BlackBerry said Secure Work Space for iOS and Android, a containerization solution managed via BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10), has received the certification from Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certified.
FIPS certification will allow security-conscious organizations, including U.S. and Canadian government agencies, to deploy Secure Work Space to securely separate sensitive corporate data from personal content.
“Organizations, in both the public and private sectors, must take the necessary steps to protect sensitive data and ensure that their mobile solutions offer the highest level of security,” said Ben Hoffman, mobility analyst at IDC. “FIPS 140-2 certification indicates that BlackBerry is meeting the strict security requirements that many enterprise customers require.”
The FIPS certification demonstrates BlackBerry’s security capabilities for the transfer of sensitive data on third party devices. With Secure Work Space, BES10 protocols for data-at-rest and data-in-transit are extended to iOS and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets. This means data is protected while traversing networks as well as within the walls of the enterprise.
Administrators can configure, secure, wipe and interact within the Secure Work Space on a device, while employees can enjoy the device for personal use. The features make Secure Work Space an ideal solution for organizations that desire the flexibility of a BYOD program with the control they require for mobile communications.
Scott Totzke, senior vice president, Security Group at BlackBerry, said: “The FIPS 140-2 validation for Secure Work Space for iOS and Android demonstrates the multi-platform security capabilities that BlackBerry delivers for customers, helping governments and enterprises alike to deploy third-party devices with more confidence and less risk.”
FIPS 140-2 is issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate the requirements and standards for certifying cryptographic modules. In addition to U.S. government recognition, the certification is accepted and supported by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) for government use.
