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Mobile Security Management Provider AirWatch Helps IT Partner with BYOD

Work with the inevitable trend, not against it. That’s the approach AirWatch (News - Alert) takes with the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend. Apple Computers could not stop consumers from downloading music off file sharing networks, so it built a music download service that was easier than those networks and cheap enough that consumers would part with a little money in exchange for the convenience. AirWatch is doing the same thing with BYOD security.

AirWatch “securely integrates the latest personal devices in the enterprise by supporting the latest mobile technologies, separating and securing corporate resources on personal devices, including corporate email, securing email attachments in a separate container, deploying an app catalogue for enterprise apps, and protecting sensitive documents in a secure content locker application,” summarized the firm on its YouTube video about BYOD.

The trade goes like this: AirWatch makes it easy for an employee to use his or her personal smartphone or tablet in the corporate environment, automatically configuring VPN, Wi-Fi, access to corporate data and specialized software just as if it was a device handed out by corporate IT, but that comes at the cost of opening the personal device to a little corporate management.

Employees can automatically enroll their personal devices with AirWatch using their existing corporate credentials, according to the AirWatch YouTube (News - Alert) video.

“Integrating these credentials with your directory services provisions the device based on the user’s specific role and group membership,” the video noted. “After a compliance check, the device is instantly enabled with secure corporate email, Wi-Fi, VPN and other resources.”

Profiles are installed based on the device type, user role and access level, noted the video. For secure access to enterprise apps, a custom app catalogue is installed on the device where employees can access internal apps, recommended public apps, and purchased apps, separate from personal apps.

To secure corporate data but also give devices access, a secure content locker app is installed on the device as a secure container where employees can access the latest documents and save email attachments. Files are encrypted using 255 bit AES encryption. Granular settings can be applied for file sharing and offline use.

“Once your employees have complete and secure access to the resources they need, simply monitor usage and track compliance from the AirWatch console,” said the video. “ View up-to-date information about an employee’s device from the main dashboard, limit the ability to view personal information about the user, GPS location and apps by setting up privacy policies. And when an employee leaves the company, remove only the corporate data from the device, leaving their personal data intact.”

AirWatch also helps corporations manage telecom costs by alerting users when they reach cellular data plan limits.

“AirWatch allows you to support a BYOD program that meets both the demands of your employees and your enterprise security requirements,” summarized the video.

Might this be the bargain employees have been waiting for, just like they were ready for iTunes when it made its debut?

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