BlackBerry today announced that it has completed its acquisition of WatchDox, a data security company offering the most secure enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) solutions on any device(1). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Press release:
Waterloo, Ontario – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of WatchDox, a data security company offering the most secure enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) solutions on any device(1). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Industry analysts have recognized WatchDox as a leading technology provider. Gartner named the company a Magic Quadrant visionary and Forrester cites them as a “Strong Performer.” WatchDox also ranks highest on the Ovum Decision Matrix for Enterprise File Sync and Share in terms of features that address end-user and IT management requirements.
WatchDox technology is unique because it allows security to travel with shared files on both mobile and desktop devices to give organizations full visibility and control over how files are edited, copied, printed or forwarded. WatchDox offers the most comprehensive set of content security capabilities that are Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certified by the U.S. government and utilize best-in-class AES 256-bit encryption for data-at-rest and data-in-transit. The WatchDox solutions allow a user or administrator the ability to revoke access or deletes files remotely, enabling secure mobile productivity for any repository either in the cloud and on-premises. The solutions also prevent access to files that could be compromised in a network breach.
BlackBerry will integrate WatchDox EFSS solutions as a service through BES12, a multi-OS Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution. Additionally, WatchDox technology is available as an independent value-added offering that complements BlackBerry’s EMM portfolio. Leveraging WatchDox, BlackBerry will also offer new capabilities to enterprises, including:
- Inclusion in Secure Work Space for iOS® and Android™ for access to enterprise files behind the firewall. Secure Work Space is a container and application-wrapping solution for third-party smartphones and tablets that secures work data and apps and separates them from personal apps and data.
- Giving users the ability to control the level of security and permissions that travel with files through file wrapping, including setting limitations on viewing, sharing, saving and printing.
- Watermarking of content across all devices to prevent unwanted sharing by identifying the source of the file through screenshots, photograph or other validation means.
Additional information about BlackBerry EMM solutions is available at www.BlackBerry.com/enterprise.
[1] “Critical Capabilities for Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing,” 13 August 2014, Gartner.