AirWatch Forms Mobile Security Alliance to Protect Customers

To help meet the growing concerns over enterprise mobile device security, AirWatch launched its Mobile Security Alliance this week during AirWatch Connect to help customers eliminate potential weaknesses in their mobile device management policies.

The alliance currently consists of 10 founding members, all of which have pledged to help educate AirWatch customers on various ways to protect their enterprise mobile networks. AirWatch said its alliance members will help customers to simplify their administration and teach security best practices so mobile workers can operate safely in their enterprise environments.

“Our customers are making strategic investments in mobility and want to protect their devices, apps and networks end-to-end,” said Noah Wasmer, vice president of Product Management and chief technology officer of End-User Computing at VMware, in a statement. “In the increasingly complicated realm of mobile security, this alliance provides flexibility while enabling simplified deployment and implementation of security solutions.”

Charter members of the Mobile Security Alliance include Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Check Point, FireEye, Appthority, Lookout, Pradeo, Proofpoint, Skycure, Veracode and Zimperium. Each company has agreed to monitor and report detected malicious behaviors to AirWatch so it can push compliance actions out to users.

The Mobile Security Alliance is broken down into three categories, including solutions tailored for device, application and network-focused protection.

The device category will include solutions for securing against malware, viruses and other suspicious device behavior, according to the announcement. The application and networking categories will focus on solutions to protect public and private applications and those that provide deep analysis and remediation for traffic through networks, respectively.

AirWatch said users will have access to all of the MSA threat intelligence apps through a central console, with no configuration or interaction necessary on the part of the customer.

“Customers get to pick, choose and mix the type of security requirements they need to address under one EMM platform—a customized security model,” AirWatch said in a blog post. “The solution can grow and adjust as their risk posture changes.”

All current Mobile Security Alliance members are required to complete API-integration into the AirWatch platform and work with the company to provide users with simple deployment solutions that utilize the AirWatch compliance engine, according to the company. Alliance members are listed on the AirWatch MarketPlace.

Stay tuned to The VAR Guy throughout the week for more news and announcements from AirWatch Connect, and follow Michael Cusanelli on Twitter @mcusanelliSB.