Sophos and Check Point Blend MDM and VPN

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Oxford-based anti-malware software maker Sophos and Check Point Software, a provider of network security software, have joined forces to protect business networks — and the sensitive data that they contain — from rogue smartphones and tablets.

The companies announced today that Sophos’ Mobile Control (SMC) 4.0 software now integrates with Check Point’s Mobile VPN (virtual private network) product. When linked, the solutions enable secure network access control for devices attempting to log onto a network.

Combined, SMC 4.0 and Mobile VPN enable administrators to link their mobile device management (MDM) policies with their network access controls. If a device passes SMC’s compliance checks, the Check Point Mobile VPN app creates a secure VPN tunnel via Check Point Security Gateway. Non-compliant devices are effectively blocked while users of authorized device enjoy secure access to network resources.

Launched earlier this year, SMC 4.0 continually monitors mobile devices for blacklisted apps, unsafe device settings and jailbreaks. A Web-based management console provides users a batch of self-service capabilities, including changing passwords and reporting devices lost or stolen.

As a bonus, the software wraps corporate data with file-level encryption and keeps malware away from Android devices. SophosLabs, the company’s research division, reported that it detected nearly 900,000 unique pieces of malware as of May. Today, that figure stands at nearly 1 million.

Available as a cloud-based service or on-premise software, SMC 4.0 is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8 devices.

During the product’s launch in May, Dan Schiappa, senior vice president and general manager of Sophos’ Enduser Security Group, remarked in a statement that the solution “takes data protection beyond the office door by ensuring persistent mobile encryption on devices.” The addition of “network access control based on device compliance status makes mobile device management, content management and mobile security simple and effective,” he added.

Organizations can now leverage those capabilities with Check Point’s Mobile VPN to proactively prevent data breaches, according to the companies.

The partnership between Sophos and Checkpoint provides one-stop MDM and network access control, enabling administrators “to easily manage how mobile users access centrally-stored corporate resources, allowing them to regain control of their networks all through a simple interface,” commented Check Point’s Alon Kantor, vice president of business development, in a statement.

Explosive mobile adoption and a new breed of threats to devices and their users “means that mobile security is an increasing priority for many organizations,” stated Ari Buchler, senior vice president of corporate development at Sophos. “This integration demonstrates both companies’ commitment to meeting the needs of customers in the face of a continuously evolving threat landscape.”

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamtion. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.