Android hasn't been getting the most positive press as of late, as there have been heightened complaints of malware versus other operating systems, but the company may soon be winning the favor of IT professionals looking for mobile device management and positive BYOD (Bring your own Device) features. According to a recent blog post by Heman Khanna, software engineer for Google Apps for Business, organizations of all sizes will now be able to manage their smartphones and tablets through the Google Apps Admin console, eliminating the need for special software.
Khanna said features included for mobile device management were selective wiping to remove Google Apps account data without restoring an entire device, SD card wipe, a policy reminder and enforcement app and centralized Wi-Fi configuration.
"Admins can manage their domain with the new mobile Admin app. And admins can let employees bring their own devices to work while keeping those devices secure and saving their employees time with Google Apps device management," Khanna said in summary.
FierceMobileIT said many Android hardware partners also have their own security and mobile device management solutions, with one example being Samsung's KNOX which was developed by the National Security Agency. Its containerization model separates business and personal data from these devices, with email, browser, calendars, file sharing and more offered to businesses.
"The growing trend for BYOD has, naturally, introduced a variety of security issues to the enterprise, but the fact remains that businesses embracing this strategy are enjoying significant advantages over competitors, as well as a the benefits that come with a happy workforce," said Simon Stanford, Vice President of IM division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland. "KNOX is the solution, helping businesses to get the right balance between enterprise control and employee satisfaction."
BYOD as a trend has been spreading fairly heavily across businesses, as more than 44 percent of organizations allow BYOD and another 18 percent plan to by the end of 2013, according to a report from TechRepublic.
Teena Hammond, a senior editor at TechRepublic, said of those who have not adopted BYOD, security was the top concern but other, perhaps less obvious, concerns existed as well. Organizations were worried about which device is used by companies, what brand restrictions could be put on each device, how many employees will use the program and service plans. Organizations must have a mobile device management plan for security before making their way into this trend.
Security News from SimplySecurity.com by Trend Micro.