Samsung releases KNOX 2.0 for Galaxy S5

Mumbai: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, has released its mobile security system ‘KNOX 2.0’ for Galaxy S5. The Samsung KNOX platform represents a portfolio of multiple products and services designed to better meet the rapidly evolving enterprise mobility needs of customers. Announced at MWC 2014, KNOX 2.0 includes KNOX workspace, EMM, marketplace and customization.

KNOX 2.0 version can be activated by IT managers for later use as well. KNOX 2.0 will be available on other Samsung Galaxy devices through OS upgrades in the coming months. Official reports stated, ‘It provides better support for IT departments looking for reassurance and convenience as they implement and manage their Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategies’.

The MDM previously used with KNOX 1.0 is also fully compatible with KNOX 2.0. The workspace users of KNOX 1.0 will automatically be upgraded KNOX 2.0 with the OS upgrade.

KNOX 2.0 platform includes more features that are listed down:

Cutting-edge core platform security:

As it evolves to be the most secure Android platform, KNOX Workspace offers a series of core security enhancements to better protect device integrity from kernel to apps. These upgraded features include TrustZone-Protected Certificate Management, KNOX Key Store, Real-Time Protection for System Integrity, TrustZone-Protected ODE, Two-factor Biometric Authentication and the Enhanced Generic Framework of KNOX.

Improved user experience:

KNOX Workspace provides an enhanced user experience with new features for its container for a more flexible approach for enterprise deployment. Third-party container support provides a better policy control compared to the Native SE for Android, allowing the user or IT manager to choose their preferred container.

Split-billing:

Its split-billing works with carriers to separately calculate the bills for personal-use apps and professional-use apps and in turn bills the company for all enterprise or professional app use.

KNOX EMM:

This provides cloud-based Mobile Device Management and Identity and Access Management (SSO+Directory service) with a rich set of IT policies to implement company guidelines.

KNOX customization:

This feature helps in creating highly customized B2B solutions with off-the-shelf hardware by providing either SDK or Binary to Systems Integrators (SI).

Expanding ecosystem:

In addition to the core features of KNOX 2.0, brought by KNOX Workspace, users will also enjoy access to two new cloud based services, KNOX EMM and KNOX Marketplace, and a customization service, KNOX Customization. These broaden the KNOX 2.0 customer base by catering specifically to SMBs.