RIM MDM Review: Beyond BES, Not There Yet

It's not an easy option unless you're a heavy-duty BlackBerry shop.

Michael A. Davis, CTO of CounterTack

November 20, 2012

2 Min Read

BlackBerry in its heyday took our email mobile. And BlackBerry Enterprise Server was one of the most complete, secure and feature-rich mobile device management products around. Early this year, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion added the ability to manage Android and iPhone devices.

The pitch was great: Keep using those BlackBerrys, but for employees who insist on using another kind of phone, say yes and still manage those with RIM tools. Unfortunately, the system disappointed in our test.

Managing BlackBerrys is the same process, but RIM PlayBooks and non-BlackBerry devices require more work. The biggest problem was complex configuration and the lack of integration among platforms. BES manages BlackBerry phones, a platform called Mobile Fusion Studio handles PlayBooks, and Universal Device is for Android and iOS phones. Each has slightly different processes for activation and enrollment.

RIM is working to fix the multiple-console problem; halfway through the review it released a new version that provides better integration and features, so the platform will get better.

RIM's product includes standard MDM features for iOS and Android, including app whitelists and blacklists. But it doesn't include file vault or integrated corporate Web browsing, reporting is weak and enrollment isn't easy. Unless you're a heavy-duty BlackBerry shop, we advise skipping this option.

For a longer review, see our MDM Report

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About the Author(s)

Michael A. Davis

CTO of CounterTack

Michael A. Davis has been privileged to help shape and educate the globalcommunity on the evolution of IT security. His portfolio of clients includes international corporations such as AT&T, Sears, and Exelon as well as the U.S. Department of Defense. Davis's early embrace of entrepreneurship earned him a spot on BusinessWeek's "Top 25 Under 25"
list, recognizing his launch of IT security consulting firm Savid Technologies, one of the fastest-growing companies of its decade. He has a passion for educating others and, as a contributing author for the *Hacking Exposed* books, has become a keynote speaker at dozens of conferences and symposiums worldwide.

Davis serves as CTO of CounterTack, provider of an endpoint security platform delivering real-time cyberthreat detection and forensics. He joined the company because he recognized that the battle is moving to the endpoint and that conventional IT security technologies can't protect enterprises. Rather, he saw a need to deliver to the community continuous attack monitoring backed by automated threat analysis.

Davis brings a solid background in IT threat assessment and protection to his latest posting, having been Senior Manager Global Threats for McAfee prior to launching Savid, which was acquired by External IT. Aside from his work advancing cybersecurity, Davis writes for industry publications including InformationWeek and Dark Reading. Additionally, he has been a partner in a number of diverse entrepreneurial startups; held a leadership position at 3Com; managed two Internet service providers; and recently served as President/CEO of the InClaro Group, a firm providing information security advisory and consulting services based on a unique risk assessment methodology.

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