With the release of the latest version of its mobile security software, Knox 2.7, it’s clear Samsung has its eyes on dominating the enterprise and government handset space, a market BlackBerry still has a hold on, however tenuous.
As some features are optimized for the iris-scanner on its recently-released Galaxy Note 7, Samsung highlights the device as an ideal secure work device, stating that it “boasts numerous features that are of great benefit to enterprise users in particular.”
In specific, the Galaxy Note 7’s iris scanner can now be put to use as a way to unlock the Knox container– a secure virtual Android environment within the device which users’ switch to when accessing secure work content.
Additionally, Knox’s ‘Secure Folder’ feature, which lets users securely manage private apps and files in a folder than can be hidden, has been improved and comes preloaded on the Note 7.
Among the many other updates, a notable addition is a new Call Flow Protection feature which enhances the security of the core kernel– a central part of the OS that essentially acts as a gateway between software request and hardware action.
Some of the most intriguing elements of the update appeal directly to IT managers everywhere, giving them more control over when and how devices under their management receive firmware updates, and making mass device enrollment easier through the use of cellular networks rather than Wi-Fi.
“The addition of the cellular network option to mobile enrollment is especially useful for people in high security fields like the government, where Wi-Fi might not be used because of internal security concerns,” states Samsung in its release.
“But with Knox 2.7, now even government officials can get their devices enrolled and ready to use remotely.”
Clearly, Samsung wants to step into the mobile security breach left by an ailing BlackBerry– but does the Canadian company’s security focused DTEK50 still have a chance to come out on top? Only time will tell.
Related reading: BlackBerry DTEK50 review: Pushing the security narrative
[source]Samsung[/source]
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