BlackBerry takes its device management platform BES12 to the cloud

BlackBerry has announced BES12 Cloud – a cloud-based enterprise mobility management solution that will offer easy management of iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10 smartphones and tablets, as well as Samsung KNOX and Android for Work smartphones and tablets. The BES12 platform is a cross-platform EMM solution that sits at the centre of a secure enterprise mobility ecosystem that extends beyond EMM to communications, collaboration, and identity and access management. BES12 Cloud offers 100 percent online registration and purchase process and it only takes minutes from purchase to EMM service availability in the cloud. [caption id=“attachment_1329575” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] BES12 Cloud will provide expanded cross-platform EMM capabilities to securely manage any mobile deployment model such as BYOD, COPE and COBO, and will leverage BlackBerry’s global infrastructure. BES12 Cloud is geared towards enterprises looking to manage mobile devices, protect their corporate data and enable employee productivity. Its simple setup and configuration also makes it easy for small and medium businesses (SMBs) to adopt cross platform MDM and take advantage of cloud-based productivity and collaboration solutions like BlackBerry Blend and BBM Meetings. “BES12 Cloud provides all the core functionality of the on-premise design of BES12, but with ease and simplicity to manage and deploy,” the company said. Essar Group and Tarpon Energy Services have selected BES12 as their EMM vendor of choice. “We have implemented BES12 in our organisation to cater to the needs of EMM in our environment and are planning to trial the new BES12 Cloud solution,” said Jayantha Prabhu, Chief Technology Officer, Essar Group. In addition to launching BES12 Cloud, new enhancements to BES12 on-premise are now available. Key features of BES12 version 12.1 include enhancements build upon the end-to-end security enabled by vertical integration of BES12 EMM, BlackBerry Global Network Infrastructure and the BlackBerry 10 platform. New administrator capabilities include the ability to restrict and control access to specific BlackBerry 10 OS versions, configure message classification rules for work email, and perform wired activation of BlackBerry 10 devices with BES12 within tightly controlled, centralised deployments. BES12 version 12.1 adds support for Samsung KNOX Standard, the first phase of the BlackBerry and Samsung partnership which offers enhanced Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) controls for Samsung Android devices. Support for the KNOX Workspace is planned for an upcoming release of BES12 which will also feature BlackBerry Secure Connectivity. Besides BBM Meetings and BBM Protected enhancements, enhancements to the streamlined BES12 administrator experience include administrator sign-on into the BES12 console without requiring login credentials and dynamic support for new BES12 IT policy controls as new OS updates are introduced. BES12 Cloud is now available as a closed beta and will be available worldwide later this month.