The help for this version of the solution is no longer updated, so it may contain outdated information. For up-to-date information about the solution refer to the Kaspersky Secure Mobility Management 4.1 Help.
Configuring a strong unlock password for an Android device
To keep an Android device secure, you need to configure the use of a password for which the user is prompted when the device comes out of sleep mode.
You can impose restrictions on the user's activity on the device if the unlock password is weak (for example, lock the device). You can impose restrictions using the Compliance Control component. To do this, in the scan rule settings, you must select the Unlock password is not compliant with security requirements criterion.
In the console tree, in the Managed devices folder, select the administration group to which the Android devices belong.
In the workspace of the group, select the Policies tab.
Open the policy properties window by double-clicking any column.
Complete the following steps within 15 minutes. Otherwise, you may face an error when saving changes to the policy.
In the policy Properties window, select the Device Management section.
If you want the app to check whether an unlock password has been set, select the Require to set screen unlock password check box in the Screen lock section.
If the application detects that no system password has been set on the device, it prompts the user to set it. The password is set according to the parameters defined by the administrator.
The minimum number of characters in the user password. Possible values: 4 to 16 characters.
The user's password is 4 characters long by default.
The following is applicable only to personal and work profiles:
In personal profile, Kaspersky Endpoint Security resolves the password strength requirements into one of the system values: medium or high on devices running Android 10 or later.
In work profile, Kaspersky Endpoint Security resolves the password strength requirements into one of the system values: medium or high on devices running Android 12 or later.
The values are determined by the following rules:
If the password length required is 1 to 4 symbols, then the app prompts the user to set a medium-strength password. It must be either numeric (PIN) with no repeating or ordered (e.g. 1234) sequences, or alphabetic/ alphanumeric. The PIN or password must be at least 4 characters long.
If the password length required is 5 or more symbols, then the app prompts the user to set a high-strength password. It must be either numeric (PIN) with no repeating or ordered sequences, or alphabetic/ alphanumeric (password). The PIN must be at least 8 digits long; the password must be at least 6 characters long.
Specifies minimum unlock password requirements. These requirements apply only to new user passwords. The following values are available:
Numeric
The user can set a password that includes numbers or set any stronger password (for instance, alphabetic or alphanumeric).
This option is selected by default.
Alphabetic
The user can set a password that includes letters (or other non-number symbols) or set any stronger password (for instance, alphanumeric).
Alphanumeric
The user can set a password that includes both numbers and letters (or other non-number symbols) or set any stronger complex password.
Not specified
The user can set any password.
Complex
The user must set a complex password according to the specified password properties:
Minimum number of letters
Minimum number of digits
Minimum number of special symbols (for example, !@#$%)
Minimum number of uppercase letters
Minimum number of lowercase letters
Minimum number of non-letter characters (for example, 1^&*9)
Complex numeric
The user can set a password that includes numbers with no repetitions (e.g. 4444) and no ordered sequences (e.g. 1234, 4321, 2468) or set any stronger complex password.
Weak biometric
The user can use biometric unlock methods or set a stronger complex password.
This option applies only to devices running Android 12 or later in device owner mode.
Specifies the maximum number of previous user passwords that can't be used as a new password. This setting will apply only when the user sets new password on the device.
The default value is 0. This means that the new user password can match any previous password except the current one.
This settings applies to devices running all supported Android versions. Starting from Android 10, this setting applies only to the device owner mode.
Specifies the period for unlocking the device without a password. During this period, the user can use biometric methods to unlock the screen. After this period, the user can unlock the screen only with a password.
The default value is 0. This means that the user won't be forced to unlock the device with a password after a certain period.
This option applies only to devices running Android 8 or later in device owner mode.
If the check box is selected, the use of biometric unlock methods on the mobile device is allowed.
If the check box is cleared, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android blocks the use of biometric methods to unlock the screen. The user can unlock the screen only with a password.
This check box is selected by default.
This setting applies only to devices running Android 9.0 or later. Starting from Android 10, this setting applies only to the device owner mode.
This check box does not restrict the use of a fingerprint scanner when signing in to apps or confirming purchases.
If the check box is selected, the use of fingerprints on the mobile device is allowed.
If the check box is cleared, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android blocks the use of fingerprints to unlock the screen. The user can unlock the screen only with a password. In the Android settings, the option to use fingerprints will be unavailable (Android Settings > Security > Screen lock > Fingerprints).
This check box is available only if the Allow biometric unlock methods (Android 9.0 or later; starting from Android 10, only for device owner mode) check box is selected.
This check box is selected by default.
This settings applies to devices running all supported Android versions. Starting from Android 10, this setting applies only to the device owner mode.
If the check box is selected, the use of face scanning on the mobile device is allowed.
If the check box is cleared, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android blocks the use of face scanning to unlock the screen.
This check box is available only if the Allow biometric unlock methods (Android 9.0 or later; starting from Android 10, only for device owner mode) check box is selected.
This check box is selected by default.
This setting applies only to devices running Android 9.0 or later. Starting from Android 10, this setting applies only to the device owner mode.
If the check box is selected, the use of iris scanning on the mobile device is allowed.
If the check box is cleared, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android blocks the use of iris scanning to unlock the screen.
This check box is available only if the Allow biometric unlock methods (Android 9.0 or later; starting from Android 10, only for device owner mode) check box is selected.
This check box is selected by default.
This setting applies only to devices running Android 9.0 or later. Starting from Android 10, this setting applies only to the device owner mode.
If the check box is selected, the device starts up and loads system processes and background apps before prompting the user to enter the unlock password.
Once this option is applied, it cannot be reverted without resetting the device to factory defaults.
If the check box is cleared, the startup requirements remain unchanged.
This option lets you set the password on the user device.
On devices running Android 7–10 inclusive, this option applies to personal devices on which no password is set.
On devices running Android 11 or later, this option applies only if the device is in device owner mode.
Once you save the policy, this option applies to the device by sending a command with the specified password. The input is cleared and the specified password is not saved in Administration Console.
If the device is not protected with the password or is running Android 10 or earlier, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android sets the password immediately.
If the device is running Android 11 or later, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android prompts the user to apply the new password.
If you leave this option empty, no changes are applied to the device.
Click the Apply button to save the changes you have made.
Mobile device settings are configured after the next device synchronization with the Kaspersky Security Center.