The Android operating system is the most popular mobile OS in the market. However, Android’s popularity could be a headache for IT departments tasks with managing and security the corporate network as handsets running the OS continue to surface in the workplace.
As companies move beyond the initial wave of bring-your-own device they are expanding their use of mobility to create differentiated products and services that enable them to achieve competitive advantage. They are doing so using a mix of mobile devices running on a variety of operating systems.
Mississauga, Ont.-based enterprise mobility management solutions firm SOTI Inc. is helping companies address Android device fragmentation with MobiControl Android+ technology which enables enterprise organizations secure and manage device functionality across a wide spectrum of Android versions.
Android makes up nearly 85 per cent of the global smartphone market share alone.
With the operating system’s versatility in enterprise and dedicated-purpose environments, it is ever more critical to be able to deeply manage Android devices securely as they become more widely used across the front office and back-end systems, according to Carl Rodriguez CEO of SOTI.
SOTI recently announced that it has developed solutions for more than 50 Android mobile device manufacturers including Samsung, LG, Lenovo, Panasonic, Motorola, HTC, BQ, Intermec, Honeywell and Kyocera.
“Whether it’s a consumer smartphone or tablet or even a barcode scanner, businesses implementing mobility as part of their operations can have a management system that offers a consistent level of security in addition to advanced mobility features,” Rodriguez said “We level the playing field, allowing organizations to select the device that works best for their enterprise mobility strategy, regardless of operating system.”
SOTI’s MobiControl Android+ technology enables IT teams to detect and block security threats before entering the enterprise network.
“The ability to enable Android+ from our factory floor provides our customers with access to the secure management of Android devices that SOTI delivers,” said Mark Kirstein, senior director enterprise software, mobile C\computing from Motorola Solutions. “Our customers rely on the ability to inherently trust their devices, and SOTI helps CIOs and IT departments enable, optimize and secure mobility across platforms.”
The solution has adds an additional layer of defense to embedded security mechanisms used by mobile device manufacturers. SOTI also provides advanced management features for Android devices such as: remote control (critical for remote help desk functionality and remote training), lockdown/kiosk mode functionality, web content filtering, geo fencing, and anti-virus protection with multiple remediation options.