VMware, Box Partner on AirWatch Security

VMware (VMW) is further extending its reach into the enterprise mobility management sphere by partnering with Box to enhance secure enterprise collaboration across mobile devices. The partnership provides AirWatch EMM users with additional protective capabilities through Box, which in turn is expected to improve the overall security of corporate files while increasing collaboration between co-workers.

"Today's workforce demands seamless, secure access to applications, files and data while moving from desktop to tablet to smartphone," said Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager, End-User Computing at VMware, in a statement. "Enabling users to take full advantage of powerful enterprise collaboration services requires a mobile security model that protects sensitive data and information. With VMware and Box, customers will be able to take advantage of VMware's powerful end-user computing solutions in a fundamentally unique way, without compromising security."

According to VMware, the collaboration is more than just a simple product integration between AirWatch and Box; the companies are developing an entirely new framework that should help reduce development overhead costs and delayed time to market to support newer versions of application and features. All AirWatch EMM users will have access to the secure Box integration, thus creating a more secure online environment for sharing enterprise data.

“This new and unique integration developed by VMware and Box moves beyond the legacy approach of SDKs and uses a less complex, standards-based model that provides a framework for sending additional configuration settings such as user information and preferences, single sign-on (SSO) configuration and security controls, among other settings, for centralized policy management,” said Blake Brannon of AirWatch in a blog post. “By eliminating vendor-specific SDKs for third-party applications and MDM environments, this new approach will create a more scalable ecosystem ensuring that the broad landscape of applications can take advantage of the most current, most robust security capabilities.”

VMware said its integration with Box marks the first time any company has achieved an "open and dynamic security model using the security policies and configurations built into the core of iOS to simplify the process of managing and securing third-party applications." The framework is expected to allow for additional configuration settings such as user information and single sign-on configuration, which will help admins customize their central policy management parameters. The new model also will be ISV application-agnostic and MDM vendor-agnostic to give users a common way to configure and secure their third-party applications. No concrete date on when the Box integration will be available was given at the time of the announcement.

"Cloud and mobile technologies are unlocking new ways of working, but businesses need to know that information is secure," said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box. "We're excited to work with VMware to introduce a new model that will enable customers to secure content and collaborate from anywhere, on any device, helping our joint customers be more competitive and agile than ever before."