BlackBerry has bought WatchDox to further enhance its mobile security capability and give enterprises unmatched control over their files even after data leaves the corporate network for an undisclosed amount.
WatchDox's technology will be offered as a value-added service that complements BlackBerry's Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) portfolio, and will be available with BES12, a multi-OS EMM solution.
WatchDox is a data security company offering secure enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) solutions that allow users to protect, share and work with their files on any device. Its security travels with shared files on both mobile and desktop devices to give organisations full visibility and control over how files are edited, copied, printed or forwarded, says BlackBerry in a statement.
Its offering also allows end users to revoke access or delete files remotely, enables secure mobile productivity for repositories both in the cloud and on premises, and gives administrators the ability to lock or remove access to files compromised in a data breach, the Canadian device maker adds.
"Sharing data outside the corporate walls can significantly increase workforce productivity, but can open an enterprise to serious financial and reputational risk if not implemented with the proper control," notes Maribel Lopez, principal and founder of Lopez Research.
The addition of WatchDox will help BlackBerry meet its commitment to help organisations securely connect employees with each other and with corporate information across all mobile and desktop platforms, it adds. BES12 is the foundation for BlackBerry's portfolio of enterprise security, productivity, and communication and collaboration services.
"BlackBerry is constantly expanding the potential of data security so that it enables more collaboration and sharing rather than creating limitations," says BlackBerry CEO John Chen.
"This acquisition represents another key step forward as we transition BlackBerry into the premier platform for secure mobile communications software and applications, supporting all devices and operating systems. Together with last year's Secusmart acquisition, Samsung partnership, our own internal development efforts, and now the acquisition of WatchDox, we now have capabilities to secure communications end-to-end from voice, text, messaging, data and now enterprise file-sync-and share."
Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with research and development facilities in Petah Tikva, Israel, WatchDox serves organisations across a variety of industry sectors in which secure collaboration and mobility are essential, including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, law and media.
BlackBerry's purchase of WatchDox will form the basis of a new security-focused BlackBerry research and development in Israel. BlackBerry 10 is the only mobility solution to receive Full Operational Capability (FOC) approval to run on US Department of Defense networks.
Share