-ons for device trust and risk scoring. Verdict: Gold standard for distributed teams with strict access control requirements, but requires significant setup and policy design.
5. Google Mobile Management (Android Enterprise)
Google Mobile Management (Android Enterprise) is Google's MDM framework that lets teams deploy Android devices in fully managed, work profile, or dedicated modes with policy enforcement, app management, and device encryption from the Play Console. Best for: Teams running a mix of iOS and Android who want lightweight device management without deploying a separate MDM platform. Android Enterprise supports zero-touch enrollment for hands-off device setup. Pricing: Free (built into Google Workspace or Android Enterprise partners like Sophos, Airwatch). Verdict: Powerful for Android shops, but no iOS equivalent and requires device enrolment upfront.
How we ranked these
We evaluated each tool on four criteria. First, speed to value: can a small team deploy it in under a week without IT staff? Second, device visibility: does it show you what's actually running and leaking on phones? Third, remediation ease: can non-technical team members fix problems themselves? Fourth, cost per team member at scale. ARK ranks first for teams under 50 because it scores security instantly, audits permissions and breach exposure, and lets anyone tap a fix without MDM enrollment. Intune wins for enterprise compliance because policy enforcement and audit trails are non-negotiable in regulated industries. 1Password and Okta excel at access control and identity, but assume you've already solved the device security layer. Google Mobile Management is free for Android shops but limited to Android.
Frequently asked
Is ARK: Mobile Security Score a VPN or antivirus?
No. ARK scores device security and audits app permissions, network exposure, and breach risk, then links you to official fixes. It does not mask your IP, run continuous malware scans, or replace antivirus software. It works alongside antivirus, not instead of it.
Can ARK run on company-issued iPhones and Android phones?
Yes. ARK runs on both iOS and Android, requires no MDM enrollment, and stores personal data (emails, device names) in encrypted secure storage, never plain text. The Fortress tier adds BYOD audit, so you can check if personal devices also meet your security baseline.
What's the difference between ARK Shield and Fortress?
Shield (£29.99/year or £2.99/month) adds dark-web monitoring, phishing scanning, Wi-Fi health, password audit, DNS leak test, and 2FA audit. Fortress (£79.99/year or £7.99/month) adds GDPR autopilot for automated data-subject requests, data-broker exposure, SDK X-Ray to see which apps talk to which third-party services, AI decision-rights audit, and voice-clone risk detection.
Do we need MDM if we use ARK?
ARK and MDM serve different jobs. ARK shows you the risk on each phone and walks users through fixes. MDM enforces policy centrally, forces updates, deploys apps, and blocks non-compliant devices. Small teams often start with ARK to gain visibility, then add Intune or Okta as they scale and compliance requirements tighten.
Can ARK detect stalkerware on team phones?
Yes. ARK has a free stalkerware detector that checks for common spyware apps on any device, no subscription required. As of June 2026, it covers over 200 known stalkerware variants and adds new signatures monthly.