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Data protection and identity services specialist Centrify announced that it is delivering on its partnership with Samsung made earlier this year by enabling the latest Knox-enabled models of Samsung’s Galaxy S4, Note 3 and Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) devices with its Active Directory integration, mobile application Zero Sign-On, and Knox container and device management capabilities.
Knox retains full compatibility with Android and the Google ecosystem while incorporating security and management enhancements, including container technology that with one-click securely separates personal data on the device from corporate data and apps. Centrify and Samsung Knox are attempting to address one of the key concerns regarding the BYOD phenomena—how users separate work and personal spaces on mobile devices.
Accessible through an icon on the home screen, the Knox container presents to users a variety of enterprise applications (including email, browser, contacts, calendars, file-sharing, collaboration, CRM and business intelligence apps) in a secure environment. The platform enables existing Android ecosystem applications to automatically gain enterprise integration and validated security with zero change to the application source code.
“With Centrify’s expertise in integrating Active Directory with data center, cloud and mobile resources, Samsung and Centrify are uniquely delivering an ‘out-of-the-box’ mobile authentication and device management solution that is frictionless for our Samsung GALAXY users,” Dr. Injong Rhee, senior vice president of Samsung’s Knox Business Group, IT and mobile communications division, said in a statement.
Any organization with Knox-licensed devices is eligible for the solution and can sign up through Centrify’s Website to start their no-cost cloud subscription service. The Centrify for Samsung Knox app is also available on the Google Play store and at the Knox app store. Centrify is also announcing a new agreement which enables the company to resell Samsung Knox licenses. IT administrators can activate Knox on a variety of Samsung devices by contacting Centrify to arrange a trial or purchase licenses.
“Samsung and Centrify solutions together enable enterprise organizations to simply and securely support workforce mobility. Samsung understands that security and management play an important role in meeting the needs of enterprise mobility,” Rhee said. “The announcement of Centrify for Samsung Knox addresses this important requirement and enables Samsung to provide a complete enterprise mobility management solution.”
To deploy Knox, IT administrators will need these licenses and a Knox approved mobile device management (MDM) service such as Centrify for the platform. A company release noted the Knox licensing model is flexible to meet the needs of enterprise customers and is available as a subscription fee per device that includes support.