Security specialist Symantec is building up its mobile security portfolio in a major way to address the growing trend of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives, including secure mobile email deployments and device management, application management and threat-protection capabilities, as businesses seek to protect themselves from a growing number of threats stemming from mobile devices.
Among the releases is Mobile Security for Android, which monitors and analyzes millions of Android apps, and uses Symantecs anti-malware-detection technology from Norton Mobile Security and is supported by Symantecs Global Intelligence Network. In addition, Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) Viewer, already available for Apple iOS, is now out for Android, available for download from the Google Play Marketplace, to provide users with the ability to read encrypted emails on Android devices.
Symantec now offers three deployment options for mobile-device management (MDM), a stand-alone MDM solution, an integrated MDM with Altiris IT Management Suite from Symantec and an integrated MDM for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, which follows the completed integration of Odyssey Software, the former Odyssey Athena product, which is now Symantec Mobile Management for Configuration Manager.
When leveraged correctly, mobile technologies in the form of applications, smartphones and tablets can give [a] business a competitive edge over less-connected peers. IT professionals are under enormous pressure to develop a comprehensive approach to mobility that realizes its business, financial and operational benefits while still protecting the organization from security, legal and compliance risks,” Christian Kane, Forrester research analyst, noted in a May 2012 report on mobile security.
The Nukona App Center from Symantec, which provides secure application and content management for iOS and Android devices, now supports apps created with third-party app frameworks, such as Appcelerator and PhoneGap. The center also offers the ability to secure apps and data on iOS devices with FIPS 140-2 certified encryption, designed for iOS device usage in government and other regulated industries, such as the financial and health care sectors where BYOD adoption is growing.
As part of the next stage of their BYOD initiatives, companies worldwide are telling us that theyre looking to increase their adoption of Android devices. We are bringing together a comprehensive set of security and management solutions for this leading platform, Anil Chakravarthy, senior vice president of Symantecs enterprise security group said in a press statement. With the recent additions to our portfolio of mobile-device management and application/data management products, Symantec is providing a complete platform to enable CIOs to achieve their mobile vision.