Sign up or login to join the discussions!
Andrew Cunningham - Jun 18, 2012 8:45 pm UTC
When Samsung's new Galaxy S III begins shipping in the US later this summer, it will join the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab 7.7 in featuring the company's SAFE certification. SAFE, which stands for Samsung Approved For Enterprise, is an initiative that aims to make Samsung devices sold on all carriers compliant with mobile device management (MDM) tools used in enterprises.
SAFE-certified devices offer a number of security-related assurances to business users and IT administrators wary of the bring-your-own-device phenomenon. These precautions include: 256-bit full-device encryption; the ability to control app store access and push or remove apps; the ability to track, lock, and wipe phones; and the ability to enforce password requirements and other settings.
Managing Android devices can be difficult because of software changes made by handset manufacturers and cellular carriers. But SAFE-compliant phones and tablets offer a decent security baseline, and Samsung's status as the largest player in the Android phone market means that SAFE-certified devices should become more common in businesses as time goes on. "We know the demand for Android is there, and workers want to bring them to work," Samsung's Timothy Wagner told Computerworld. "With SAFE, the IT compliance issue should go down."
SAFE-certified or not, businesses won't be able to take advantage of these features without running MDM software—these settings can't be applied or managed without it. Samsung's SAFE information page lists AirWatch, Juniper Networks, MobileIron, SOTI, and Sybase as the MDM providers with which the company has worked most closely.
You must login or create an account to comment.
Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox.
CNMN Collection WIRED Media Group © 2022 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Ars Technica Addendum (effective 8/21/2018). Ars may earn compensation on sales from links on this site. Read our affiliate link policy. Your California Privacy Rights | Do Not Sell My Personal Information The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices