Looking at BYOD from the viewpoint of data matters most. New York’s Mobile Helix is shifting away from train of thought that says security is about managing the device, and has instead produced a platform that will enable applications – no matter how they’re coded – to run securely no matter where they are accessed.
The product is called “Link”, and Mobile Helix says it offers enterprise managers a open HTML5 app development and delivery platform that will unlock productivity while protecting what matters most – data. While the idea is a great one, it will be a while before those claims can be proven conclusively.
Link bridges the gap between fixed devices (desktops) and mobile devices (tables, phones, laptops) by allowing existing or newly created apps to be deployed and accessed by anyone, anywhere, no matter what they’re using. Currently, Link is available for Android and iOS, but support for OS X, Blackberry 10, and Windows 8 will arrive before the year is out.
Link creates a common app environment by deploying apps though browsers, which in turn extends existing app development and delivery to mobile devices, while at the same time leaving existing access untouched for the most part. Employees can access what they need to, securely, on any device they may have with them.
Link is a data centric solution rather than a device centric solution like most mobile device management (MDM) solutions. As the company explains, the difference is that MDM solutions focus on leveraging the capabilities of the device OS to set policies, provision settings, and deliver native apps, while Link provides the same security, user experience, and apps consistently across any device and any device OS.
When it comes to the nuts and bolts, Link includes a secure container on the device, with device-independent encryption (AES-256) of all data in motion and at rest. This is backed by key management architecture, and a comprehensive policy engine that allows IT to enforce policies on applications and data rather than on devices.
The company also says Link protects enterprise data even when a mobile device is compromised or jailbroken.
“For employees to be effective in their roles, critical enterprise data and applications must flow unrestricted across devices and networks… Contrary to popular opinion, mobile operating systems aren’t necessarily less secure than PC operating systems. A tablet or smartphone with the right data security posture can be as, if not more, secure than a typical corporate laptop,” Maribel Lopez, Founder and Principal Analyst of Lopez Research explains.
Pricing is said to be straight forward, running $90 per-user monthly. Additional details are here.