Skip to content

Device synchronization

Devices synchronize with the Sophos Mobile server at regular intervals, which depend on the device type.

There are three types of synchronization:

  • Regular synchronization at a fixed interval, typically every 24 hours.
  • Synchronization when specific events occur, for example when Sophos Intercept X for Mobile identifies a threat.
  • Manual synchronization started by the user or the administrator.

See the sections below for details on regular synchronization.

Note

Every synchronization restarts the synchronization interval. Suppose the synchronization interval is 24 hours, and the next scheduled synchronization is at 11 PM. If you start a synchronization at 3 PM, the next scheduled synchronization will be at 3 PM the next day.

Android devices

Android devices on which Sophos Mobile manages Sophos Mobile Control synchronize as follows:

  • Server-initiated: At the interval you set in the Maximum interval between synchronizations compliance rule, the server sends a synchronization request to the device. If you don’t set a value, the interval is 24 hours.
  • Device-initiated: To make sure devices synchronize even if they don’t receive notifications, they also synchronize at the interval you set on the Android tab of the Google setup page. See Set synchronization interval (Android).

Android devices on which Sophos Mobile manages Sophos Intercept X for Mobile synchronize at the interval you set in the Maximum interval between Intercept X for Mobile synchronizations compliance rule.

iPhones and iPads

iPhones and iPads on which Sophos Mobile manages Sophos Mobile Control synchronize at the interval you set in the Maximum interval between SMC synchronizations compliance rule. If you don’t set a value, the interval is 24 hours.

iPhones and iPads on which Sophos Mobile manages Sophos Intercept X for Mobile synchronize at the interval you set in the Maximum interval between Intercept X for Mobile synchronizations compliance rule.

iPhones and iPads that don’t have a Sophos Mobile app installed synchronize at the interval you set in the Maximum interval between synchronizations compliance rule. If you don’t set a value, the interval is 24 hours.

Macs

Macs synchronize every 24 hours.

Windows computers

Windows computers synchronize as follows:

  • Server-initiated: At the interval you set in the Maximum interval between synchronizations compliance rule, the server sends a synchronization request to the device. If you don’t set a value, the interval is 24 hours.
  • Device-initiated: To make sure devices synchronize even if they don’t receive notifications, they also synchronize at the interval you set on the MDM polling interval tab of the Microsoft setup page. See Set synchronization interval (Windows).

    Changing the MDM polling interval value doesn’t affect devices that are already enrolled.

Chrome devices

Chrome devices synchronize as follows:

  • Server-initiated: At the interval you set in the Maximum interval between synchronizations compliance rule, the server sends a synchronization request to the device.
  • Device-initiated: To make sure devices synchronize even if they don’t receive notifications, they also synchronize at the interval you set on the Chrome OS tab of the Google setup page. See Set synchronization interval (Chrome OS).