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1How Android for Work Will Help Google Enter More Corporate Doors
2A Single Android Device Can Be Used at Home or Office
3The Platform Works on Smartphones and Tablets
Google was quick to point out that Android for Work can be used on both smartphones and tablets. Historically, most mobile device management platforms worked on just smartphones until the iPad changed that forever. Now, a service that doesn’t run on both device types is dead in the water. Google knows it and has ensured that the service can run on handsets and slates.
4Android for Work Provides a Mobile Device Management Console
Android for Work provides a console that will enable IT managers to remotely manage devices from a single location. The console is a full mobile device management platform, allowing IT administrators to locate devices, switch on and off access to business apps, and automatically deploy software updates as needed.
5There Is a Modified Google Play Store for Business
6The Basis Is BYOD
Google is attempting to address the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) craze with Android for Work. Google saw BYOD becoming a cause for concern among some CIOs and realized that companies were increasingly allowing personal devices in the office. With Android for Work, Google is trying to make it easier on those CIOs to allow Android into the workplace by giving them more control and security.
7Mobile Device Management Works Locally and Abroad
Once installed, Android for Work provides administrative controls of the work features of a mobile device regardless of where it is. Even if an employee is on vacation halfway around the world and somehow loses a smartphone, the user can call the IT department to remotely lock or wipe out data stored on the device. This is mainly due to the partnerships Google has formed with carriers, ensuring that remote control is available on nearly every major network.
8Security Is the Supreme Concern of Android for Work
Google has pressed hard for companies to find devices that come with enhanced on-device security, but it has also strengthened Android on the software side. There’s automatic encryption, the ability to set data-leakage prevention policies and software features that require extra credentials to access certain apps. Think of Android for Work as a standard Android installation with a bevy of extra security features tossed in for good measure.
9Don’t Forget About the VPN Partnership
Giving company employees remote access to the network can be a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it’s an important feature for enhancing productivity, but without the right security, it can wreak havoc on a company. To address that, Google inked deals with several companies, including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks and F5 Networks, to integrate support for their virtual private networks directly into Android for Work. Depending on the platform of choice, employees can get security network access through Android for Work.
10Google Promotes the Use of Extra-Secure Devices
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Silent Circle’s Blackphone 2 are among the devices that Google says are ideal for those companies that want high-level device security. Google argues that those handsets’ on-device encryption and other security features make them the most secure Android for Work devices. However, Android models support the platform, including the Google Nexus 6, Sony’s Xperia line and more.
11The Software Experience Won’t Change for End Users
Android users who haven’t tried Android for Work will quickly find that they feel right at home with the platform. Google has designed its enhanced features to look and behave like any other Android installation. Again, that’s an important factor. If Android for Work created a different environment that prompted a learning curve, Google would have a hard time selling companies on the solution if competing offerings, like Apple’s own MDM, create a uniform experience.