An Expanded Commitment to Secure Mobility

Android is a secure and trusted platform ready for enterprises to deploy robust business solutions now. Samsung delivers the industry leading mobile security platform, and beginning with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung will extend this leadership by delivering Android for Work (AfW) hardened by Samsung KNOX. This allows AfW customers to realize the same core elements of hardware-backed protection that government and other highly regulated industries receive when they use Samsung KNOX.

“Samsung is giving enterprises and professionals the most productive and secure mobility experience available on the market today,” said Dr. Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “We believe that the robustness of Android, along with the award winning security benefits of Samsung KNOX will help bring a new level of productivity for businesses that cannot be matched.”

Enterprise Device Program

Starting with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung is also announcing the Enterprise Device Program (EDP). This multi-faceted program is designed to give businesses confidence in the purchase decision with respect to security and availability of the devices. There are two core components of the EDP:

• Monthly Security Updates
  • In 2015, Samsung began working with major industry partners and operators to distribute monthly Android security updates on select Samsung Galaxy devices. Samsung has extended their security commitments to now include over 100 countries. These critical security updates include both Android core and Samsung specific security patches. This can give the global customer base assurances they will receive security updates in a timely manner to maximize device security and productivity.
  • “With Android for Work, we’ve invested a lot to make Android a trusted platform for people to use in the workplace. With Samsung further reinforcing the platform with KNOX and committing to monthly security updates, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be one of the best choices on the market today for enterprises,” said Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP of Android, Chrome OS & Chromecast at Google.

• Two-year Device Purchase Program
  • Samsung recognizes the need for enterprises to have a complete device lifecycle management program in place. Enterprise customers are now able to take advantage of a two-year purchase assurance program for select device models, starting with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, giving them the ability to purchase the same device model up to two years from the device’s market availability. This program will simplify how customers define their fleet of devices and manage their refresh cycles.

For more information on how your company can enable programs to maximize your business mobility efforts, please contact your local Samsung office.

SmartThings can detect and immediately notify the user of changes in the home, such as motion in a room or an opening window.

The following videos feature SmartThings detecting and notifying users of a cute, whiskered burglar’s midnight break-in and a dog’s reckless escape, and illustrate how the service allows users to remotely turn off appliances in their home. Let’s take a look at the clips, which show how SmartThings enables homeowners to enjoy a smart and pleasant daily life.

SmartThings is an open platform that connects a broad range of smart devices and services. With the SmartThings Hub, accompanying sensors and over 200 compatible devices, users can easily turn their home into a smart home.

As mobile devices are becoming the center of our personal and business lives, we are moving from having mobile as an option to using only our mobile device as the main way to manage our lives. This means that security and privacy have to be top of mind for everyone, starting with the device manufacturer and ending with you, the user. But any system is only as strong as the weakest link in the technological chain, so it is vital to have protection over the entire infrastructure of a mobile device, from the factory at the hardware level to everyday usage, when consumers and businesses are actually depending on it. It needs to be versatile enough to complement people’s lives, but powerful enough to protect their data.

Samsung KNOX, the security platform of Samsung mobile devices since 2013, provides this total approach to mobile security, ensuring that your device is secure, out-of-the-box. Let’s take a look at what Samsung KNOX is exactly, and how it offers consumers unprecedented privacy protection for their mobile devices.

Defense-Grade Security the Moment You Power On

As soon as you power on a Samsung device, KNOX is immediately activated to ensure the device is in a known good state and is not compromised. This happens because Samsung KNOX takes a multi-layered approach to security, beginning with protection installed at the hardware level, right from the factory. It also implements security checks from the hardware level of the operating system all the way up to the application layer–giving users defense-grade security simply by turning their devices on.

Bottom line: All you need to do is power the device on to get the best Android device protection in the industry.

Even More Assurance for Businesses

When it comes to enterprises–large and small-and governments, Samsung KNOX-enabled devices have even more control to ensure security and privacy, and data leakage protection is superior in every way.

First, our device management partners (MDM) such as SOTI, MobileIron, Airwatch and others, provide businesses with thousands of policies that can be created and applied to compatible mobile devices. These polices are the result of extensive interfaces (APIs) made available to our partners. Everything from locking down the camera to protection against unauthorized applications, work together to allow businesses to maximize device protection.

Additionally, we work with many third parties to offer solutions that add more layers of security and protection for specific purposes. Using KNOX Workspace, the award-winning, secure container adds even more layers of security and protection of your company’s data.

Samsung KNOX has earned one of the largest numbers of certifications and authorizations by governments, militaries and enterprises of Android manufacturers. All of these things combined make a Samsung device with KNOX the most secure Android device available.

Security Best Practices and Samsung KNOX

Samsung KNOX, our MDM and security partners all come together to provide maximum security and privacy protection but, as mentioned, all of this is only as effective as the weakest link in the process.

That means that following simple, but important best practices ensure you aren’t the weakest link! Some examples:

• Never click on links from unknown sources.
• Set your device to accept updates automatically and apply them when notified. This will ensure your device is current with the latest security patches.
• Don’t open SMS messages from unknown or unrecognized numbers. Instead, call the number and verify the sender.
• Verify all your social media contacts within KakaoTalk, Twitter and others to confirm you know who is sending you what. If it looks suspicious, ask your friend first before clicking on something.

In August, Samsung announced an industry-wide, first-of-its-kind monthly security update to offer continuous protection from vulnerabilities.

Working with our many global carrier partners around the world to implement this process as a timely security update practice, we were able to roll out our inaugural Security Update in October so users can be assured that updates will be sent regularly, in addition to the defense-grade security that KNOX already provides.

We believe your personal privacy and security is of paramount importance, so we released My KNOX, which lets you control your own level of security. You can download the My KNOX app from my.samsungknox.com or Google Play, at no charge. Like enterprises, you can protect your data with the same level of security and privacy. You are in charge of your security settings, so that you have the ability to ensure that your private data stays private and protected.

KNOX Keeps Samsung Pay Safe, Too

Today, Samsung Pay is the most widely accepted mobile payment system in the world. Because it doesn’t require stores to install new software or devices, Samsung Pay can be used on almost any card reading device, just by holding it next to the magnetic reader.

KNOX protects your device on multiple levels to guard your data. With Samsung Pay, KNOX brings its hardware-backed security to the features of Samsung Pay to protect your transactions and personal information. In line with its industry-leading mobile security features, KNOX constantly monitors for malicious activity. KNOX puts to work a series of security features to protect the device, the payment information and the Samsung Pay application, so that customers can focus on shopping.

In addition to KNOX protection, all payment transactions also have three additional layers of security. The first layer is biometric authentication to prevent card fraud when phones are lost or stolen. Since payments are authorized with your fingerprint, your phone only allows payments with your consent. The second layer protecting Samsung Pay is KNOX, which constantly monitors for malware and suspicious activities on Samsung devices equipped with Samsung Pay. The third layer is tokenization of card payment data, which means each transaction uses a digital token instead of the card number.

In addition, if a smartphone is lost, the data in the device can be deleted remotely or the Samsung Pay function can be suspended through the “Find My Mobile” service.

Significant Progress in Mobile Security with Samsung KNOX

When we first introduced KNOX in 2013, it was a solid start to protecting devices and data contained on them. From day one, it has always been about protecting devices, starting from the hardware up.

Through a lot of hard work by my teammates around the globe, we delivered devices that proudly gained certification from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Since then, KNOX has evolved to be the industry leader in mobile security. It is known for delivering user-centric benefits that provide security and protection for both individuals and businesses.

The recognition we’ve received in the market since first launching KNOX has surpassed all others in the mobile security space, giving KNOX third-party validation. KNOX has received certifications from government agencies around the globe, including the U.S., the U.K., Korea, Australia and Finland. Additionally, in early 2015 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, KNOX Workspace won a Best Security Product award, with judges hailing that “the technology behind this product is a genuine and significant step forward in providing verifiable security on mobile devices.”

The goal is safeguarding all of our customers, from the largest organizations to each individual. We consider this to be one of our greatest investments, and it’s an area in which we will continue to build and expand.

Samsung Electronics has expanded Samsung Pay’s commercial availability to consumers on all major U.S. wireless networks, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and now Verizon.  Starting today, October 21, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 users on the major U.S. wireless networks will be able to download and install the Samsung Pay application directly from Google Play, providing them with the secure, simple, and easy-to-use mobile payment option that works almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card.

Users just have to download the Samsung Pay app from Google Play and follow the straightforward instructions to install the application. If you are a Verizon user and your phone needs to be updated to work with Samsung Pay, you’ll be prompted to download the necessary updates during the application installation process. Once installed, you can open Samsung Pay, input your necessary information and instantly start paying directly from your qualified Samsung smartphone .

Launched in the United States on September 28^th, Samsung Pay is compatible with most existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals. That means Samsung Pay works at more places than any other mobile payment service. And it means your daily shopping experience just got a whole lot easier. At Samsung, we’re all about moving mobile payments from every-once-in-a-while to everywhere.

The article raised questions as to the effect of this on the recently launched Samsung Pay service. The first thing to know is that Samsung Pay was not impacted and at no point was any personal payment information at risk. This was an isolated incident that targeted the LoopPay office network, which is a physically separate network from Samsung Pay. The LoopPay incident was resolved and had nothing to do with Samsung Pay.

It’s worth reiterating that the reported incident was related to LoopPay’s office network which handles email, file servers and printing within the company. This network is physically separate from the production network that handles payment transactions and run by Samsung.

The incident involved three servers on LoopPay’s internal office network.

As soon as the incident was discovered, LoopPay followed their standard incident response procedures and acted immediately and comprehensively. LoopPay brought in two independent professional security teams. LoopPay immediately identified and quarantined the targeted devices, conducted a thorough and extensive sweep of LoopPay’s entire system, and put additional safeguards in place.

Again, Samsung, Samsung Pay, and Samsung users were not affected.

We’re confident that Samsung Pay is safe and secure. Each transaction uses a digital token to replace a card number. The encrypted token combined with certificate information can only be used once to make a payment. Merchants and retailers can’t see or store the actual card data.

Security is a number one priority at Samsung —and always will be. Samsung is committed to securing and protecting user data to the highest industry standards.

Samsung Pay is off to an amazing start. Our beta test and our launch showed that customers have been overwhelmingly satisfied with their experience. We’re proud to offer the only mobile payment option that works almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card today.

The UK Certification follows from the NIAP Common Criteria MDFPPv2.0 Certification awarded for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge devices earlier this year, and has now been formally recognised by CESG, the body tasked with providing assistance to Government Departments on commination security, as being compliant with their Commercial Product Assurance (CPA) scheme requirements for data-at-rest at Foundation Grade. This is a result of rigorous testing against a stringent set of requirements developed to assure security compliance for mobile devices in nations such as the UK and US. By being approved for use at the “OFFICIAL” level, both the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are recommended devices for government and public sector organisations, including government departments, the police, local councils and hospitals.

The certification will allow government officials and public sector workers to enjoy the enhanced performance and rich functionality of Samsung KNOX on the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, which both come with KNOX 2.4 built-in, allowing you to securely connect to work files and email with just a few taps.

Graham Long, Vice President Enterprise Business Team, Samsung UK & Ireland, said: “Mobile security and data confidentiality is of paramount importance to Samsung, and we are delighted that the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge have been recognised as the most secure devices for use by the UK government. CESG’s acknowledgment of Samsung KNOX is testament to the high standard of security offered by the Samsung Android platform and once again reinforces our leading position in area, helping to provide secure mobile technology to government organisations and businesses throughout the UK.”

Dr. Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President of KNOX Business, IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “Thanks to our industry leading security credentials, Samsung KNOX devices are trusted and used around the globe by organisations in the public and private sector alike. CESG’s certification of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge will help us to go one step further in expanding our relationships with government organisations and large corporate enterprises worldwide, setting a new standard in mobile security.”

For more information, visit: www.samsungknox.com/en/security-certifications

*Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have achieved UK CESG CPA Foundation Grade Certification against the ‘Data At Rest: Always-on Mobile Devices’ Security Characteristic. This is based upon conversion of the NIAP Common Criteria MDFPPv2.0 Certification previously awarded for the S6 and S6 Edge. CESG specifically mandate that requirements for Sensitive Data Protection (SDP) are met. The Samsung KNOX SDP mechanism is specifically designed to meet these requirements.

About Samsung KNOX

Samsung KNOX is an Android-based solution for government and enterprise, designed to enhance the security of Android-powered mobile devices. Launched in 2013, it provides a comprehensive set of tools to deliver safe and secure mobile working – by protecting Android handsets from data leakages, malware and malicious attacks.

About CESG

CESG is the Information Security arm of GCHQ, and the National Technical Authority for Information Assurance within the UK. The CESG Commercial Product Assurance (CPA) scheme evaluates COTS products and their developers against published security and development standards.