Google this week announced that Android will be getting new administrative controls for enterprises, so that they are able to manage their smartphones in accordance with IT policies.
In a post on the Google Mobile blog, Google announced that any employee with an Android device running 2.2 or above will soon be able to access corporate data, while letting the company IT administrators enforce their security policies on the devices. Google says that the "Google Apps Device Policy" software will allow administrators to:
- Remotely wipe all data from lost or stolen mobile devices
- Lock idle devices after a period of inactivity
- Require a device password on each phone
- Set minimum lengths for more secure passwords
- Require passwords to include letters and numbers
Some of this has been possible before, with Google Apps Premier allowing any device synchronizing with it to be remotely destroyed. This new software allows deeper control, and according to Google will allow administrators to "withdraw access to corporate info, which allows the employee to continue to use their device if it’s their own."
It"s surprising this hasn"t been around before now, but its a step in the right direction. The capability for device administration such as this has been built into Android for some time, but only 3rd party applications have utilized it before now.
The application, entitled "Google Apps Device Policy" will be available on the android market in the next few days. Keep in mind that it will only work with Google Apps Premier and Education accounts.