Meets federal requirements for iOS management

Best known for their business-oriented iOS reader app GoodReader, iOS developer Good Technology have now released a more-secure device management and application-access app called Good for Government that enables federal agencies and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) more securely manage sensitive government data on current iOS devices running iOS 4 or higher. The app lets employees access encrypted e-mail, intranet content and more while obeying DoD and Homeland Security directives.

Good for Government uses what the company called "end-to-end military-grade security" by combining methods of protecting data in-transit and "at rest" with a cryptographic module utilizing AES encryption, hardware support for Common Access Card integration and S/MIME e-mail, and centralized mobile device management. The program was specifically designed to meet DoD Directive 8100.2 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, and Good is participating in an effort to develop an overall Security Technical Information Guide (STIG) for iOS devices, which will foster additional government acceptance of iOS devices.

The announcement is well-timed, particularly with the recent announcement that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be starting up a pilot program to allow the use of iPhones and iPads for official business, resulting in thousands of iOS devices being bought ahead of competitors such as the Blackberry Playbook when the program begins October 1st.

Good for Government also supports NSA-approved Bluetooth smartcard readers, as well as DoD Global Directory Services and Public Key Environment. Adminstrators now have the ability to employ role-based security, data-loss prevention and compliance policies. The software can protect agency networks by blocking access from jailbroken devices, and remotely wipe lost or stolen devices.

The app also offers real-time access to For Official Use Only and Sensitive But Unclassified data, and lets users securely access e-mail, calendar and contacts in a fashion similar to using Outlook on a desktop machine. Firewalled intranets or web applications can also be accessed, since the program requires a Good for Government server and client access license. As with GoodReader, users can also access PDF, office file formats and audio/video content not normally viewable without the app.

The software is now available directly from Good. A white paper on the technology is available, but pricing has not been made public.

By Electronista Staff

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security, enterprise, iPhone apps, government, iPad apps