The pioneering Samsung KNOX security platform for mobile environments is available to developers for the creation of customised security solutions. This open source platform makes instant alteration and faster introduction of solutions to the markets place possible.
 
Paulo Ferreira, Director of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa, notes that security is a crucial component of mobile apps, but that developing appropriate security solutions from scratch can add time and complexity to application development. “In the past, developers had to consider what needed to be secured, how to secure it and what security certifications and standards had to be met. Instead of duplicating efforts and reinventing the wheel, developers can now harness the Samsung KNOX ready-made security platform to fast-track app time to market,” Ferreira says.
 
Available within the Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program (SEAP) for B2B developers and partners, Samsung KNOX Standard and Premium Software Development Kits (SDKs) for device and container management can also be used to provide more control over features within applications – for example, developers can ensure that devices keep their GPS’s turned on as part of a fleet management solution.
 
For additional security over applications and data, Sensitive Data Protection (SDP) allows developers to encrypt and store confidential data in line with the Sensitive data section of the Mobile Device Fundamentals Protection Profile (MDFPP), a security standard for mobile gadgets in an enterprise environment.
 
KNOX Enabled Apps (KEA) provides the ability to place an app into its own secure and isolated container, protecting the application from data leakage.
 
Another compelling software developer tool is the KNOX Customisation SDK, which provides the ability to customise almost every aspect of a device and turn it into a product specialised for vertical markets – in-flight entertainment systems, point of sale devices for retail, or even informational kiosks.
 
“SEAP provides these tools and support resources so developers and partners can implement the security they need, within the trusted Samsung partner environment,” concludes Ferreira.
 
For more information about the Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program (SEAP), please visit https://seap.samsung.com/

Samsung Electronics South Africa notes that in today’s high stakes corporate world, a data breach can cost an enterprise dearly. The damage caused could be financial, it may be reputational, or the news of such a breach may simply scare away potential customers. Whatever the result, a lack of effective mobile security can disrupt an enterprise, but the information should still be accessible to the legitimate user.
 
Smart-devices are particularly attractive to cybercriminals, due to the sheer number in use and the multiple vectors of attack they present, including malicious applications and Web browsing. Companies therefore need to understand the role mobility plays in their organisation and consider the risks it poses to their business.
 
“Samsung is aware of the many security issues raised by mobile devices and this understanding has been integral to the development of Samsung KNOX, a security solution that offers multi-platform interoperability and a built-in, defence-grade security platform. It has been designed to keep business information intact, giving enterprises the opportunity to achieve organisational success in a more connected world,” says Paulo Ferreira, Director of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa.
 
According to Ferreira,the mobile security challenge is now at the forefront of business leaders’ thinking. While threats targeting mobile devices have not changed, the severity of the consequences has increased dramatically. “There are still two main causes of data loss on mobile devices: physical device loss and misuse of apps. Since mobile devices are now storing and accessing more-sensitive data, this means that in a scenario where a device falls into the wrong hands and does not have adequate protection, it can be the source of a major data breach,” Ferreira explains.
 
On the other hand, the challenge around the misuse of applications is mainly due to the fact that it is invasive. Often, the application requests permission to access the user’s contact list, personal information and location. Furthermore, many employees use personal file sharing tools with corporate documents. In addition, since applications rely on the cloud, mobile devices running compromised applications will provide a way for hackers to remotely attack public and private clouds and access corporate networks.
 
Other mobile threats include the rapid growth in malware attacks and user error. The former poses a security challenge in that when a device that has been infected by malware connects to a network, not only is the malware able to propagate, but it is also often designed to steal data from devices.
 
In addition, user error is a further challenge. Many users are lax when it comes to securing their devices, using weak passcodes or none at all and not encrypting the data that they contain. Given that mobile devices are routinely lost or stolen, unsecured devices provide offenders with easy access to sensitive data.
 
KNOX is supported by over 120 enterprise mobility management (EMM) providers worldwide and performs with all popular single sign-on (SSO) and virtual private network (VPN) solutions to preserve enterprise legacy IT investments. “Since its launch in 2013, Samsung KNOX has become one of the most robust and trusted mobile security platforms, protecting the device at every layer, from hardware through software to application,” concludes Ferreira.

Samsung Electronics has announced that Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have become the centre of the group’s strategic focus, with over R17 billion to be invested in IoT research and development over the next four years.
 
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman & CEO Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon unveiled Samsung’s vision for ‘Human-Centered IoT,’ at a Samsung-hosted forum in Washington, D.C last week. The event, entitled Internet of Things: Transforming the Future, brought together technology industry leaders with policymakers and influencers to discuss the many ways IoT can benefit society and how to tackle the challenges that remain in bringing it to scale.
 
Vice Chairman Kwon called for his peers to “start talking and thinking differently about IoT,” with a human-centered approach, embracing the life-changing possibilities of the technology and working together to bring these benefits to society at-large. “IoT has the potential to change individual lives. If we want innovators everywhere to make use of IoT, we must make sure all tools are available to them. This means technologies that connect to each other, because we know that boundaries around technologies hold back innovation and scale,” he said.
 
As the IoT ecosystem is by nature connected and interwoven, collaboration is vital to promoting this level of openness and interconnection, Samsung believes. In this vein, Vice Chairman Kwon called for cross-sector dialogue and partnerships as well as announced Samsung’s role as a co-founder of the newly launched National IoT Strategy Dialogue.
 
Paulo Ferreira, Director Enterprise Mobility at Samsung South Africa, says Samsung aims for all of its devices to be IoT-enabled by 2020. But IoT cannot succeed in a vacuum, he notes, therefore Samsung is actively promoting cooperation that will result in smart ecosystems in which all devices are intelligent and improve the way people work and live.
 
“We believe that the promise of IoT can only be achieved on an open platform, using open standards, using secure devices and integrating business intelligence and analytics. With Samsung’s SmartThings platform, we are now able to support the convergence of a range of smart devices on an open platform to make the smart home a reality. We will see the integration of smart devices – from fridges to lightbulbs – into the smart home of the future,” Ferreira says.
 
Ferreira explains that the Samsung SmartThings platform supports a collaborative environment where developers and innovators can work together to bring the vision of an IoT-enabled smart world to fruition. “With its IoT software developer toolkits and open APIs, Samsung is providing the resources innovators need to build IoT solutions faster and better,” he concludes.
 
For more information and to join the conversation visit @SamsungDC, #VisionforTech
 
Click Here to download Vice Chairman Kwon’s keynote.

Samsung Electronics South Africa strives to address the challenge of finding the right technology to support children’s education with the launch of its School-in-a-Box (SIB) solution, an educational tool designed around a Samsung tablet. Bundled packages include the hardware needed to assist students and schools that are transitioning their teaching and learning methods to be more digitally focused.
 
The SIB includes a Samsung Galaxy Tablet (T116 7” or T561 9.6” or P555 9.7”), a universal keyboard cover, a 16GB microSD card, in-ear earphones, a screen protector and a tablet carry case. Certain limited edition bundles also comprise of a solar panel charger for power on-the-go. The SIB transforms the packaging into a stand for the tablet and stationery. The SIB is lightweight, tough and highly functional and backed by a one-year Tech Insurance Policy, which delivers 12 months accidental damage insurance and one free screen replacement.
 
“This concept is Samsung’s latest innovation designed to support parents, schools and learners while making the selection and combination of the correct technology simple and enjoyable,” says Paulo Ferreira, Director of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa. “Samsung has been investing and supporting individual schools and learning initiatives for many years. The Solar Powered Internet Schools is a Samsung innovation that enables and empowers learners to get the best education possible. It is through this experience that Samsung was able to develop the SIB in order to provide the most effective tools to help bridge the digital education divide,” continues Ferreira.
 
The Samsung SIB will be available in three different bundle options based on the individual’s or institution’s requirements and budget:
Essential: A Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (T116), a Universal Keyboard Cover, 16GB microSD card, in-ear earphones, screen protector, Diamond World Solar Panel and a tablet carry case RRP (R2,999).
Classic: A Samsung Tab E (T561), a keyboard cover, Samsung 16GB microSD card, Rocka Elite Vanilla in-ear headphones from Danny K, screen protector, Diamond World Solar Panel and tablet carry case RRP (R4,999).
Advanced: A Samsung Tab A (P555), a keyboard cover, Samsung 16GB microSD card, Rocka Elite Vanilla in-ear headphones from Danny K, screen protector and tablet carry case RRP (R5,999).
“Until now, it has been difficult for schools to make use of standardised tools, since they refer parents to retail stores to purchase tablets for their children. In store, many parents discover that it is not always a simple matter to choose the right tablet and peripherals for effective digital learning. By bundling all the tools into a practical package, we have made it easy for schools to recommend an appropriate bundle and for parents to support their children’s e-learning with a single purchase,” concludes Ferreira.
 
Samsung’s SIB is now available through Waltons, Glocell, Matrix Warehouse online retailers such as Loot, eBucks, Shop & Ship and Eduloan.

Samsung in collaboration with Citrix XenMobileis to provide the highest level of application and data security for Android environments available on the market today.Citrix XenMobile is an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) suite that provides total mobile freedom for employees offering full IT control.Samsung KNOX has become a robust and trusted mobile security platform, protecting the device at every layer, from hardware through software to application. Together,Samsung and Citrix XenMobile will give enterprise clients extended EMM security as well as management features – the most comprehensive set of Android security solutions on the market.
 

Paulo Ferreira, Director of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics SA, says:“Samsung KNOX is an award winning, defence-grade security platform, now being expanded to offer a collection of innovative and intuitive purpose-built business tools that are designed for the way people want to work. The enhanced Samsung KNOX is taking the platform beyond mobile to serve as the foundation for all Samsung enterprise solutions and services.The partnership with Citrix delivers a multi-layered security architecture that provides end-to-end encryption for data-at-rest, data in-motion and data-in-use.”
 

Samsung KNOX provides mobile security in three ways:
 

1. Platform Security – An unparalleled series of overlapping security measures spanning all facets of Samsung mobile devices, fused and anchored into the very hardware itself. These include hardware root of trust, secure boot, trusted boot, run time kernel protection, TrustZone services and hardware key store.
 

2. Mobile Device Management – Comprehensive device and user management policies along with streamlined onboarding using KNOX Mobile Enrolment.
 

3. Application Security – Comprises of KNOX Workspace container which isolates and secure environment within the mobile device, completed with its own home screen, launcher, applications, and widgets, as well as VPN support, providing enterprise IT administrators with the ability to configure, provision, and manage the use of VPN on a per-application basis.
 

The Citrix and Samsung partnership provides XenMobile customers that are using XenMobile’s Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) Container-based Mobile Application Management (MAM), additional KNOX platform security and Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies at no extra cost. Samsung will provide Citrix with KNOX Application Program Interface (API) that makes it easier to apply KNOX policies via the XenMobile EMM platform placed at the foundation of all solutions and services.Integration and testing have been completed between Citrix and Samsung, supporting cases with the ability to enrol KNOX devices on the XenMobile EMM platform in bulk. This bulk-enrolment feature, enhances the united Samsung-Citrix value proposition for enterprise customers by streamlining onboarding, allowing IT to setup and deploy a volume of Samsung devices for end users, easier.
 

KNOX is supported by over 120 EMM providers worldwide and performs with all popular Single Sign-On (SSO) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions to preserve enterprise legacy IT investments. “We look forward to working with an expanded base of customers who recognise the security benefits that Samsung KNOX together with XenMobile can offer to enterprise Android device deployments,” concludes Ferreira.
 

For more information about Samsung KNOX, please visitwww.samsung.com/samsungKNOX