As you know, enterprise network security has undergone significant evolution over the past decade. Firewalls have become more intelligent, threat detection methods have advanced, and access controls are now more detailed. However (and it’s a big “however”), the increasing use of mobile devices in business operations necessitates network security measures that are specifically tailored to their unique operating patterns.
Yes, enterprises have invested heavily in robust network security such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and threat intelligence platforms. And yes, these controls work exceptionally well for traditional endpoints—but mobile devices operate differently! They connect to corporate Wi-Fi and public networks interchangeably. They run dozens of apps with varying trust levels. They process sensitive data in coffee shops, airports, and home offices.
The challenge isn’t that organizations lack security—it’s that mobile devices need security controls that adapt to their unique usage patterns.
Samsung Knox is specifically designed to address this reality. Let’s find out how.
Samsung Knox Firewall offers granular control
Change my mind: Most mobile firewalls are blunt instruments. Traffic is either allowed or blocked, with little visibility into what’s happening—or why. That makes it hard to enforce meaningful policies or investigate issues when something goes wrong.
Knox Firewall takes a more precise approach. It gives IT admins granular, per-app network controls and the transparency security teams expect.
Instead of defaulting to “allow all” or “block everything,” rules are tailored to individual applications. A confidential document viewer can be restricted to specific IP addresses. Collaboration tools can be limited to approved domains. Each app gets network access based on its risk profile—not lumped in with everything else on the device.
I think visibility is where this layer really stands out. When a user attempts to access a blocked domain, Knox Firewall logs the event with detailed context, including:
- the app package name
- the blocked domain/IP
- a timestamp
For threat hunting and incident response, this level of insight can shrink investigations from days to hours!
Knox Firewall also supports IPv4 and IPv6 filtering, domain and sub-domain controls, and both per-app and device-wide modes. Because it’s built into the device architecture, it avoids the performance overhead and deployment complexity common with third-party firewalls.
Key takeaway: Knox Firewall gives IT teams granular control and complete visibility, turning a “block or allow” firewall into a proactive, investigative tool.
Zero Trust Network Access that works alongside your VPN
Perimeter security isn’t enough anymore. Access decisions need to consider device health, user identity, and context—and they need to do it continuously, not just at login.
That’s where the Samsung Knox Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) framework comes in. It supports Zero Trust principles while working alongside your existing VPN investments, not replacing them.
By using host-based micro-segmentation, the Samsung Knox ZTNA framework isolates network traffic by app and domain. The result? A smaller attack surface and far less room for lateral movement if a device or app is compromised.
Key features include:
- split DNS tunneling to balance security and performance
- context-rich metadata (such as app package name, signature, version) to enable precise access policies
- dynamic policy evaluation at access time based on device and application context
- privacy-aware traffic handling that respects enterprise and user boundaries
Most importantly, the Samsung Knox ZTNA framework is built for real-world environments. It works alongside the VPN and mobile threat defense tools organizations already use—no rip-and-replace required!
For organizations with existing VPN infrastructure, the Samsung Knox ZTNA framework enables a gradual migration path. That’s Zero Trust in practice—precise access control, reduced attack surface, and the flexibility to evolve security architecture at your own pace.
Key takeaway: The Samsung Knox ZTNA framework brings practical Zero Trust to life, working with the tools teams already trust while locking down mobile access.
The integration advantage
Samsung Knox isn’t just a collection of tools—it’s a system. Threat signals flow across the device, adapting protections in real time. A phishing alert? That can trigger new firewall rules or even a hardware-backed lockdown. Device health, user context, and threat intelligence all work together—Zero Trust, in practice, not just on paper.
Because Samsung Knox is built into Samsung Galaxy devices, you skip the chaos of multiple agents, vendors, and integrations. SOC 2 certified, GDPR-ready, and fully compatible with leading MDM, UEM, and SIEM platforms—it just works.
Mobile devices aren’t endpoints anymore—they’re entry points. And if your network security doesn’t protect them, it’s not just incomplete. It’s useless.
Note: This article was written by Lee Radix.
