The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has certified the first secure Android OS-based (operating system) platform to allow Good for Government mobile device management from Good Technology and data loss prevention capabilities to be used on the Global Information Grid (GIG). Using the new solution (“Secure Android”), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) personnel will be able to sign, encrypt/decrypt e-mail, utilize a secure partition on the Android device for business applications, and securely access Intranet-based content anytime, from anywhere.

This is the first STIG-certified Android OS solution that meets the requirements set forth by DoD Directive 8100.2, which mandates use of secure, multipurpose internet mail extension (S/MIME) in conjunction with a DoD common access card (CAC) and interoperability with the Department of Defense Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The Secure Android OS was first approved for use on government networks with Dell Streak 5 devices.

Good Technology also introduced its Secure Android Partner Program, a joint development initiative targeted at working with device makers interested in developing STIG-compliant solutions. The company initially worked with Dell to augment the security framework contained within Android and deploy it on Streak 5 devices.

The secure Android platform leverages Good for Government technology to provide secure access to information stored within a command’s enclave and usually only accessed with desktops/laptops, such as command and control programs, as well as access to a number of powerful business applications on Dell devices that allows members of the military to operate with desktop-like capabilities in a protected mobile environment. Employees can also access critical agency resources behind the firewall, such as intranets or other Web-enabled applications, through an integrated secure browser.

“The world of smart phones, tablets, and mobile devices is evolving rapidly and changing the way DoD agencies think about everything from telework to continuity of operations (COOP) as well as information assurance. Having worked closely with the DoD for the past five years, we recognized there was a need to close the gap between what today’s DoD personnel were able to perform utilizing currently approved mobility platforms and what they wanted to do,” said Chris Roberts, vice president of public sector at Good Technology. 

Using Good for Government’s mobility suite, the new solution will pass and manage sensitive data from Microsoft Exchange servers located in DoD data centers via Good’s e-mail application to end-point Android devices wirelessly, using a FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic module with AES encryption to ensure data protection for data-at-rest as well as data-in-transit. Good’s patented container-based technology aims to prevent data leakage to non-secure applications.

The DoD can use Good’s Web-based management console to manage Dell Android devices and all other device platforms on the network simultaneously. The management console also allows administrators to block access from potentially compromised devices that may have been rooted by either the end user or a malicious attacker as well as to remotely wipe lost, stolen, or retired smart phones to mitigate potential data leakage.

“We recognized the importance of providing personnel with mobile access to information two years ago when we kicked off the Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications project for smart phones. As of now, my branch has created about 75 apps—a third of which are on Android,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Motes, chief of the Army’s newly created Mobile Applications Branch at Fort Gordon, Ga.  

“Until now, troops have had no way to access official Army apps, but with certification for use of the Android OS with Good Technology on Dell’s Streak 5, we are one step closer to providing our troops with greater mobility and improved, real-time access to information anytime, anywhere,” Motes said.

This new solution also incorporates Biometric Associates, LP (BAL) baiMobile technology to permit network or client applications residing on the Android device to access the credentials stored on a smart card to perform functions such as digitally signing and decrypting e-mails, and authenticating to secure Web sites and network servers. In addition, developers can leverage the security features by integrating BAL’s baiMobile middleware libraries, device drivers, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that will allow them to build smart card-enabled applications.

The new Secure Android OS is immediately available for pilot programs on Dell Streak 5 devices provided by Dell  and select government resellers including Four Points and Steel Cloud. For more information on Good for Government, visit http://good.com/products/good-for-government.php.

Good Technology
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Dell
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