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Cloud-based enterprise security manager Okta, one of the fastest-rising new-gen companies of its kind, now is not only protecting Google Apps, Android devices and Chromebooks but also providing enterprise management for them.
On May 26, the San Francisco-based company announced new functionality for Google products, enabling users to centrally manage and maintain single-identity profiles for any user across any combination of applications and devices. This includes enhanced provisioning capabilities for Google Apps, as well as support for Android devices and the first-ever integrated Chromebook password sync.
Okta now secures Google for Work—on Google Apps, Chromebooks and Android devices—so users can access and use their regular tools through their secure Okta accounts and not have to worry about data breaches.
Okta has had a long and successful relationship with Google. The company recently tallied its 50 millionth login to Google Apps and revealed that more than 65 percent of customers with Google Apps use Okta to provision the collaboration suite across their organizations. Google Apps is one of the top provisioning-enabled apps of the 4,000-plus in the Okta Application Network used by more than 2,000 enterprises and millions of users globally.
“You can think of Okta as providing the best security and management for a Google for Work environment,” Okta Chief Product Officer Eric Berg told eWEEK.
Key Okta additions include:
—Enhanced provisioning, using Okta’s Universal Directory: Okta has fully exposed the capability of its Universal Directory. Administrators can now automatically create, update and delete extensive user profiles with unlimited attributes in Google Apps from the same console used to manage all other apps and devices. This replaces the need to install and maintain the Google Apps Directory Sync tool and allow customers to leverage Okta to securely synchronize data with Active Directory (AD) or an LDAP directory server to Google and all of their other applications.
—Stronger enterprise support for Android: As more companies move to Android devices, Okta has broadened its support and all enterprise-related features that Google adds to the platform. Okta Mobility Management leverages the OS-level capabilities to provide a single interface from which IT can manage users, devices, and access to web and mobile applications. Managers using Okta to combine identity, strong authentication and device management can onboard employees faster, streamline IT workflows and enable employees to work securely from anywhere.
—Chromebook users can now log in to their personal computers with their Okta account and access business applications offline. In doing so, Okta empowers companies to enable secure mobile workforces whether they are online or off.
To learn more about Okta’s support for Google for Work, go here or here.