IBM Security MaaS360

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The AppConfig Community: Bigger & Better Than Ever

By Dan Cheuvront posted Wed August 08, 2018 07:33 PM

  

Logo for AppConfig Community
The AppConfig Communitywas founded in 2016 to curtail a widespread issue encountered by developers, enterprise IT administrators, and enterprise mobility management (EMM) vendors: zero standards for enterprise mobile app configuration and security.

 

Before there were tools or best practices available, the pressure was on developers to build out custom app versions to support the individual requirements of each EMM vendor. This made otherwise simple app deployments a tedious and time-consuming endeavor for all parties involved. When considering the vast number of enterprise apps in existence across a broad spectrum of use cases, something had to give.

 

It was for this reason that app developers teamed up with EMM vendors to establish a commonality for app configuration, which has since created a trickle-down effect that benefits everyone who touches the apps:

  • Developers take advantage of app customizations available standard through mobile operating systems, reducing reliance on app wrapping or SDKs;
  • EMM administrators get to take a consistent approach for enterprise app deployments;
  • Employees get instant, intuitive access to enterprise apps with no strings attached.

 

Although its name may imply it’s all about configuration, enterprises are realizing the benefits of adoption in other realms as well. Simplifying the ability to secure enterprise mobile apps is another key benefit. Whether it’s defining security policy to ensure apps with sensitive enterprise data are only available on approved and non-compromised devices—or supporting the use of app tunneling or SSO technology—the benefits are clearer than ever.

 

It has taken a village, but it has been worth the while. Since it was founded, the Community has exhibited significant growth across each stakeholder category, growing from:

 

A founding member of the AppConfig Community, IBM MaaS360 with Watson recognizes the value of these standards in facilitating a streamlined approach for developing, securing, and deploying enterprise-ready apps. To see all have been involved in this large undertaking, visit the membership page on AppConfig.org. Better yet, developersand EMM providers can complete an application to join the movement today.

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Fri August 10, 2018 08:01 AM

Securing native mobile applications has always been a challenge.  I learned quickly how painful the term "there's an app for that" really is.  With each new device usage case comes a new security requirement.

While app wrapping is not the sexiest means to secure a native app, imagine any organization, whose focus is NOT on mobility, struggling to maintain control of an app every time the maker makes changes or updates to the app! 

In the old days you needed the app maker to provide access to binary, api's etc in order to maintain control of the app.  Now with standards like AppControl this becomes significantly easier to manage. 

Hopefully securing native apps won't require wrapping in the future at all but having development standards today which bring commonality to app development is only a huge positive.
Mitch Lauer
VP Sales
ConnecTel Wireless