Employees are connecting their mobile devices to insecure wireless networks, so how do you avoid possible data theft? One way is to isolate personal data from business data.
If your company deploys Samsung devices, some of those devices might contain a feature called Samsung Knox, which is a technology that enables business and personal content to securely coexist on the same handset.
This cheat sheet is an easy way to get up to speed on Samsung Knox. We’ll update this guide periodically when news and updates about Samsung Knox are released.
SEE: All of TechRepublic’s cheat sheets and smart person’s guides
Executive summary
SEE: Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus: The smart person’s guide (TechRepublic)
What is Samsung Knox?
Samsung Knox is a security layer found on numerous Samsung devices that isolates personal and business data. This added layer essentially gives the user a personal device and a business device–all on the same hardware.
Only by entering a user-created password can the business layer be accessed. The Knox password is separate from the standard lock screen password, so it can also be considered an added layer of security.
In addition, when using the business layer, only certain applications can be accessed. By default, the apps that can be accessed are Camera, Gallery, Downloads, Email, S Planner, My Files, Phone, Contacts, and Internet (the Samsung-branded web browser).
Samsung Knox is comprised of three components:
In order for Samsung Knox to function, the first two of these components must be in place. For businesses, the addition of the service will be critical in managing Knox-enabled devices. The service is not a requirement, but it does extend IT’s management capabilities of a Knox-enabled device. Note: The service will incur a monthly fee; the fees will vary depending upon which service platform you use. Knox Premium is the cloud-based, cross-platform enterprise mobility management solution that supports Knox; see the list of Knox Premium services.
Another very important aspect of Samsung Knox is that it integrates with Android for Work. Samsung Knox increases the security of Android for Work Profiles by way of such modifications as:
To see the complete listing of how Samsung Knox integrates with Android for Work, check out the Android for Work on Knox devices page.
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Why does Samsung Knox matter?
In October 2014, the US National Security Agency (NSA) approved Samsung Galaxy devices running Knox under a program for quickly deploying commercially available technologies. This broke with the NSA’s long-standing BlackBerry-only approach and effectively declared Knox-supported Samsung devices fit for government work. That was a big win for Samsung and should go a very long way to describe why Knox matters: Security.
With Samsung Knox you gain an added layer of encryption that is applied when you use Knox-enabled email, messaging, and internet searches, and even when taking pictures through the camera. This is especially important considering more and more companies are opening up to BYOD; when users bring their own devices to work, those devices need to be as secure as possible. With Android, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more secure platform than the combination of Android for Work and Samsung Knox.
SEE: Ebook: Reducing the risks of BYOD in the enterprise (TechRepublic)
Another benefit to using Samsung Knox is the My Knox portal. With this tool, a user can access their data from any web browser, as well as locate a lost device, change the Knox password, or even perform a secure wipe if their device winds up lost or stolen.
Samsung Knox is especially important when you work in a sector that requires the strictest security profiles, such as finance, government, or healthcare.
Samsung Knox has been certified by the following:
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Who does Samsung Knox affect?
Samsung Knox only affects businesses and business-class users, and any company looking to gain an edge on mobile security should take a serious look at it.
Business managers and company IT staff need to be fully aware of what Samsung Knox is, how the technology works, and how to manage deployed devices. Having a solid understanding of Samsung Knox might be the deciding factor for which mobile devices a company deploys.
Consumers need not bother with Samsung Knox.
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When is Samsung Knox happening?
Samsung Knox was announced in February 2013. By 2014 the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy Note 10.1 were approved to work with this technology. (For a complete list of Samsung Knox-supported devices, check out this official site.) Shortly after the approval of the initial devices, Samsung Knox gained the approval of the NSA and the US Department of Defense.
Samsung Knox has come a long way since its first release. Initially, many Mobile Management Entity (MME) providers offered no support for the technology, and now the list of Knox Workspace supported Mobile Device Managers (MDMs) includes:
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How do I start using Samsung Knox?
You must have a Samsung Knox-supported device. Then, you need to install the My Knox application from the Google Play Store. Once the app is installed, you will be asked to set a password for Knox so you can switch between the personal and business layers. With the app installed and the password set, you can switch between layers by tapping the Knox icon in the notification shade and entering your Knox password. You will do the remainder of your setup (e.g., configuring your work email and selecting what apps are isolated within Knox) through the My Knox application.
Remember that once Knox is set up, no data can be transferred between the personal and business layers–this is by design and cannot be circumvented.
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