BlackBerry Launches BES12, Samsung Knox Support

SAN FRANCISCO—BlackBerry on Thursday launched BlackBerry Enterprise Server 12 (BES12), a cross-platform enterprise mobility management (EMM) platform offering organizations the ability to securely manage mobile devices running not just BlackBerry software but also other leading operating systems like Google's Android and Apple's iOS.

BES12, the successor to BES10, can manage BlackBerry, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices, with up to 25,000 gadgets managed per server or 150,000 per domain, BlackBerry said.

BlackBerry said it inked a 'strategic partnership' with Samsung to support devices running Samsung's Knox mobile security technology for Android phones.

'We share the goal to provide enterprises with the most secure mobility solutions through this partnership with BlackBerry,' said Injong Rhee, senior vice president of Samsung's Knox Business Group. 'Samsung Knox is focused on delivering secure mobility solutions to enterprises and, combined with BES12, we will offer more options for customers that need enhanced levels of security on Android devices.'

BES12 is the 'anchor' to the Canadian handset maker's long-term strategy of expanding its software portfolio and returning to its enterprise roots, BlackBerry executive chairman and CEO John Chen said at a launch event here.

'We know we have to return to the enterprise,' Chen said, touting BES12 as an additional security layer in BlackBerry's end-to-end EMM offering for larger IT organizations.

'Our security doesn't just come from one layer of software or just the process of locking down devices and end points, changing passwords periodically and so on,' he said. 'It's written in the silicon, in the firmware.'

'That's why we charge a little bit more for our cell phones, our costs are a bit higher,' he continued. 'BlackBerry 10 is the most secure mobile OS and BES12 is the most secure server platform, so it's end-to-end security. It's an overall, complete architecture with the most secure certificates around the world. I don't think there's really any competition in that area.'

BES12 helps enterprise IT meet current challenges in managing a mobile workforce, ranging from cross-platform syncing issues arising from the BYOD movement, to data protection in the face of more sophisticated intrusion techniques, as well as the reality of lost and stolen devices.

The platform 'simplifies the task of mobilizing an organization by providing a single command and control center for managing the availability and usage of devices, apps, activities, and mission-critical data,' according to BlackBerry. BES12 also offers the flexibility of running as either an on-premise or cloud-based solution, according to the company.

Security is multi-layered with BES12, which 'leverages advanced encryption, containerization, application wrapping, and BlackBerry's secure global network infrastructure' to offer what the company claims is the most secure EMM platform on the market.

BES12 is just one part BlackBerry's overall portfolio of enterprise security and device management solutions, which also includes software products for identity and access management, as well as communications and collaboration tools.

BlackBerry is offering free upgrades to BES12 for BES5 and BES10 customers through the company's EZ Pass migration program. More details about BES12 availability and pricing can be found at blackberry.com/bes12 and more details about EZ Pass can be found at http://ift.tt/1EGZjiq.