Mobile Security Featured Article

AirWatch Provides Device and Application Management Support for Windows Phone 8

With mobile devices and applications flooding the market, mobile device management (MDM) has become an integral aspect of today’s successful enterprise. By optimizing the functionality of mobile devices while controlling and protecting the data for all mobile devices in a network, support costs and business security risks are lowered. MDM is the ability to secure, monitor, manage and support mobile devices – typically involving remote distribution of applications, data and configuration settings for all types of mobile devices.

Today, AirWatch, a global provider of mobile security, MDM, Mobile Application Management (MAM), Mobile Content Management (MCM), Mobile Email Management (MEM) and BYOD management, has introduced device and application management support for Windows Phone (News - Alert) 8.

“Since AirWatch is the global leader in MDM, MAM and MCM, we want to ensure that our customers around the world are able to support their operations with the latest mobile operating systems on the day of release,” Victor Cooper, Global Public Relations, AirWatch (News - Alert), told TMCnet in an exclusive interview. “Additionally, we see a lot of potential for enterprise and educational adoption.”

AirWatch’s solution enables enterprises and public sector organizations to take advantage of the Windows Phone 8 device and application management abilities. Along with support for more features to be revealed soon, AirWatch will support the Windows Phone 8 device and application management features including Company Hubs; Device reporting, configuration and analytics; Over-the-air updates to enterprise applications; Exchange ActiveSync configuration ;Enterprise and full device wipes and; SD card disabling.

The Company Hub provides a central location for IT administrators to push internal application updates, securely connect devices to enterprise networks and send notifications and messages to specific contacts.

“The release of Windows Phone 8 further represents Microsoft’s growing mobile enterprise presence,” said John Marshall (News - Alert), CEO, AirWatch, in a statement. “Now, businesses can maximize existing investments in Microsoft technology and streamline mobile integration into their infrastructures. By leveraging the new capabilities of the platform, mobility is now an extension of the overall framework.”

Now, businesses can maximize their current investments in Microsoft (News - Alert) technology by offering the mobile extension of Windows Phone 8. Since it’s a Microsoft operating system, the integration will be streamlined since Microsoft designed the operating system to be compatible with tablets and desktops.

Currently, AirWatch is the only MDM provider to make this announcement.  “We’ll have to see if other MDM providers are able to move at the AirWatch pace,” explained Cooper. “This is our differentiator – providing support on the day of release, similar to iOS6. It’s a testament to our research and development team.”