At the on-going BlackBerry Enterprise Event in San Francisco, BlackBerry has announced a strategic partnership with Samsung to provide improved security solution for Android-based devices through Samsung's KNOX and BES12. Launching early next year, enterprise customers can have access to Samsung's Android smartphones and tablet offerings with a tightly integrated end-to-end security solution. BES12 (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) will not only integrate newer encryption standards into Samsung KNOX, it will also add features to deal with unique security challenges on Android, including a way to protect data from malware. This partnership acts as a part of Samsung's larger push to bring security on its devices up to the standards, which are required by certain enterprise and government agencies. To BlackBerry, its a chance to attract more customers towards its newly launched BES12 data security solution.
Injong Rhee, Senior Vice President of KNOX Business Group at Samsung Electronics, said, “We share the goal to provide enterprises with the most secure mobility solutions through this partnership with BlackBerry. Samsung KNOX is focused on delivering secure mobility solutions to enterprises and, combined with BES12, we will offer more options for customers that need enhanced levels of security on Android devices.“
Earlier this year, Samsung KNOX was approved by US Department of Defence and UK government. Last month, US government cleared KNOX-equipped Galaxy devices for classified use. After some serious vulnerabilities were found in KNOX last year, Samsung has been constantly trying to improve device and data security on its smartphones and tablets. It introduced fingerprint sensor in various smartphones and tablets including the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4, the Galaxy Alpha, and the Galaxy Tab series. Samsung is also working on bringing fingerprint sensor and other security methods to even its low-end mobile devices. Samsung also worked with Google to integrate KNOX into the recently released Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Waterloo, ON– BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, today announced a strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to provide a highly secure mobility solution for Android™. As a result, early next year, enterprise customers will have a new choice: a tightly integrated, end-to-end secure solution that brings together BES12™: a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry® with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets that are embedded with Samsung KNOX.
“BlackBerry and Samsung's creation of an integrated enterprise solution for Android makes sense,” said Bloomberg Head of Enterprise Mobility, Chris Behringer. “Security is a top priority for us, and this combined offering provides a new versatile option to the marketplace.”
With KNOX, Samsung has created a set of Android devices capable of safeguarding enterprise data with multiple layers of hardware- and software- based protection. BlackBerry brings to the partnership a class-leading cross-platform enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution and a highly secure network infrastructure. Working together, the companies can now offer enterprises with a new and highly secure mobility option.
Options are critical for organizations looking to meet all their business and security needs. A global study released today[1] found that 76 percent of people in regulated industries say that the risk of legal liability and costly lawsuits will increase unless organizations make a concerted effort to adopt a comprehensive enterprise mobility management strategy.
“We share the goal to provide enterprises with the most secure mobility solutions through this partnership with BlackBerry,” said Injong Rhee, Senior Vice President of KNOX Business Group, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung KNOX is focused on delivering secure mobility solutions to enterprises and, combined with BES12, we will offer more options for customers that need enhanced levels of security on Android devices.”
“BlackBerry has developed a very close partnership with Samsung and we're committed to deepening the interaction between our engineering and product development teams for the long-term,” said John Sims, President of Global Enterprise Services, BlackBerry. “It is a natural progression in our path to providing our customers with more alternatives to meet their evolving mobile needs. Samsung KNOX offers a number of hardware and software security features and our partnership allows us to tightly integrate these capabilities with BES12.”
With BES12 and Samsung KNOX, customers can take advantage of the following benefits:
An integrated solution that brings together the secure connectivity and class-leading device, applications and data management capabilities BlackBerry is known for together with the security features embedded in Samsung Galaxy devices. Android security enhancements that reduce threats that bypass application security mechanisms while minimizing damage from flawed applications. Complete separation of business and personal data for uncompromised corporate security and employee privacy. A series of core security enhancements to better protect device integrity from kernel to apps. Enhanced user experience Workspace for a more flexible approach for enterprise deployment. Availability is expected in early 2015. Samsung will resell BES12 to joint customers and BlackBerry will offer KNOX support as part of the Gold family of BES12 subscriptions. Pricing will be announced upon availability.
The ability to manage Samsung Galaxy devices with KNOX embedded is just one of the many features included in BES12. To learn more about BES12, visit www.BlackBerry.com/bes12.
About BlackBerry
A global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols “BB” on the Toronto Stock Exchange and “BBRY” on the NASDAQ. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
