The ability to remotely manage an install base of devices running the Android™ OS is the foundation of Honeywell’s approach to solving the associated business concerns. Currently, there are multiple third party companies that focus on building remote management and security solutions for Android™. However, in order to truly manage an Android™ offering at the level expected by corporate enterprises, remote management vendors need to get root access to the device which therefore requires close collaboration with the hardware vendors. Without this close collaboration, “off-the-shelf” remote management solutions have limited capabilities to manage Android™ devices across many mobile device OEMs. For example they are not capable of advanced activities, such as installing and uninstalling applications silently or performing advanced help desk activities.
Honeywell offers a remote device management solution – Remote MasterMind™, which leverages an OEM device management engine. Remote Mastermind addresses Android™ vulnerabilities and it greatly reduces the work and effort needed by IT support personnel to deploy and manage devices with an Android™ operating system. And because Honeywell and its partner have worked very closely during the Android™ development process, Remote Mastermind adds a host of capabilities that are not available with many “off-the-shelf” management tools. The issues presented below are not meant to be comprehensive, but instead give a quick overview of the answers that Honeywell offers. Please note, that users deploying Windows® based offerings also encounter some of the same vulnerabilities.
Challenge: Root-Access
Rooting, or obtaining root system access, can allow end-users to access additional functionality, tweak system performance and enhance user experience. Unfortunately, it can also reduce the level of system security. Root system access poses potential threat because changes at the root level can potentially allow malware to access private data, remove security or monitoring tools put in place by the enterprise, modify critical system settings that may impact device functionality and worst case scenario, “brick” the device.
Honeywell Solution: By locking users into a kiosk mode or locking down menus using HSM EZMenu, it is possible to prevent users from changing device settings and getting root access. Honeywell’s Remote MasterMind can detect devices that have been rooted and take pre-defined actions to respond to this risk such as removing the device from the corporate network or locking it down. Honeywell has by default disabled root access on the 7800 with Android™ and does not provide tools for rooting.
Honeywell
Comments are closed.