Mobileiron extends its Appconnect framework to the Android for Work platform so developers can use Appconnect-enabled apps in the secure working environment of the Android for Work app, and provides new resources to protect apps, the network, and data in the cloud.
Android for Work , a Google-introduced method for securing enterprise apps on Android, works in conjunction with an EMM platform, such as Mobileiron, to separate enterprise and private data. On Android 5.0, the combination of Mobileiron and Android for Work makes it possible to install and run Android apps in a safe work environment on the device, without the need to change these apps. Because the security controls were at the operating system level, they could be applied to all apps running on this operating system.
Containerisation for a safe working environment
Devices running the earlier Android versions 4.0 and 4.4 do not have the security controls of Android for Work at the operating system level. Google provides the Android for Work app for these companies . This app creates a safe work environment where other corporate apps can be installed and protected from unauthorized access. However, this is not possible without changes to the respective app. This is where Appconnect from Mobileiron comes into play.
Mobileiron Appconnect containerizes apps to protect stored corporate data without touching personal information. The data of such a containerized app are encrypted. The access to apps and data as well as the execution of operations, eg delete operations, is only possible with an appropriate authorization. By extending Mobileiron Appconnect to Android for Work, developers could now use all Appconnect-enabled apps in the secure work environment of the Android for Work app. With Appconnect already having a large ecosystem of third-party and in-house apps using this framework, this extension will increase the number of apps Android for Work can back up on existing Android devices.Resources for more transparency, protection and control
To protect data in apps, the network, and the cloud , the Visualiron, Visualization, Tunnel, and Key Manager Mobileiron resources should:
Mobileiron Visual Privacy is intended to provide employees with insight into what data the employer can view and what actions the employer company can take on the device.
Mobileiron Tunnel can use an App VPN to secure traffic to corporate apps without capturing traffic from personally-used apps. Mobileiron plans to extend Mobileiron Tunnel from iOS to Windows Phone and Android.
Mobileiron Key Manager could enable organizations to deploy their own hardware security modules to securely store the digital key used by Mobileiron Content Security Service (CSS). CSS support is to be extended to Google Drive.
