Zenprise adds security tools to MobileManager

MobileManager supports several platforms including BlackBerry

Zenprise is extending its mobile device management suite with security capabilities and tools designed to help companies get the best value out of their mobile infrastructure. The firm has also opened offices in the UK to better support European customers.

MobileManager 5.0, available from mid-October, adds two new modules, Security Manager and Expense Manager, to the existing Service Manager and Device Manager modules supported in version 4.5.

The two new modules are designed to give IT departments greater visibility and control over the devices being used in their company, leaving them to spend more time mobilising the business, according to Zenprise.

"We are now starting to see more and more folks port some parts of their business to mobile devices, so we provide a single solution that has all these capabilities across multiple platforms," said Ahmed Datoo, vice president of marketing at Zenprise.

Security Manager allows administrators to see which devices are connecting to the mobile network, and generate a report.

"This is necessary because Exchange Server is enabled for wireless access by default, so it is easy for a user to just buy a smartphone and enter their credentials to start getting their corporate email on the device," explained Datoo.

Security Manager can also identify software running on every handset, enabling administrators to identify those carrying malware. It does not currently have the ability to remove rogue applications, a feature that Datoo said is coming in the future, but just being able to identify those handsets with a problem can save the IT department weeks, he claimed.

Administrators can also enforce policies requiring a password on devices, and remotely wipe or lock a device if it is lost or stolen. A self-help portal enables end users to wipe or lock their own device themselves.

Expense Manager, meanwhile, is designed to help customers avoid overspending on wireless communications. The tool can identify devices that are not being used and cancel their network access, and identify the carrier that workers are using.

"Lots of organisations are moving to supporting user-owned devices, so the IT department may not know which carrier they are using," said Datoo.

If many users turn out to be on the same network, the company can negotiate a corporate data plan to save costs, he added.

"You can also look at utilisation and see when workers tend to use their device, and whether a different plan might be more appropriate," he said.

MobileManager 5.0 supports Apple's iPhone, RIM's BlackBerry devices, Palm's traditional Palm OS and the new WebOS, and Windows Mobile handsets.

Pricing and the licensing structure for the new version are not yet finalised, and will be announced closer to the launch, according to Datoo.