Kaspersky MDM 'Knox' on Samsung Devices

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When it’s not blowing the lid off sophisticated cyber-spying malware that is capable of borrowing into a hard drive’s firmware, Kaspersky Lab also runs a business providing security software for businesses.

In the newest release of the company’s flagship enterprise offering, dubbed Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Service Pack 1 (SP1), the company continues to blur the line between traditional security software and mobile device management (MDM). Kaspersky isn’t the only anti-malware firm to blend security and MDM.

Sensing an opportunity in the growth of the “bring your own device” (BYOD) movement and subsequent market for enterprise mobility solutions, makers of anti-malware solutions for PCs and server have turned their attention to managing and securing smartphones, tablets and their users. In recent years, companies including Trend Micro, Sophos and Comodo have extended their security platforms into the MDM space.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business SP1 now provides centrally-managed support for a growing number of native MDM extensions. Using a single interface, IT user and security administrators can now manage and monitor devices enrolled via Samsung Knox 2.0, Microsoft Exchange Active Sync and Apple own MDM technology.

Samsung and Kaspersky have worked together to improve device manageability and tighten security on Galaxy smartphones and tablets, the Korean consumer electronics giant’s popular line of Android-based mobile devices. The software “now includes advanced management options for Samsung mobile devices via integration with Samsung SDK and support for Samsung KNOX 2.0, including firewall settings, Exchange mail server settings, APN / VPN configuration and many others,” said Kaspersky Lab in a statement.

The new software also helps end users assume some of the responsibility for safeguarding their devices, and more importantly, the sensitive data that resides on them.

New self-service capabilities include downloading Kaspersky’s security app and remotely wiping a device, alleviating the strain of managing devices, at least for IT departments, according to the company. “The personal login and password used to access the Self Service Portal allows users to register their device on the corporate network with just a few clicks,” the company informed.

“The necessary keys and certificates are distributed automatically via the portal. If the device is lost or stolen, the user can easily locate it, block and/or remove valuable data,” continued the company.

The new capability can help otherwise narrow the window between the time a device is first discovered to be lost or stolen and the related IT ticket is finally resolved. In addition, the company integrated its MDM tools into its Kaspersky Security Center Web Console for remote management of employee devices.

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.