V3.co.uk

Samsung takes on RIM with Safe software tools for business use

Firm promises enterprise-grade security for Android devices

Samsung Galaxy S3 lock screen
0 Comments

Samsung has announced the launch of its Safe for Enterprise (Safe) platform of tools that are designed to allow enterprise customers to deploy its Android devices securely to workers.

The move marks a clear challenge to Research in Motion's (RIM) position as a dedicated business provider of smartphones, with the tools from Samsung focusing on key corporate concerns such as email and data security, encryption and mobile device management policies.

The services are being rolled out in Europe first, ahead of a wider global launch the firm confirmed in a blog post, explaining the offering is based on three key central tools: Safe Platform, Safe Partner Program and Safe Quality Assurance.

"Safe smartphones and tablets provide stronger security on the device level to corporate employees using IT policy management through Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) and on device encryption (ODE)," it said.

"In addition, it provides the most extensive Software Development Kit (SDK) to Solution Partners, which allows them to develop differentiated solutions on Samsung devices."

The Safe Partner Program allows recognised partners to offer tools such as virtual private network (VPN) access or mobile device management (MDM) systems specifically for Samsung's Android devices.

Finally, Safe Quality Assurance offering sees Samsung offering consulting services to help customers evaluate the security of the devices and software firms are considering deploying.

"Samsung provides in-house reviews of partner's solutions based on Safe Program standards. That helps corporate IT departments to easily select devices that meet the reliability standards established by Samsung," it said on the blog.

The wider push of its Safe programme comes after the firm announced a dedicated enterprise version of its hugely popular Galaxy S3 device earlier this summer, which was available in the US offering AES-256 bit encryption, and VPN and MDM services.

V3 Latest