Businesses can now grant iPads safe remote access to files using new software designed to meet enterprise management and security concerns.
MobilEcho server software plus an iPad client from GroupLogic gives remote users access to designated corporate files, something iPads don't support because they don't have a native file system. The software also supports remote wiping of lost or stolen machines and enforcement of access policies via Active Directory and via the mobilEcho client.
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For Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in Oakland, Calif., the software means researchers with personal iPads can access sensitive papers that may contain patentable intellectual property, says Ben Hanes, senior systems analyst for the institute.
Researchers had been bringing iPads to work and had been granted VPN access to intranets and internal databases, but there was no way for them to access files, Hanes says. Some of the iPad owners had resorted to using Dropbox service to access files placed in the Dropbox network, "much to our chagrin," says Hanes, who has security reservations about the service.
With mobilEcho, access to files is restricted according to Active Directory settings for users, and use of files can be further restricted using mobilEcho's management interface. These restrictions include view-only while connected to the server (no download), requiring a strong password and limiting files to a single application.
MobilEcho supports Windows servers and will support Linux later this year, and it will add an iPhone client as well.
The software is available now and pricing is dependent on the number of users. A license for 2,000 users costs about $80,000 per year and can be deployed on an unlimited number of servers. Perpetual licenses are also available. A license for 100 iPads and one server costs $4,495 plus annual maintenance.
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