Mobile Security Featured Article

New Zealand Police Use AirWatch Mobile Device Management

Mobile device management (MDM) is not a concept just for the enterprise. Public services, particularly ones whose focus is on safety and security, can benefit greatly from MDM, especially when it’s for a large fleet of devices and workers.

In New Zealand, MDM has played an important role for police officers, as mobile deployment has become an integral tool in productivity and mobility. Along with Vodafone (News - Alert), MDM provider AirWatch has worked with New Zealand IT administrators to support mobile deployment and change how officers do their job.

"We believe greater use of modern technology is the way of the future; it's common sense, and will ensure officers can remain on the frontline rather than returning to stations to complete paperwork,” said Police Commissioner Peter Marshall in a statement.

“Providing the software for the New Zealand Police demonstrates our commitment to innovation and security resources for some of the largest and most secure-conscious organizations in the world,” said Rob Roe, managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Airwatch in a statement. “Our partnership with Vodafone allows the New Zealand Police to empower their staff with the efficiency and productivity tools that mobility offers.”

AirWatch’s (News - Alert) MDM solution targets large-scale deployments, like that of the New Zealand police force. With one solution, IT administrators can enforce security policies and compliance, secure mobile access to corporate resources, and remotely lock and wipe managed devices. This works for Android, Apple (News - Alert), BlackBerry, Mac OS X, Symbian, and Windows devices.

For the New Zealand police force, this means easier access to information in a more timely manner.

"We are taking this seriously - districts are held to account in ensuring freed-up time is reinvested into tactics focused on prevention to reduce crime and prosecutions. Our long term vision is for frontline officers to be empowered, informed, tech-savvy, visible and safe in the community preventing crime, and not in stations filling in forms,” said Marshall.

The primary benefit of mobile device management is having a unified, secure mobile network for any one organization. For officers in New Zealand, this has translated into efficient and effective evaluation methods, saving thirty minutes or more per officer per shift.