U.S. patent application number 15/345584 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-23 for policy-based application management.
The applicant listed for this patent is Citrix Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gary Barton, Nitin Desai, Zhongmin Lang, James Robert Walker.
Application Number | 20170054760 15/345584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50000688 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170054760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barton; Gary ; et
al. |
February 23, 2017 |
Policy-Based Application Management
Abstract
Improved techniques for managing enterprise applications on
mobile devices are described herein. Each enterprise mobile
application running on the mobile device has an associated policy
through which it interacts with its environment. The policy
selectively blocks or allows activities involving the enterprise
application in accordance with rules established by the enterprise.
Together, the enterprise applications running on the mobile device
form a set of managed applications. Managed applications are
typically allowed to exchange data with other managed applications,
but are blocked from exchanging data with other applications, such
as the user's own personal applications. Policies may be defined to
manage data sharing, mobile resource management, application
specific information, networking and data access solutions, device
cloud and transfer, dual mode application software, enterprise app
store access, and virtualized application and resources, among
other things.
Inventors: |
Barton; Gary; (Boca Raton,
FL) ; Walker; James Robert; (Deerfield Beach, FL)
; Desai; Nitin; (Coral Springs, FL) ; Lang;
Zhongmin; (Parkland, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Citrix Systems, Inc. |
Fort Lauderdale |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50000688 |
Appl. No.: |
15/345584 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14340096 |
Jul 24, 2014 |
9521147 |
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15345584 |
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14043902 |
Oct 2, 2013 |
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14340096 |
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13886889 |
May 3, 2013 |
9280377 |
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14043902 |
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13886765 |
May 3, 2013 |
9215225 |
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13886889 |
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61861736 |
Aug 2, 2013 |
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61806577 |
Mar 29, 2013 |
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61714469 |
Oct 16, 2012 |
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61713762 |
Oct 15, 2012 |
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61713718 |
Oct 15, 2012 |
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61713763 |
Oct 15, 2012 |
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61714293 |
Oct 16, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/54 20130101;
G06F 21/604 20130101; H04L 63/0815 20130101; H04W 12/0027 20190101;
G06F 2221/2137 20130101; H04L 51/08 20130101; H04L 63/10 20130101;
H04L 63/20 20130101; H04L 63/104 20130101; G06F 2221/2143 20130101;
H04L 41/28 20130101; H04W 12/06 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101; H04L
41/00 20130101; G06F 21/629 20130101; G06F 2221/2101 20130101; H04L
63/102 20130101; G06F 2221/2111 20130101; G06F 21/72 20130101; G06F
21/6218 20130101; H04W 12/00503 20190101; H04L 63/0853 20130101;
H04W 12/08 20130101; G06F 21/335 20130101; H04L 63/0823
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06; H04W 12/06 20060101 H04W012/06; H04W 12/08 20060101
H04W012/08 |
Claims
1. A method of managing applications on a mobile device,
comprising: executing, on the mobile device, a client agent
application configured to enforce one or more policy files of a
mobile device management system, wherein each policy file defines
one or more access controls enforced by the mobile device
management system when one or more applications are executing
locally on the mobile device, and wherein the client agent
application is further configured to wirelessly communicate with
one or more applications executing on a remote computing device and
presented on a display of the mobile device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client agent is configured to
facilitate the one or more remote applications by: receiving input
from a user intended for a particular remote application; passing
the user input to the particular remote application; receiving data
from the particular remote application responsive to the user
input; and presenting the data by the client agent application on
the display of the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving data from the
particular remote application comprises receiving the data via a
remote presentation protocol, and wherein the received data
comprises output from the remote application to update a graphical
user interface presented by the client agent on the display of the
mobile device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying, by the
client agent application, a first set of one or more policy files
when an application is executing locally on the mobile device; and
applying, by the client agent application, a second set of one or
more policy files when a remote application is presented on the
mobile device.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically
determining, by the client agent application, whether to initiate
execution of a user-requested application locally or remotely,
based on one or more policy files identifying whether or not each
of one or more applications comprising the user-requested
application is permitted to run locally on the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving first user
input requesting execution of a first application on the mobile
device, wherein the first application is a local application;
executing, responsive to the first user input, the first
application according to a first set of policy files; receiving
second user input requesting execution of a second application on
the mobile device, wherein the second application is a local
application; executing, responsive to the second user input, the
second application according to a second set of policy files;
receiving third user input requesting execution of a third
application on the mobile device, wherein the third application is
a remote application; responsive to the third user input,
initiating remote execution of the third application on the remote
computing device according to a third set of policy files.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving one or more
updated policy files replacing a corresponding one or more existing
policy files stored on the mobile device; and updating the access
controls enforced by the mobile device management system according
to the one or more updated policy files.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein updating the access controls
comprises automatically removing from the mobile device a local
application.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein updating the access controls
comprises automatically deleting user data associated with the
removed local application.
10. A mobile device comprising a processor configured to execute,
based on instructions stored in a memory, a client agent
application configured to enforce one or more policy files of a
mobile device management system, wherein each policy file defines
one or more access controls enforced by the mobile device
management system when one or more applications are executing
locally on the mobile device, and wherein the client agent
application is further configured to wirelessly communicate with
one or more applications executing on a remote computing device and
presented on a display of the mobile device.
11. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing
computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause a
system to manage applications on a mobile device by: executing, on
the mobile device, a client agent application configured to enforce
one or more policy files of a mobile device management system,
wherein each policy file defines one or more access controls
enforced by the mobile device management system when one or more
applications are executing locally on the mobile device, and
wherein the client agent application is further configured to
wirelessly communicate with one or more applications executing on a
remote computing device and presented on a display of the mobile
device.
12. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the client
agent is configured to facilitate the one or more remote
applications by: receiving input from a user intended for a
particular remote application; passing the user input to the
particular remote application; receiving data from the particular
remote application responsive to the user input; and presenting the
data for display by the client agent application.
13. The computer readable media of claim 12, wherein receiving data
from the particular remote application comprises receiving the data
via a remote presentation protocol, and wherein the received data
comprises output from the remote application to update a graphical
user interface presented by the client agent on the display of the
mobile device.
14. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the
instructions further cause the system to manage applications on a
mobile device by: applying, by the client agent application, a
first set of one or more policy files when an application is
executing locally on the mobile device; and applying, by the client
agent application, a second set of one or more policy files when a
remote application is presented on the mobile device.
15. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the
instructions further cause the system to manage applications on a
mobile device by automatically determining, by the client agent
application, whether to initiate execution of a user-requested
application locally or remotely, on an application by application
basis, based on one or more policy files identifying whether or not
each of one or more applications comprising the user-requested
application is permitted to run locally on the mobile device.
16. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the
instructions further cause the system to manage applications on a
mobile device by: receiving first user input requesting execution
of a first application on the mobile device, wherein the first
application is a local application; executing, responsive to the
first user input, the first application according to a first set of
policy files; receiving second user input requesting execution of a
second application on the mobile device, wherein the second
application is a local application; executing, responsive to the
second user input, the second application according to a second set
of policy files; receiving third user input requesting execution of
a third application on the mobile device, wherein the third
application is a remote application; responsive to the third user
input, initiating remote execution of the third application on the
remote computing device according to a third set of policy
files.
17. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the
instructions further cause the system to manage applications on a
mobile device by: receiving one or more updated policy files
replacing a corresponding one or more existing policy files stored
on the mobile device; and updating the access controls enforced by
the mobile device management system according to the one or more
updated policy files.
18. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein updating the
access controls comprises automatically removing from the mobile
device a local application.
19. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein updating the
access controls comprises automatically deleting user data
associated with the removed local application.
20. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further
cause the mobile device to manage applications by: applying, by the
client agent application, a first set of one or more policy files
when an application is executing locally on the mobile device; and
applying, by the client agent application, a second set of one or
more policy files when a remote application is presented on the
mobile device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
14/340,096, filed Jul. 24, 2014, entitled "Policy-Based Application
Management," which is a continuation of application Ser. No.
14/043,902, filed Oct. 2, 2013, entitled "Policy Based Application
Management," which in turn claims priority to: provisional
application 61/861,736, filed Aug. 2, 2013, entitled "Policy-Based
Application Management"; provisional application 61/806,577, filed
Mar. 29, 2013, and entitled "Systems and Methods for Enterprise
Mobility Management"; provisional application 61/714,469, filed
Oct. 16, 2012, entitled "Policy-Based Control of a Managed
Application Derived from an Unmanaged Application"; provisional
application 61/713,762, filed Oct. 15, 2012, entitled "Conveying
Data Between Secure Applications Running on an Electronic Mobile
Device"; provisional application 61/713,718, filed Oct. 15, 2012,
entitled "Secure Data Sharing Among Managed Applications";
provisional application 61/713,763, filed Oct. 15, 2012, entitled
"Per-Application Policy Controlled Access to Computerized
Resources"; provisional application 61/714,293, filed Oct. 16,
2012, entitled "Managing Encrypted File Vaults for Managed
Applications on Unmanaged Mobile Device"; non-provisional
application Ser. No. 13/886,889, filed May 3, 2013, entitled
"Application with Multiple Operation Modes"; and non-provisional
application Ser. No. 13/886,765, filed May 3, 2013, entitled
"Mobile Device Locking with Context." Each of the aforementioned
application(s) is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety
for all purposes.
[0002] This application is related by subject matter to and
incorporates by reference in their entirety non-provisional
application Ser. No. 13/649,076, filed Oct. 10, 2012, entitled
"Gateway for Controlling Mobile Device Access to Enterprise
Resources" (which in turn claims priority to provisional
application 61/546,021, filed Oct. 11, 2011, entitled "Systems and
Methods for Management of Enterprise Mobile Devices"; provisional
application 61/546,922, filed Oct. 13, 2011, entitled "Systems and
Methods for Management of Enterprise Mobile Devices"; and
provisional application 61/649,134, filed May 18, 2012, entitled
"Mobile Device Management and Security"; and provisional
application 61/702,671, filed Sep. 18, 2012, entitled "Mobile
Device Management and Security"); provisional application
61/713,554, filed Oct. 14, 2012, entitled "Automated Meeting Room";
provisional application 61/712,948, filed Oct. 12, 2012, entitled
"Frictionless Distributive Collaborative Work Across Time and
Space"; provisional application 61/712,953, filed Oct. 12, 2012,
entitled "Mobile Work and Micro Work Using an Activity Interface";
provisional application 61/712,956, filed Oct. 12, 2012, entitled
"Multi-Device Interaction"; and provisional application 61/712,962,
filed Oct. 12, 2012, entitled "Orchestration Framework for
Connected Devices."
FIELD
[0003] Aspects described herein generally relate to mobile
computing devices. More specifically, aspects described herein
relate to techniques for imposing control over managed applications
executing on mobile computing devices.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Some enterprises (e.g., corporations, partnerships,
governments, academic institutions, other organizations, etc.)
maintain enterprise computer networks that allow enterprise users,
such as employees, access to enterprise resources, such as hardware
and software applications for email, customer relationship
management (CRM), document management, enterprise resource planning
(ERP), and the like, as well as other data controlled by the
enterprise. Enterprises sometimes allow remote access, such as when
enterprise users are not in the enterprise network. Also, some
enterprises allow users to access the enterprise network via mobile
devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, PDAs (personal
digital assistant), and the like. Enterprises typically deploy
enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions to assist in the
management and control of remote access to enterprise resources.
EMM solutions have traditionally taken the approach of managing
entire mobile devices through what are known as mobile device
management (MDM) approaches. In preexisting EMM solutions,
enterprises typically issue mobile devices to employees, which are
intended exclusively for business use, and the enterprise maintains
control over the mobile devices and all of its applications and
data. A recent trend is to allow employees to use their own mobile
device(s) for work purposes (a scenario known as BYOD--bring your
own device). However, BYOD scenarios pose inherent security risks,
because there is neither uniform nor universal control over each
device.
SUMMARY
[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of various
aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive
overview, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements
or to delineate the scope of the claims. The following summary
merely presents some concepts in a simplified form as an
introductory prelude to the more detailed description provided
below.
[0006] To overcome limitations in the prior art described above,
and to overcome other limitations that will be apparent upon
reading and understanding the present specification, aspects
described herein are directed towards mobile applications operating
under the control of one or more independent policy files defining
one or more security, feature and/or resource limitations. Each
application may execute in accordance with its corresponding set of
policy files, optionally received separate from the application and
which define one or more security parameters, features, resource
restrictions, and/or other access controls that are enforced by a
mobile device management system when that application is executing
on the device. By operating in accordance with its respective
policy file(s), each application may be allowed or restricted from
communications with one or more other applications and/or
resources. Policy files may define acceptable behavior, e.g., based
on user credentials, user role, geographic location, network
location, location types, enterprise mobile management (EMM)
information, and/or any other information accessible or
determinable by the operating device.
[0007] These and additional aspects will be appreciated with the
benefit of the disclosures discussed in further detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] A more complete understanding of aspects described herein
and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the
following description in consideration of the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features,
and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative computer system architecture
that may be used in accordance with one or more illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative cloud-based system
architecture that may be used in accordance with one or more
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative enterprise mobility
management system.
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts another illustrative enterprise mobility
management system.
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0014] FIG. 6 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a data flow according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0017] FIG. 9 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0018] FIG. 10 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0019] FIG. 11 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0020] FIG. 12 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0021] FIG. 13 depicts a system architecture according to
illustrative aspects described herein.
[0022] FIG. 14 depicts an illustrative method for performing policy
based app management according to illustrative aspects described
herein.
[0023] FIG. 15 depicts an illustrative method for performing policy
based app management according to illustrative aspects described
herein.
[0024] FIG. 16 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0025] FIG. 17 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0026] FIG. 18 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0027] FIG. 19 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0028] FIG. 20 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0029] FIG. 21 depicts a system according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0030] FIG. 22 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0031] FIG. 23 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0032] FIG. 24 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0033] FIG. 25 depicts a system according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0034] FIG. 26 depicts a system according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0035] FIG. 27 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0036] FIG. 28 depicts a system according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0037] FIGS. 29A and 29B depict systems according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0038] FIG. 30 depicts an illustrative method for performing policy
based app management according to illustrative aspects described
herein.
[0039] FIG. 31 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0040] FIG. 32 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0041] FIG. 33 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0042] FIG. 34 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0043] FIG. 35 depicts a system according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0044] FIG. 36 depicts a device according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
[0045] FIG. 37 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0046] FIG. 38 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0047] FIG. 39 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0048] FIG. 40 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0049] FIG. 41 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0050] FIG. 42 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0051] FIG. 43 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0052] FIG. 44 depicts an illustrative method for performing policy
based app management according to illustrative aspects described
herein.
[0053] FIG. 45 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0054] FIG. 46 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0055] FIG. 47 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0056] FIG. 48 depicts a process flow according to illustrative
aspects described herein.
[0057] FIGS. 49-56 depict illustrative methods for performing
policy based app management according to illustrative aspects
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0058] In the following description of the various embodiments,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings identified above and
which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration various embodiments in which aspects described herein
may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may
be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made
without departing from the scope described herein. Various aspects
are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being
carried out in various different ways.
1. INTRODUCTION
[0059] As a general introduction to the subject matter described in
more detail below, aspects described herein are directed towards
controlling remote access to resources at an enterprise computing
system using managed mobile applications at mobile computing
devices. An access manager may perform a validation process that
determines whether a mobile application requesting access to
enterprise resources has accurately identified itself and has not
been subsequently altered after installation at the mobile
computing device. In this way, the access manager may ensure the
mobile application requesting access to the enterprise resource can
be trusted and is not attempting to circumvent the security
mechanisms used to protect those enterprise resources. As a result,
individuals associated with the enterprise may advantageously
utilize enterprise resources at their personal mobile devices.
[0060] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be
regarded as limiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are
to be given their broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of
"including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to
encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as
well as additional items and equivalents thereof. The use of the
terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "positioned," "engaged"
and similar terms, is meant to include both direct and indirect
mounting, connecting, coupling, positioning and engaging.
2. COMPUTING ARCHITECTURE
[0061] Computer software, hardware, and networks may be utilized in
a variety of different system environments, including standalone,
networked, remote-access (aka, remote desktop), virtualized, and/or
cloud-based environments, among others. FIG. 1 illustrates one
example of a system architecture and data processing device that
may be used to implement one or more illustrative aspects described
herein in a standalone and/or networked environment. Various
network nodes 103, 105, 107, and 109 may be interconnected via a
wide area network (WAN) 101, such as the Internet. Other networks
may also or alternatively be used, including private intranets,
corporate networks, local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area
networks (MAN), wireless networks, personal networks (PAN), and the
like. Network 101 is for illustration purposes and may be replaced
with fewer or additional computer networks. A LAN may have one or
more of any known LAN topology and may use one or more of a variety
of different protocols, such as Ethernet. Devices 103, 105, 107,
109 and other devices (not shown) may be connected to one or more
of the networks via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiber
optics, radio waves or other communication media.
[0062] The term "network" as used herein and depicted in the
drawings refers not only to systems in which remote storage devices
are coupled together via one or more communication paths, but also
to stand-alone devices that may be coupled, from time to time, to
such systems that have storage capability. Consequently, the term
"network" includes not only a "physical network" but also a
"content network," which is comprised of the data--attributable to
a single entity--which resides across all physical networks.
[0063] The components may include data server 103, web server 105,
and client computers 107, 109. Data server 103 provides overall
access, control and administration of databases and control
software for performing one or more illustrative aspects describe
herein. Data server 103 may be connected to web server 105 through
which users interact with and obtain data as requested.
Alternatively, data server 103 may act as a web server itself and
be directly connected to the Internet. Data server 103 may be
connected to web server 105 through the network 101 (e.g., the
Internet), via direct or indirect connection, or via some other
network. Users may interact with the data server 103 using remote
computers 107, 109, e.g., using a web browser to connect to the
data server 103 via one or more externally exposed web sites hosted
by web server 105. Client computers 107, 109 may be used in concert
with data server 103 to access data stored therein, or may be used
for other purposes. For example, from client device 107 a user may
access web server 105 using an Internet browser, as is known in the
art, or by executing a software application that communicates with
web server 105 and/or data server 103 over a computer network (such
as the Internet).
[0064] Servers and applications may be combined on the same
physical machines, and retain separate virtual or logical
addresses, or may reside on separate physical machines. FIG. 1
illustrates just one example of a network architecture that may be
used, and those of skill in the art will appreciate that the
specific network architecture and data processing devices used may
vary, and are secondary to the functionality that they provide, as
further described herein. For example, services provided by web
server 105 and data server 103 may be combined on a single
server.
[0065] Each component 103, 105, 107, 109 may be any type of known
computer, server, or data processing device. Data server 103, e.g.,
may include a processor 111 controlling overall operation of the
rate server 103. Data server 103 may further include RAM 113, ROM
115, network interface 117, input/output interfaces 119 (e.g.,
keyboard, mouse, display, printer, etc.), and memory 121. I/O 119
may include a variety of interface units and drives for reading,
writing, displaying, and/or printing data or files. Memory 121 may
further store operating system software 123 for controlling overall
operation of the data processing device 103, control logic 125 for
instructing data server 103 to perform aspects described herein,
and other application software 127 providing secondary, support,
and/or other functionality which may or may not be used in
conjunction with aspects described herein. The control logic may
also be referred to herein as the data server software 125.
Functionality of the data server software may refer to operations
or decisions made automatically based on rules coded into the
control logic, made manually by a user providing input into the
system, and/or a combination of automatic processing based on user
input (e.g., queries, data updates, etc.).
[0066] Memory 121 may also store data used in performance of one or
more aspects described herein, including a first database 129 and a
second database 131. In some embodiments, the first database may
include the second database (e.g., as a separate table, report,
etc.). That is, the information can be stored in a single database,
or separated into different logical, virtual, or physical
databases, depending on system design. Devices 105, 107, 109 may
have similar or different architecture as described with respect to
device 103. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the
functionality of data processing device 103 (or device 105, 107,
109) as described herein may be spread across multiple data
processing devices, for example, to distribute processing load
across multiple computers, to segregate transactions based on
geographic location, user access level, quality of service (QoS),
etc.
[0067] One or more aspects may be embodied in computer-usable or
readable data and/or computer-executable instructions, such as in
one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers or
other devices as described herein. Generally, program modules
include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,
etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract
data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other
device. The modules may be written in a source code programming
language that is subsequently compiled for execution, or may be
written in a scripting language such as (but not limited to)
Javascript or ActionScript. The computer executable instructions
may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a nonvolatile
storage device. Any suitable computer readable storage media may be
utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices,
magnetic storage devices, and/or any combination thereof. In
addition, various transmission (non-storage) media representing
data or events as described herein may be transferred between a
source and a destination in the form of electromagnetic waves
traveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires,
optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air
and/or space). Various aspects described herein may be embodied as
a method, a data processing system, or a computer program product.
Therefore, various functionalities may be embodied in whole or in
part in software, firmware and/or hardware or hardware equivalents
such as integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA),
and the like. Particular data structures may be used to more
effectively implement one or more aspects described herein, and
such data structures are contemplated within the scope of computer
executable instructions and computer-usable data described
herein.
[0068] With further reference to FIG. 2, some aspects described
herein may be implemented in a cloud-based environment. FIG. 2
illustrates an example of a cloud computing environment (or cloud
system) 400. As seen in FIG. 2, client computers 211-214 may
communicate with a cloud management server 210 to access the
computing resources (e.g., host servers 203, storage resources 204,
and network resources 205) of the cloud system.
[0069] Management server 210 may be implemented on one or more
physical servers. The management server 210 may run, for example,
CLOUDSTACK by Citrix Systems, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., or
OPENSTACK, among others. Management server 210 may manage various
computing resources, including cloud hardware and software
resources, for example, host computers 203, data storage devices
204, and networking devices 205. The cloud hardware and software
resources may include private and/or public components. For
example, a cloud may be configured as a private cloud to be used by
one or more particular customers or client computers 211-214 and/or
over a private network. In other embodiments, public clouds or
hybrid public-private clouds may be used by other customers over an
open or hybrid networks.
[0070] Management server 210 may be configured to provide user
interfaces through which cloud operators and cloud customers may
interact with the cloud system. For example, the management server
210 may provide a set of APIs and/or one or more cloud operator
console applications (e.g., web-based or standalone applications)
with user interfaces to allow cloud operators to manage the cloud
resources, configure the virtualization layer, manage customer
accounts, and perform other cloud administration tasks. The
management server 210 also may include a set of APIs and/or one or
more customer console applications with user interfaces configured
to receive cloud computing requests from end users via client
computers 211-214, for example, requests to create, modify, or
destroy virtual machines within the cloud. Client computers 211-214
may connect to management server 210 via the Internet or other
communication network, and may request access to one or more of the
computing resources managed by management server 210. In response
to client requests, the management server 210 may include a
resource manager configured to select and provision physical
resources in the hardware layer of the cloud system based on the
client requests. For example, the management server 210 and
additional components of the cloud system may be configured to
provision, create, and manage virtual machines and their operating
environments (e.g., hypervisors, storage resources, services
offered by the network elements, etc.) for customers at client
computers 211-214, over a network (e.g., the Internet), providing
customers with computational resources, data storage services,
networking capabilities, and computer platform and application
support. Cloud systems also may be configured to provide various
specific services, including security systems, development
environments, user interfaces, and the like.
[0071] Certain clients 211-214 may be related, for example,
different client computers creating virtual machines on behalf of
the same end user, or different users affiliated with the same
company or organization. In other examples, certain clients 211-214
may be unrelated, such as users affiliated with different companies
or organizations. For unrelated clients, information on the virtual
machines or storage of any one user may be hidden from other
users.
[0072] Referring now to the physical hardware layer of a cloud
computing environment, availability zones 201-202 (or zones) may
refer to a collocated set of physical computing resources. Zones
may be geographically separated from other zones in the overall
cloud of computing resources. For example, zone 201 may be a first
cloud datacenter located in California, and zone 202 may be a
second cloud datacenter located in Florida. Management sever 210
may be located at one of the availability zones, or at a separate
location. Each zone may include an internal network that interfaces
with devices that are outside of the zone, such as the management
server 210, through a gateway. End users of the cloud (e.g.,
clients 211-214) might or might not be aware of the distinctions
between zones. For example, an end user may request the creation of
a virtual machine having a specified amount of memory, processing
power, and network capabilities. The management server 210 may
respond to the user's request and may allocate the resources to
create the virtual machine without the user knowing whether the
virtual machine was created using resources from zone 201 or zone
202. In other examples, the cloud system may allow end users to
request that virtual machines (or other cloud resources) are
allocated in a specific zone or on specific resources 203-205
within a zone.
[0073] In this example, each zone 201-202 may include an
arrangement of various physical hardware components (or computing
resources) 203-205, for example, physical hosting resources (or
processing resources), physical network resources, physical storage
resources, switches, and additional hardware resources that may be
used to provide cloud computing services to customers. The physical
hosting resources in a cloud zone 201-202 may include one or more
computer servers 203, such as virtualization servers, which may be
configured to create and host virtual machine instances. The
physical network resources in a cloud zone 201 or 202 may include
one or more network elements 205 (e.g., network service providers)
comprising hardware and/or software configured to provide a network
service to cloud customers, such as firewalls, network address
translators, load balancers, virtual private network (VPN)
gateways, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) routers, and
the like. The storage resources in the cloud zone 201-202 may
include storage disks (e.g., solid state drives (SSDs), magnetic
hard disks, etc.) and other storage devices.
[0074] The example cloud computing environment shown in FIG. 2 also
may include a virtualization layer with additional hardware and/or
software resources configured to create and manage virtual machines
and provide other services to customers using the physical
resources in the cloud. The virtualization layer may include one or
more hypervisors, along with other components to provide network
virtualizations, storage virtualizations, etc. The virtualization
layer may be as a separate layer from the physical resource layer,
or may share some or all of the same hardware and/or software
resources with the physical resource layer. For example, the
virtualization layer may include a hypervisor installed in each of
the virtualization servers 203 with the physical computing
resources. Known cloud systems may alternatively be used, e.g.,
WINDOWS AZURE (Microsoft Corporation of Redmond Wash.), AMAZON EC2
(Amazon.com Inc. of Seattle, Wash.), IBM BLUE CLOUD (IBM
Corporation of Armonk, N.Y.), or others.
3. ENTERPRISE MOBILITY MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE
[0075] FIG. 3 represents an enterprise mobility technical
architecture 300 for use in an enterprise environment, a BYOD
environment, or other mobile environments. The architecture enables
a user of a mobile device 302 (e.g., as client 107, 211, or
otherwise) to both access enterprise or personal resources from a
mobile device 302 and use the mobile device 302 for personal use.
The user may access such enterprise resources 304 or enterprise
services 308 using a mobile device 302 that is purchased by the
user or a mobile device 302 that is provided by the enterprise to
the user. The user may utilize the mobile device 302 for business
use only or for business and personal use. The mobile device may
run an iOS operating system, Android operating system, and/or the
like. The enterprise may choose to implement policies to manage the
mobile device 304. The policies may be implanted through a firewall
or gateway in such a way that the mobile device may be identified,
secured or security verified, and provided selective or full access
to the enterprise resources. The policies may be mobile device
management policies, mobile application management policies, mobile
data management policies, or some combination of mobile device,
application, and data management policies. A mobile device 304 that
is managed through the application of mobile device management
policies may be referred to as an enrolled device or managed
device.
[0076] In some embodiments, the operating system of the mobile
device may be separated into a managed partition 310 and an
unmanaged partition 312. The managed partition 310 may have
policies applied to it to secure the applications running on and
data stored in the managed partition. In other embodiments, all
applications may execute in accordance with a set of one or more
policy files received separate from the application, and which
define one or more security parameters, features, resource
restrictions, and/or other access controls that are enforced by the
mobile device management system when that application is executing
on the device. By operating in accordance with their respective
policy file(s), each application may be allowed or restricted from
communications with one or more other applications and/or
resources, thereby creating a virtual partition. Thus, as used
herein, a partition may refer to a physically partitioned portion
of memory (physical partition), a logically partitioned portion of
memory (logical partition), and/or a virtual partition created as a
result of enforcement of one or more policies and/or policy files
across multiple apps as described herein (virtual partition).
Stated differently, by enforcing policies on managed apps, those
apps may be restricted to only be able to communicate with other
managed apps and trusted enterprise resources, thereby creating a
virtual partition that is impenetrable by unmanaged apps and
devices.
[0077] The applications running on the managed partition may be
secure applications. The secure applications may be email
applications, web browsing applications, software-as-a-service
(SaaS) access applications, Windows Application access
applications, and the like. The secure applications may be secure
native applications 314, secure remote applications 322 executed by
a secure application launcher 318, virtualization applications 326
executed by a secure application launcher 318, and the like. The
secure native applications 314 may be wrapped by a secure
application wrapper 320. The secure application wrapper 320 may
include integrated policies that are executed on the mobile device
302 when the secure native application is executed on the device.
The secure application wrapper 320 may include meta-data that
points the secure native application 314 running on the mobile
device 302 to the resources hosted at the enterprise that the
secure native application 314 may require to complete the task
requested upon execution of the secure native application 314. The
secure remote applications 322 executed by a secure application
launcher 318 may be executed within the secure application launcher
application 318. The virtualization applications 326 executed by a
secure application launcher 318 may utilize resources on the mobile
device 302, at the enterprise resources 304, and the like. The
resources used on the mobile device 302 by the virtualization
applications 326 executed by a secure application launcher 318 may
include user interaction resources, processing resources, and the
like. The user interaction resources may be used to collect and
transmit keyboard input, mouse input, camera input, tactile input,
audio input, visual input, gesture input, and the like. The
processing resources may be used to present a user interface,
process data received from the enterprise resources 304, and the
like. The resources used at the enterprise resources 304 by the
virtualization applications 326 executed by a secure application
launcher 318 may include user interface generation resources,
processing resources, and the like. The user interface generation
resources may be used to assemble a user interface, modify a user
interface, refresh a user interface, and the like. The processing
resources may be used to create information, read information,
update information, delete information, and the like. For example,
the virtualization application may record user interactions
associated with a GUI and communicate them to a server application
where the server application will use the user interaction data as
an input to the application operating on the server. In this
arrangement, an enterprise may elect to maintain the application on
the server side as well as data, files, etc. associated with the
application. While an enterprise may elect to "mobilize" some
applications in accordance with the principles herein by securing
them for deployment on the mobile device, this arrangement may also
be elected for certain applications. For example, while some
applications may be secured for use on the mobile device, others
may not be prepared or appropriate for deployment on the mobile
device so the enterprise may elect to provide the mobile user
access to the unprepared applications through virtualization
techniques. As another example, the enterprise may have large
complex applications with large and complex data sets (e.g.
material resource planning applications) where it would be very
difficult, or otherwise undesirable, to customize the application
for the mobile device so the enterprise may elect to provide access
to the application through virtualization techniques. As yet
another example, the enterprise may have an application that
maintains highly secured data (e.g. human resources data, customer
data, engineering data) that may be deemed by the enterprise as too
sensitive for even the secured mobile environment so the enterprise
may elect to use virtualization techniques to permit mobile access
to such applications and data. An enterprise may elect to provide
both fully secured and fully functional applications on the mobile
device as well as a virtualization application to allow access to
applications that are deemed more properly operated on the server
side. In an embodiment, the virtualization application may store
some data, files, etc. on the mobile phone in one of the secure
storage locations. An enterprise, for example, may elect to allow
certain information to be stored on the phone while not permitting
other information.
[0078] In connection with the virtualization application, as
described herein, the mobile device may have a virtualization
application that is designed to present GUI's and then
record/pass-through user interactions with the GUI. The application
may communicate the user interactions to the server side to be used
by the server side application as user interactions with the
application. In response, the application on the server side may
transmit back to the mobile device a new GUI. For example, the new
GUI may be a static page, a dynamic page, an animation, or the
like, thereby providing access to remotely located resources.
[0079] The secure applications may access data stored in a secure
data container 328 in the managed partition 310 of the mobile
device. The data secured in the secure data container may be
accessed by the secure wrapped applications 314, applications
executed by a secure application launcher 318, virtualization
applications 326 executed by a secure application launcher 318, and
the like. The data stored in the secure data container 328 may
include files, databases, and the like. The data stored in the
secure data container 328 may include data restricted to a specific
secure application 330, shared among secure applications 332, and
the like. Data restricted to a secure application may include
secure general data 334 and highly secure data 338. Secure general
data may use a strong form of encryption such as AES 128-bit
encryption or the like, while highly secure data 338 may use a very
strong form of encryption such as AES 256-bit encryption. Data
stored in the secure data container 328 may be deleted from the
device upon receipt of a command from the device manager 324. The
secure applications may have a dual-mode option 340. The dual mode
option 340 may present the user with an option to operate the
secured application in an unsecured mode. In an unsecured mode, the
secure applications may access data stored in an unsecured data
container 342 on the unmanaged partition 312 of the mobile device
302. The data stored in an unsecured data container may be personal
data 344. The data stored in an unsecured data container 342 may
also be accessed by unsecured applications 348 that are running on
the unmanaged partition 312 of the mobile device 302. The data
stored in an unsecured data container 342 may remain on the mobile
device 302 when the data stored in the secure data container 328 is
deleted from the mobile device 302. An enterprise may want to
delete from the mobile device selected or all data, files, and/or
applications owned, licensed or controlled by the enterprise
(enterprise data) while leaving or otherwise preserving personal
data, files, and/or applications owned, licensed or controlled by
the user (personal data). This operation may be referred to as a
selective wipe. With the enterprise and personal data arranged in
accordance to the aspects described herein, an enterprise may
perform a selective wipe.
[0080] The mobile device may connect to enterprise resources 304
and enterprise services 308 at an enterprise, to the public
Internet 348, and the like. The mobile device may connect to
enterprise resources 304 and enterprise services 308 through
virtual private network connections. The virtual private network
connections (also referred to as microVPN or application-specific
VPN) may be specific to particular applications 350, particular
devices, particular secured areas on the mobile device, and the
like (e.g., 352). For example, each of the wrapped applications in
the secured area of the phone may access enterprise resources
through an application specific VPN such that access to the VPN
would be granted based on attributes associated with the
application, possibly in conjunction with user or device attribute
information. The virtual private network connections may carry
Microsoft Exchange traffic, Microsoft Active Directory traffic,
HTTP traffic, HTTPS traffic, application management traffic, and
the like. The virtual private network connections may support and
enable single-sign-on authentication processes 354. The
single-sign-on processes may allow a user to provide a single set
of authentication credentials, which are then verified by an
authentication service 358. The authentication service 358 may then
grant to the user access to multiple enterprise resources 304,
without requiring the user to provide authentication credentials to
each individual enterprise resource 304.
[0081] The virtual private network connections may be established
and managed by an access gateway 360. The access gateway 360 may
include performance enhancement features that manage, accelerate,
and improve the delivery of enterprise resources 304 to the mobile
device 302. The access gateway may also re-route traffic from the
mobile device 302 to the public Internet 348, enabling the mobile
device 302 to access publicly available and unsecured applications
that run on the public Internet 348. The mobile device may connect
to the access gateway via a transport network 362. The transport
network 362 may be a wired network, wireless network, cloud
network, local area network, metropolitan area network, wide area
network, public network, private network, and the like.
[0082] The enterprise resources 304 may include email servers, file
sharing servers, SaaS applications, Web application servers,
Windows application servers, and the like. Email servers may
include Exchange servers, Lotus Notes servers, and the like. File
sharing servers may include SHAREFILE servers, other file sharing
services, and the like. SaaS applications may include Salesforce,
and the like. Windows application servers may include any
application server that is built to provide applications that are
intended to run on a local Windows operating system, and the like.
The enterprise resources 304 may be premise-based resources, cloud
based resources, and the like. The enterprise resources 304 may be
accessed by the mobile device 302 directly or through the access
gateway 360. The enterprise resources 304 may be accessed by the
mobile device 302 via a transport network 362. The transport
network 362 may be a wired network, wireless network, cloud
network, local area network, metropolitan area network, wide area
network, public network, private network, and the like.
[0083] The enterprise services 308 may include authentication
services 358, threat detection services 364, device manager
services 324, file sharing services 368, policy manager services
370, social integration services 372, application controller
services 374, and the like. Authentication services 358 may include
user authentication services, device authentication services,
application authentication services, data authentication services
and the like. Authentication services 358 may use certificates. The
certificates may be stored on the mobile device 302, by the
enterprise resources 304, and the like. The certificates stored on
the mobile device 302 may be stored in an encrypted location on the
mobile device, the certificate may be temporarily stored on the
mobile device 302 for use at the time of authentication, and the
like. Threat detection services 364 may include intrusion detection
services, unauthorized access attempt detection services, and the
like. Unauthorized access attempt detection services may include
unauthorized attempts to access devices, applications, data, and
the like. Device management services 324 may include configuration,
provisioning, security, support, monitoring, reporting, and
decommissioning services. File sharing services 368 may include
file management services, file storage services, file collaboration
services, and the like. Policy manager services 370 may include
device policy manager services, application policy manager
services, data policy manager services, and the like. Social
integration services 372 may include contact integration services,
collaboration services, integration with social networks such as
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and the like. Application
controller services 374 may include management services,
provisioning services, deployment services, assignment services,
revocation services, wrapping services, and the like.
[0084] The enterprise mobility technical architecture 300 may
include an application store/distribution portal 378. The
application store 378 may include unwrapped applications 380,
pre-wrapped applications 382, and the like. Applications may be
populated in the application store 378 from the application
controller 374, e.g., by an administrator responsible for app prep,
app publishing, app updates, role assignment, and/or policy
definition and selection, among other functions. The application
store 378 may be accessed by the mobile device 302 through the
access gateway 360, through the public Internet 348 (optionally
through a secure firewall), or the like. The application store may
be provided with an intuitive and easy to use user interface. The
application store 378 may provide access to a software development
kit/self-installation kit 384. The software development kit 384 may
provide a user the capability to secure unmanaged applications
selected by the user by wrapping the application as described
herein. An application that has been wrapped using the software
development kit 384 may then be made available to the mobile device
302, e.g., by installing the wrapped version of the app, by sending
the application store 378 for approval, and/or by directly
populating it in the application store 378 using the application
controller 374.
[0085] The enterprise mobility technical architecture 300 may
include a management and analytics capability. The management and
analytics capability may provide information related to how
resources are used, how often resources are used, and the like.
Resources may include devices, applications, data, and the like.
How resources are used may include which devices download which
applications, which applications access which data, and the like.
How often resources are used may include how often an application
has been downloaded, how many times a specific set of data has been
accessed by an application, and the like.
[0086] FIG. 4 is another illustrative enterprise mobility
management system 400. Some of the components of the mobility
management system 300 described above with reference to FIG. 3 have
been omitted for the sake of simplicity. The architecture of the
system 400 depicted in FIG. 4 is similar in many respects to the
architecture of the system 300 described above with reference to
FIG. 3 and may include additional features not mentioned above.
[0087] In this case, the left hand side represents an
enrolled/managed mobile device 402 (e.g., client 107, 212, 302,
etc.) with a client agent 404, which interacts with gateway server
406 (which includes access gateway and application controller
functionality) to access various enterprise resources 408 and
services 409 such as Exchange, Sharepoint, PKI Resources, Kerberos
Resources, and Certificate Issuance Service, as shown on the right
hand side above. Although not specifically shown, the mobile device
402 may also interact with an enterprise application store (e.g.,
an app store, storefront, or the like) for the selection and
downloading of applications.
[0088] The client agent 404 acts as the UI (user interface)
intermediary for Windows apps/desktops hosted in an Enterprise data
center, which are accessed using the HDX/ICA display remoting
protocol, or any other remoting protocol. The client agent 404 also
supports the installation and management of native applications on
the mobile device 402, such as native iOS or Android applications.
For example, the managed applications 410 (mail, browser, wrapped
application) shown in the figure above are all native applications
that execute locally on the device. Client agent 404 and an
application management framework, such as MDX (mobile experience
technology) by Citrix Systems Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
(other application management frameworks may also be used), act to
provide policy driven management capabilities and features such as
connectivity and SSO (single sign on) to enterprise
resources/services 408. The client agent 404 handles primary user
authentication to the enterprise, normally to the access gateway
(AG) with SSO to other gateway server components. The client agent
404 obtains policies from gateway server 406 to control the
behavior of the managed applications 410 on the mobile device 402.
As used herein, a managed application is one that is capable of
being controlled based on and operated in accordance with
independently defined and communicated policy files.
[0089] The secure IPC links 412 between the native applications 410
and client agent 404 represent a management channel, which allows
client agent to supply policies to be enforced by the application
management framework 414 "wrapping" each application. The IPC
channel 412 also allows client agent 404 to supply credential and
authentication information that enables connectivity and SSO to
enterprise resources 408. Finally the IPC channel 412 allows the
application management framework 414 to invoke user interface
functions implemented by client agent 404, such as online and
offline authentication.
[0090] Communications between the client agent 404 and gateway
server 406 are essentially an extension of the management channel
from the application management framework 414 wrapping each native
managed application 410. The application management framework 414
requests policy information from client agent 404, which in turn
requests it from gateway server 406. The application management
framework 414 requests authentication, and client agent 404 logs
into the gateway services part of gateway server 406 (also known as
NetScaler Access Gateway). Client agent 404 may also call
supporting services on gateway server 406, which may produce input
material to derive encryption keys for the local data vaults 416,
or provide client certificates which may enable direct
authentication to PKI protected resources, as more fully explained
below.
[0091] In more detail, the application management framework 414
"wraps" each managed application 410. This may be incorporated via
an explicit build step, or via a post-build processing step. The
application management framework 414 may "pair" with client agent
614 on first launch of an application 410 to initialize the secure
IPC channel and obtain the policy for that application. The
application management framework 414 may enforce relevant portions
of the policy that apply locally, such as the client agent login
dependencies and some of the containment policies that restrict how
local OS services may be used, or how they may interact with the
application 410.
[0092] The application management framework 414 may use services
provided by client agent 404 over the secure IPC channel 412 to
facilitate authentication and internal network access. Key
management for the private and shared data vaults 416 (containers)
may be also managed by appropriate interactions between the managed
applications 410 and client agent 404. Vaults 416 may be available
only after online authentication, or may be made available after
offline authentication if allowed by policy. First use of vaults
416 may require online authentication, and offline access may be
limited to at most the policy refresh period before online
authentication is again required.
[0093] Network access to internal resources may occur directly from
individual managed applications 410 through access gateway 406. The
application management framework 414 is responsible for
orchestrating the network access on behalf of each application 410.
Client agent 404 may facilitate these network connections by
providing suitable time limited secondary credentials obtained
following online authentication. Multiple modes of network
connection may be used, such as reverse web proxy connections and
end-to-end VPN-style tunnels 418.
[0094] The mail and browser managed applications 410 have special
status and may make use of facilities that might not be generally
available to arbitrary wrapped applications. For example, the mail
application may use a special background network access mechanism
that allows it to access Exchange over an extended period of time
without requiring a full AD logon. The browser application may use
multiple private data vaults to segregate different kinds of
data.
[0095] This architecture supports the incorporation of various
other security features. For example, gateway server 406 (including
its gateway services) in some cases will not need to validate AD
passwords. It can be left to the discretion of an enterprise
whether an AD password is used as an authentication factor for some
users in some situations. Different authentication methods may be
used if a user is online or offline (i.e., connected or not
connected to a network).
[0096] Step up authentication is a feature wherein gateway server
406 may identify managed native applications 410 that are allowed
to have access to highly classified data requiring strong
authentication, and ensure that access to these applications is
only permitted after performing appropriate authentication, even if
this means a re-authentication is required by the user after a
prior weaker level of login.
[0097] Another security feature of this solution is the encryption
of the data vaults 416 (containers) on the mobile device 402. The
vaults 416 may be encrypted so that all on-device data including
files, databases, and configurations are protected. For on-line
vaults, the keys may be stored on the server (gateway server 406),
and for off-line vaults, a local copy of the keys may be protected
by a user password (or other security key, e.g., biometric, etc.).
When data is stored locally on the device 402 in the secure
container 416, it is preferred that a minimum of AES 256 encryption
algorithm be utilized.
[0098] Other secure container features may also be implemented. For
example, a logging feature may be included, wherein all security
events happening inside an application 410 are logged and reported
to the backend. Data wiping may be supported, such as if the
application 410 detects tampering, associated encryption keys may
be written over with random data, leaving no hint on the file
system that user data was destroyed. Screenshot protection is
another feature, where an application may prevent any data from
being stored in screenshots. For example, the key window's hidden
property may be set to YES. This may cause whatever content is
currently displayed on the screen to be hidden, resulting in a
blank screenshot where any content would normally reside.
[0099] Local data transfer may be prevented, such as by preventing
any data from being locally transferred outside the application
container, e.g., by copying it or sending it to an external
application. A keyboard cache feature may operate to disable the
autocorrect functionality for sensitive text fields. SSL
certificate validation may be operable so the application
specifically validates the server SSL certificate instead of it
being stored in the keychain. An encryption key generation feature
may be used such that the key used to encrypt data on the device is
generated using a passphrase or biometric data supplied by the user
(if offline access is required). It may be XORed with another key
randomly generated and stored on the server side if offline access
is not required. Key derivation functions may operate such that
keys generated from the user password use KDFs (key derivation
functions, notably PBKDF2) rather than creating a cryptographic
hash of it. The latter makes a key susceptible to brute force or
dictionary attacks.
[0100] Further, one or more initialization vectors may be used in
encryption methods. An initialization vector will cause multiple
copies of the same encrypted data to yield different cipher text
output, preventing both replay and cryptanalytic attacks. This will
also prevent an attacker from decrypting any data even with a
stolen encryption key if the specific initialization vector used to
encrypt the data is not known. Further, authentication then
decryption may be used, wherein application data is decrypted only
after the user has authenticated within the application. Another
feature may relate to sensitive data in memory, which may be kept
in memory (and not in disk) only when it's needed. For example,
login credentials may be wiped from memory after login, and
encryption keys and other data inside objective-C instance
variables are not stored, as they may be easily referenced.
Instead, memory may be manually allocated for these.
[0101] An inactivity timeout may be implemented, wherein after a
policy-defined period of inactivity, a user session is
terminated.
[0102] Data leakage from application management framework 414 may
be prevented in other ways. For example, when an application 410 is
put in the background, the memory may be cleared after a
predetermined (configurable) time period. When backgrounded, a
snapshot may be taken of the last displayed screen of the
application to expedite the foregrounding process. The screenshot
may contain confidential data and hence should be cleared.
[0103] Another security feature relates to the use of an OTP (one
time password) 420 without the use of an AD (active directory) 422
password for access to one or more applications. In some cases,
some users do not know (or are not permitted to know) their AD
password, so these users may authenticate using an OTP 420 such as
by using a hardware OTP system like SecurID (OTPs may be provided
by different vendors also, such as Entrust or Gemalto). In some
cases, after a user authenticates with a user ID, a text is sent to
the user with an OTP 420. In some cases, this may be implemented
only for online use, with a prompt being a single field.
[0104] An offline password (or biometric authentication) may be
implemented for offline authentication for those applications 410
for which offline use is permitted via enterprise policy. For
example, an enterprise may want the enterprise application store to
be accessed in this manner. In this case, the client agent 404 may
require the user to set a custom offline password and the AD
password is not used. Gateway server 406 may provide policies to
control and enforce password standards with respect to the minimum
length, character class composition, and age of passwords, such as
described by the standard Windows Server password complexity
requirements, although these requirements may be modified.
Biometric authentication may also or alternatively be used for one
or both of offline authentication as well as a source of entropy
for key derivation functions.
[0105] Another feature relates to the enablement of a client side
certificate for certain applications 410 as secondary credentials
(for the purpose of accessing PKI protected web resources via the
application management framework micro VPN feature). For example,
an application such as a corporate email application may utilize
such a certificate. In this case, certificate-based authentication
using ActiveSync protocol may be supported, wherein a certificate
from the client agent 404 may be retrieved by gateway server 406
and used in a keychain. Each managed application may have one
associated client certificate, identified by a label that is
defined in gateway server 406.
[0106] Gateway server 406 may interact with an enterprise special
purpose web service to support the issuance of client certificates
to allow relevant managed applications to authenticate to internal
PKI protected resources. Alternatively, client certificates may be
issued by access gateway 360. In another example, client
certificates may be provided by an EMM/MRM server (e.g., at the
device level), and/or by an app controller that provisions
certificates based on application-level policies.
[0107] The client agent 404 and application management framework
414 may be enhanced to support obtaining and using client
certificates for authentication to internal PKI protected network
resources. More than one certificate may be supported, such as to
match various levels of security and/or separation requirements.
The certificates may be used by the mail and browser managed
applications, and ultimately by arbitrary wrapped applications
(provided those applications use web service style communication
patterns where it is reasonable for application management
framework to mediate HTTPS requests).
[0108] Application management framework client certificate support
on iOS may rely on importing a PKCS 12 BLOB (Binary Large Object)
into the iOS keychain (or other container managed secrets vault
protected by password, biometric validation, or other credentials)
in each managed application for each period of use. Application
management framework client certificate support may use a HTTPS
implementation with private in-memory key storage. The client
certificate will never be present in the iOS keychain and will not
be persisted except potentially in "online-only" data value that is
strongly protected.
[0109] Mutual SSL may also be implemented to provide additional
security by requiring that a mobile device 402 is authenticated to
the enterprise, and vice versa. Virtual smart cards for
authentication to gateway server 406 may also be implemented.
[0110] Both limited and full Kerberos support may be additional
features. The full support feature relates to an ability to do full
Kerberos login to AD 422, using an AD password or trusted client
certificate, and obtain Kerberos service tickets to respond to HTTP
negotiate authentication challenges. The limited support feature
relates to constrained delegation in the access gateway software,
where the software supports invoking Kerberos protocol transition
so it can obtain and use Kerberos service tickets (subject to
constrained delegation) in response to HTTP negotiate
authentication challenges. This mechanism works in reverse web
proxy mode, and when HTTP (but not HTTPS) connections are proxied
in VPN and MicroVPN mode.
[0111] Another feature relates to application container locking and
wiping, which may automatically occur upon jail-break or rooting
detections, and occur as a pushed command from administration
console, and may include a remote wipe functionality even when an
application 410 is not running.
[0112] A multi-site architecture or configuration of the enterprise
application store and application controller may be supported that
allows users to be service from one of several different locations
in case of failure.
[0113] In some cases, managed applications 410 may be allowed to
access a certificate and private key via an API (example OpenSSL).
Trusted managed applications 410 of an enterprise may be allowed to
perform specific Public Key operations with an application's client
certificate and private key. Various use cases may be identified
and treated accordingly, such as when an application behaves like a
browser and no certificate access is required, when an application
reads a certificate for "who am I," when an application uses the
certificate to build a secure session token, and when an
application uses private keys for digital signing of important data
(e.g. transaction log) or for temporary data encryption.
[0114] Other features may also be controlled, managed, enabled,
disabled, locked, unlocked, blocked, unblocked, or otherwise
modified based on policy, user information, or other security
information. A non-exhaustive list of features includes printing,
data backup, location services, camera access, microphone access,
data port access, access to removable storage, URL and other
inter-app dispatching, access to other mobile device hardware such
as biometric devices, accelerometers, proximity sensors, NFC, etc.,
and access to other system services such as sending SMS messages,
sending email messages, network access, and the like.
4. POLICY-BASED APPLICATION MANAGEMENT
[0115] Improved techniques involve imposing control over managed
applications using one or more policy files. A managed application
may be a natively managed application, or may be derived from an
unmanaged application. Once a managed application has been
installed on electronic equipment such as an electronic mobile
device, the managed application may operates based on one or more
policies which may be updated locally on the mobile device in a
routine manner, by an administrator, enterprise, etc.
[0116] For example, an application source such as an app store, a
software developer, etc. may operate as a repository of unmanaged
apps (applications which are not under local policy control). An
unmanaged app from the application source may then be decompiled,
augmented with a set of instructions that impose control based on a
set of one or more administrative policies, and then recompiled to
form a managed application. The managed application is then offered
through an application source (e.g., the same app store, a
different app store, an enterprise application server, etc.) for
use by mobile devices.
[0117] Once the managed application is installed on a mobile
device, the managed application accesses, and operates in
accordance with, a set of one or more policies (further described
herein) which are separately maintained on the mobile device.
Additionally, the managed application may request an updated set of
policies from the application source and operate in accordance with
the updated set of policies over time and in a routine manner.
[0118] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative environment 500 which may be
used to deploy and manage/administer managed apps. The electronic
environment may include an application source 502, a software
converting equipment 504 running a specialized software utility, a
app store server 506, and a mobile device 508 (e.g., a smart phone,
a tablet, client 107, 211, etc.).
[0119] It should be understood that application source 502 and app
store server 506 are shown as separate apparatus although, in some
arrangements, they may be the same apparatus. In some arrangements,
users of mobile devices purchase managed applications from app
store server 506, and the app store server operates as both a
vehicle for distributing the managed applications as well as a
policy server for distributing policies which control how the
managed applications operate on the mobile devices.
[0120] It should be understood that the various apparatus of the
electronic environment are computerized and communicate via
electronic signals. For example, each computerized apparatus may
include a communications interface to connect to a communications
medium such as a network, memory to cache and/or persistently store
information, and processing circuitry to execute an operating
system and local applications.
[0121] During operation, conversion equipment 504 may run a
specialized software utility which receives an unmanaged app from a
software source (see step 1). The conversion equipment, when
running in accordance with the specialized software utility,
decompiles the unmanaged app, e.g., into DEX file(s) (Android),
human readable source code, or some other editable format. The
conversion equipment may then modify the human readable source code
or DEX file(s) to include policy control features. In particular,
the conversion equipment is constructed and arranged to analyze
(e.g., scan and identify) activities and appropriate locations to
inject policy based control instructions into the human readable
source code or DEX file(s). The policy based control instructions
act to limit how the app operates based on one or more received
policy files. The conversion equipment then recompiles the human
readable source code or DEX file(s) to form a managed app.
Alternatively, where code is not capable of decompilation (e.g.,
iOS), symbol table manipulation of the application binary may be
used to inject managed code by adding new library references.
Run-time hooks may also be added to intercept managed functions
within the application.
[0122] App store server 506 may then load the managed apps from the
conversion equipment (see step 2) thus making the managed app
available for distribution. Additionally, an administrator may
provide policies which control the operation of the managed apps,
and such policies may also be made available on the app store
server for distribution.
[0123] Users of mobile devices 508 are able to browse apps offered
by the app store server via app store apps installed on the mobile
devices. When a user of a mobile device wishes to acquire a managed
app (e.g., via a purchase), the user directs the app store app on
the mobile device to request the managed app (see step 3). The app
store server response to the app request by providing the managed
app to the mobile device (see step 4).
[0124] The user then installs the managed app on mobile device 508
(see step 5). Such installation may be automatically triggered by
the app store app (e.g., the app store app automatically directs
the operating system to install the managed app), or manually
coordinated by the user.
[0125] When the user initially invokes the managed app 510, the
managed app may communicate with the app store app 512 to obtain a
set of policies (see step 6). Such a set of policies may have been
provided to the app store app from the app store server during
purchase. However, if the set of policies is not present, the app
store app sends a policy request to the app store server for a set
of policies (see step 7). In response to the policy request, the
app store server provides the set of policies to the mobile device
(see step 8). It should be understood that the set of policies and
the managed app are separate software constructs.
[0126] At this point, the managed app is able to run in accordance
with the set of policies and thus enable the user to perform useful
work (see step 9). Optionally, the set of policies may dictate
times in which the managed app is to request an updated set of
policies. For example, the set of policies may direct the managed
app to obtain a new set of policies daily, every two or three days,
and so on.
[0127] When the managed app requires a new set of policies, the
managed app signals or queries the app store app to retrieve the
new set of policies from the app store server (see step 6 again).
That is, the app store app operates as a proxy and obtains the new
set of policies from the app store server on behalf of the managed
app. In some arrangements, the mobile device runs multiple managed
apps, and the same app store app communicates with the app store
server on behalf of each managed app.
[0128] One embodiment is directed to a method of generating a
managed application from an unmanaged application. The method
includes receiving, by processing circuitry, an unmanaged
application from an application source, the unmanaged application
being constructed and arranged to execute on a mobile device. The
method further includes decompiling or otherwise deconstructing, by
the processing circuitry, the unmanaged application into unmanaged
editable form. The method further includes adding, by the
processing circuitry, a set of policy based control instructions to
the unmanaged editable code to form managed source code, the set of
policy based control instructions being constructed and arranged to
provide policy based control. The method further includes
compiling, by the processing circuitry, the managed source code to
form a managed application which, when executed on a mobile device,
is constructed and arranged to access and operate in accordance
with a set of policies which is separately stored on the mobile
device.
[0129] Examples of suitable processing circuitry includes
particular hardware of various software development platforms such
as servers, general purpose computers, client workstations, any
hardware and/or software described herein, and so on. Such
platforms may be equipped with various software development tools
including compilers, linkers, libraries, editors, debuggers, other
runtime environment and test utilities, and so on.
[0130] Another embodiment is directed to a method of operating an
electronic mobile device. The method includes receiving, by a
processor of the electronic mobile device, a managed application
from an application server during a first communication, the
managed application being constructed and arranged to access and
operate in accordance with a set of policies. The method further
includes receiving, by the processor, the set of policies from the
application server during a second communication which is different
than the first communication, the set of policies being stored on
the electronic mobile device separately from the managed
application. The method further includes running, by the processor,
the managed application on the mobile device, the managed
application accessing and operating in accordance with the set of
policies which is stored on the electronic mobile device separately
from the managed application.
[0131] Other embodiments are directed to electronic systems and
apparatus, processing circuits, computer program products, and so
on. Some embodiments are directed to various processes, electronic
components and circuitry which are involved in generating,
deploying and operating managed apps derived from unmanaged
apps.
[0132] Mobile devices allow users to purchase and download
applications for their device from an external Web Site or Service
commonly referred to as an app store or the like. The application
that browses these app store services is known as a app
store-Application (a web browser may alternatively be used). Once
the app store Application has downloaded and installed an
application, typically management of that application may cease.
For example, loss of entitlement to the application, or changes to
the allowed uses of the application, may not be maintained or
enforced. Once the application is installed on a device, the
enterprise or corporation that distributed it may lose the ability
to control access to the application.
[0133] Many vendors offer conventional solutions that manage the
entire device. For example, a user wishing to install managed
applications must first enroll their device into a corporate
Enterprise Mobile Management system (EMM), which manages resources
such as applications, (mobile application management, or MAM),
devices (mobile device management, or MDM), enterprise services to
which a device may communicate (mobile enterprise management),
software, settings, features, remote tools, virtualized apps, etc.,
and/or other features of a device and/or application. These EMM
services typically require strict adherence to corporate security
policies, forcing the user to comply if they want to install the
applications, use a device in a particular manner, or connect with
an enterprise service. In addition, by enrolling their device in an
EMM system, often times the user must relinquish his/her control
over certain aspects of the device, such as the ability to not have
a passcode or password set. Secure management and technical support
of mobile devices associated with an enterprise is referred to
herein as Enterprise Mobility Management or Enterprise Mobile
Management (EMM). Management of any device, application, or
accessible tool is also referred to herein as Mobile Resource
Management (MRM). EMM and MRM may include one or both of MDM and/or
MAM, as discussed further herein.
[0134] Many employees would prefer to use their own devices but
without enrolling their device in some EMM service. Accordingly,
aspects herein provide a way for corporations to manage
applications on unmanaged devices, e.g., in a Bring Your Own Device
(BYOD) environment.
[0135] Improved techniques discussed above and herein provide
various ways by which a corporation can add management to
applications and devices, and distribute those applications to
unmanaged devices.
[0136] Some techniques are directed to a system and method for
adding management to applications that are to be distributed to
unmanaged devices. The system includes an application running on a
mobile device that acts as a app store application for downloading
and installing other applications from one or more sites or
services acting as a app store. The system further includes a
software utility that takes as input an unmanaged application and
outputs the same application with additional management software
added. The system further includes a set of security policies or
rules that control how the managed application is expected to
operate.
[0137] Some techniques are directed to methods which involve an
administrator generating a managed application by submitting an
unmanaged application to the software utility. The method includes
the software utility decompiling the original application into byte
code. The method further includes modification of the byte code to
inject the management software and components. The method further
includes recompiling the modified application into a new and
managed version of the application. The method further includes the
managed application being posted to a app store and made available
for download and install by the app store application. The method
further includes the managed application periodically contacting
the app store application to confirm entitlement and to refresh the
security policies.
[0138] Some improved techniques provide ways for an enterprise to
provide managed applications to unmanaged devices, alleviating the
need to enroll the device into EMM systems. Some improved
techniques provide ways by which an enterprise can distribute and
control access to specific applications and data on devices that
are not in its direct control, even if those applications were
originally written with no management software included.
[0139] Some techniques are directed to a software utility (and
associated methods) which dynamically injects management code into
existing unmanaged applications. In this way, even applications
that were originally developer without any management software can
be added to the list of enterprise managed applications.
[0140] Furthermore, the app store application now acts as an
authentication and security policy management application. This
extends the intent and use for a conventional app store application
in an improved way, allowing for management of specific
applications on unmanaged devices.
[0141] Alternative conventional approaches usually involve either
device management (where the entire device is enrolled into a
management system) or rewriting applications with specific
management components added as part of the core design of the
application. However, with the above-described improved techniques,
control may be imposed and dynamically updated via policies which
are routinely deployed locally to the mobile devices to direct the
operation of the managed apps.
[0142] It should be understood that the above-provided description
may discuss particular operations of the applications figuratively
(i.e., as the applications performing the operations). However, it
should be further understood that is actually processing circuitry
(e.g., a set of processors, other hardware, etc.) that actually
performs operations while executing the applications.
[0143] Managed apps, i.e., apps that operate according to an
enterprise-defined policy, may be configured to operate in
countless ways. The managed configuration of the app is limited
only by what is included in the one or more policy files that apply
to that app. In addition, managed apps may run in a mobile device
sandbox, or managed apps may run generally on a computing device
and not within a formal sandbox generated by the operating system
of that device. The following sections provides various
illustrative examples of policies that may be used in combination
with other technologies and aspects, but are in no way meant to be
limiting of the types or numbers of policies that may be used.
5. DATA SHARING
[0144] According to an illustrative aspect, one or more policies
used with managed applications, as described in section 4, above,
may define how the managed application operates to share data
between applications executing on a mobile device.
[0145] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of such a process. Initially,
a managed application may be received and/or installed in step 1401
on a mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop
or the like. In step 1403 the device may separately and/or
distinctly receive one or more policy files defining one or more
operational and/or behavioral limitations of the managed app, e.g.,
based on enterprise security policy. While the policy files may be
optionally received as separate files, the policy files may be
received as part of a same communication or installation process as
the managed app.
[0146] In step 1405 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
1407, during operation of the managed app and based on one or the
policy files, a data sharing feature of the managed app may be
restricted, that might otherwise have been allowed had the policy
file(s) not been enforced. Various examples of such data sharing
restriction are provided in more detail below, as may be used in
accordance with FIG. 14 and/or other processes described
herein.
5.a. Secure Cut & Paste
[0147] On modern operating systems such as iOS, Android and
Windows, there is a mechanism typically called the "pasteboard" or
"clipboard" that is used to share data between applications. The
user can "copy" data from one application into the clipboard, and
then "paste" it from the clipboard into a second application. One
problem is that the data put into the clipboard is not secured in
any way, and sometimes there is a need to secure it such that only
a defined set of managed applications can share this data, hiding
it from other non-managed applications. Aspects described herein
provide a mechanism for redirecting copy and paste operations to
the parallel encrypted clipboard, that only managed applications
have access to.
[0148] In order to provide secure copy and paste functionality
between a set of managed applications, the circuitry redirects copy
and paste operations to a parallel secure clipboard. This parallel
clipboard is hidden from general view by other applications (any
app without the appropriate policy file), and all data written to
it is encrypted. Only managed applications know how to access this
hidden, encrypted clipboard.
[0149] In addition, to allow the user to copy and paste data from
insecure application to one of the managed applications, a
synchronization method monitors the unsecure clipboard for changes,
and writes the changes to the secure clipboard as needed.
[0150] Conventional smart phones enable one application (or "app")
to copy data to a general clipboard, and then another app to paste
that data from the general clipboard into a workspace of the other
app. For example, a user may copy text from a webpage of a browser
app into the general clipboard, and then paste that text from the
general clipboard into an email message of an email app.
[0151] It should be understood that there are deficiencies to the
method of conventional smart phones and their approaches to
handling data via the general clipboard. In particular, the general
clipboard provides an easy vehicle for exposing secure data. For
example, suppose that a company wishes to restrict data sharing to
a managed set of apps. Unfortunately, the user of a conventional
smart phone is able to simply copy secure data from one app to the
general clipboard and then paste that secure data from the general
clipboard to another app and thus allowing the secure data to
escape.
[0152] In contrast to the above-described conventional smart phone
which enables a user to easily expose secure data via the general
clipboard, an illustrative policy file may define a secure
clipboard that may be used to share data out of a managed app. All
managed apps using the same policy (namely, defining the same
secure clipboard), would then be able to share data, whereas
unmanaged apps would not. Even further, two different managed apps
whose policy files defined different secure clipboards also would
not be able to share data. Thus, herein described are improved
techniques for conveying data between secure applications running
on an electronic mobile device via a secure clipboard. As used
herein, a secure clipboard may refer to a clipboard whose storage
location is hidden, e.g., known only to those applications that are
permitted to access the secure clipboard, and/or encrypted, e.g.,
and only those applications that are permitted to access the secure
clipboard know or have access to the encryption/decryption keys.
The secure clipboard may be defined only to a set of secure (or
"managed") applications running on the mobile device (e.g., via
policies). Moreover, all data may be encrypted by the managed app
writing the data to the secure clipboard, and then decrypted by
another managed app reading the data from the secure clipboard thus
preventing exposure of the data even if the location of the hidden
clipboard is discovered. The location and/or type of secure
clipboard, as well as the encryption used, may be defined in a
policy file.
[0153] With reference to FIG. 15, one illustrative embodiment is
directed to a method of conveying data between secure applications
running on the electronic mobile device (e.g., as described above)
which is performed in an electronic mobile device having (i)
processing circuitry and (ii) memory. The method includes receiving
in step 1501, by the processing circuitry, a copy command; and
encrypting in step 1503, by the processing circuitry and in
response to the copy command, original data from a first secure
application to form encrypted data. The method further includes
writing in step 1507, by the processing circuitry and in response
to the copy command, the encrypted data to a secure clipboard
residing in the memory to enable a second secure application in
step 1509 to subsequently read and decrypt the encrypted data from
the secure clipboard, the secure clipboard residing at a location
of the memory which is different than that of a general clipboard
residing in the memory, the general clipboard being accessible by a
set of unsecure applications running on the electronic mobile
device. Alternatively, in step 1509, the same managed app may read
from the secure clipboard, e.g., to cut and paste from one location
to another within the managed app.
[0154] Other embodiments are directed to electronic systems and
apparatus (e.g., mobile devices), processing circuits, computer
program products, and so on. Some embodiments are directed to
various processes, electronic components and circuitry which are
involved in conveying data between secure applications running on
the electronic mobile device which is performed in an electronic
mobile device.
[0155] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative electronic mobile device 601
which is suitable for use in conveying data between secure
applications. The electronic mobile device may include, among other
things, a user interface 603 for user input/output, memory 605 to
store data, and processing circuitry 613. Examples of suitable
mobile devices include smart phones, tablet devices, electronic
notebooks, or any other mobile device described herein. In the
context of smart phones, various specific platforms are suitable
for use such as those running iOS provided by Apple Computer,
Android provided by Google, and Windows provided by Microsoft,
among others.
[0156] During operation, the electronic mobile device 601 responds
to user commands by performing operations such as launching
applications, establishing connections to external devices (e.g.,
cellular calls, WiFi connections, etc.) to exchange wireless
signals, and performing useful work. Along these lines, the
processing circuitry of the electronic mobile device runs a set of
(i.e., one or more) unsecure applications, and a set of secure
applications.
[0157] When the processing circuitry 613 runs an unsecure
application, the processing circuitry is configured to access the
general clipboard 607 for copy and paste operations in a
traditional manner. For example, while the processing circuitry
runs a first unsecure application, the user is able to copy data
from the first unsecure application to the general clipboard 607.
Additionally, the while the processing circuitry runs a second
unsecure application, the user is able to paste the copied data
from the general clipboard 607 into a workspace of the second
unsecure application.
[0158] However, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the secure applications
701, 703 are configured to access the secure clipboard 609. In
particular, to perform a copy operation using a secure application,
the processing circuitry encrypts the data and then writes the
encrypted data into the secure clipboard 609 (bypassing the general
clipboard 607). Furthermore, to perform a paste operation using a
secure application, the processing circuitry reads data from the
secure clipboard 609, and decrypts the data before placing the
decrypted data into the workspace of that secure application.
Accordingly, the data is never exposed outside the secure
applications.
[0159] In some arrangements, the mobile device 601 and/or managed
app is configured to synchronize secure clipboard 609 with general
clipboard 607 when a copy event occurs in an unmanaged app. Device
601 may therefore be configured to also input data from the general
clipboard into the secure applications. According to one aspect,
copying of data into the general clipboard by an unsecure
(unmanaged) application creates a detectable copy event. When the
processing circuitry runs a secure application that receives an
indication of the copy event, the processing circuitry may read the
data from the general clipboard, encrypt the data to form encrypted
data, and write the encrypted data into the secure clipboard.
Accordingly, the data within the secure clipboard is now
synchronized with the data in the general clipboard and the secure
application which has access to the secure clipboard may now access
the data from an unmanaged app by reading the data from the secure
clipboard.
[0160] In some arrangements, mobile device 601 equips different
groups of secure applications to use different secure clipboards.
For example, the processing circuitry may provide (i) a first
memory address of the secure clipboard and a first set of
cryptographic keys to a first group of secure applications, (ii) a
second memory address to another secure clipboard and a second set
of cryptographic keys to a second group of secure applications, and
so on. Such deployment and configuration of the secure applications
may be effectuated via policies to group applications where the
policies dictate a particular group, keys and secure clipboard to
each secure application.
[0161] Using the above described technology, illustrative aspects
are directed to a system to prevent sensitive data from being
shared outside of a managed set of applications. A company may wish
to restrict data sharing to this managed set of applications,
allowing full bidirectional access, but also potentially allowing
incoming insecure data, such as text from a webpage, to be copied
into one of the managed applications.
[0162] Furthermore, in some cases a system administrator may choose
to entirely disable copy and paste functionality, either for a
single application, a group of applications, or all managed
applications. This is achieved by adding appropriate enforcement
criteria in the policy file.
[0163] Also, there may be a need to have multiple application
groups, each with its own secure clipboard. This is achieved by
using policies to group applications, and then provide each group
with their own separate secure clipboard.
[0164] Using aspect described above, in some mobile devices copy
and paste between managed applications is totally secured by using
a secure clipboard. In addition, synchronization with an unsecure
clipboard allows a user to copy and paste data from an unsecure app
into a secure app, but not vice versa. Copy and paste functionality
can be completely blocked based on policies set by a system
administrator.
[0165] FIG. 44 illustrates an example of such a process. Initially,
a managed application may be received and/or installed in step 4401
on a mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop
or the like. In step 4403 the device may separately and/or
distinctly receive one or more policy files defining one or more
operational and/or behavioral limitations of the managed app, e.g.,
based on enterprise security policy. While the policy files may be
optionally received as separate files, the policy files may be
received as part of a same communication or installation process as
the managed app.
[0166] In step 4405 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy file(s). That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
4407, during operation of the managed app and based on one or the
policy files, a cut and paste feature of the managed app may be
restricted as described above, where such cut and paste feature
might otherwise have been allowed had the policy file(s) not been
enforced. Various examples of such cut and paste restriction as
described above may be enforced.
5.b. Sharing Data Between Managed Apps
[0167] Additionally, depending on settings of particular policies,
applications within a set of managed applications can be
constrained to exchange files and/or data only with other managed
applications within the set. In some arrangements, API calls from a
managed application are intercepted by injected (or wrapped) code
which operates to `contain` the application. A particular policy is
read, and the operation specified by the API call is either blocked
or allowed depending on the settings in the policy. When the policy
file has a record of all applications in the set of similarly
managed applications (e.g., based on an application group
identifier, an enumerated list of applications, or any other
mechanism that identifies a discrete set of applications), the
application, by reading the policy file, can test whether the
requested operation of the API call involves an application inside
or outside the set, and allow or block activity accordingly. Thus,
based on policy settings, movement of data can be restricted such
that data within the set of managed applications is not comingled
with data outside the managed set.
[0168] A process of intercepting an API call, consulting an
application's policy, and allowing or blocking the operation
specified by the API call based on the policy can be carried out in
a number of contexts. In one example, the above process can be
applied for selecting a set of applications on the mobile device
that can be used to open a file or data element identified by a
link or icon (e.g., using Open-In). In another example, the above
process can be applied for copying data or data objects from one
application and pasting the data or data objects into another
application (e.g., via a hidden, encrypted paste buffer). In yet
another example, the above process can be applied for moving files
into and/or out of a protected file vault. Essentially, any
operation used to move data into and/or out of an application can
make use of the above techniques.
[0169] According to another aspect, data sharing may be limited by
the fact that a set of applications are included within a same
management policy. According to an aspect, by managing enterprise
applications on mobile devices using policy files, an enterprise
may allow users to access enterprise applications from their own
mobile devices. The enterprise applications securely coexist with
the users' own personal applications and data, based on the defined
policy. Enterprise mobile applications are specially created or
adapted in such a way that they are forced to interact with other
applications and services on a mobile device through respective
application policies. Each enterprise mobile application running on
the mobile device has an associated policy through which it
interacts with its environment. The policy selectively blocks or
allows activities involving the enterprise application in
accordance with rules established by the enterprise. Together, the
enterprise applications running on the mobile device form a set of
managed applications. The policy associated with each of the
managed applications may include a record of each of the other
managed applications. Typically, policy settings for interacting
with managed applications are different from policy settings for
interacting with other applications, i.e., applications which are
not part of the managed set, such as a user's personal mobile
applications. Managed applications are typically allowed to
exchange data with other managed applications, but may be blocked
from exporting data to unmanaged applications.
[0170] In some examples, application policies of managed
applications are configured to allow links and/or icons presented
in one managed application to be followed or opened in another
application only if the other application is also a managed
application. For example, a managed email application can be
configured, through its policy, to allow an attachment to be opened
in a managed PDF annotator. But the same managed email application
can be configured to prevent the same attachment from being opened
in a PDF annotator that is not part of the managed set.
[0171] By constraining managed applications to interact on a mobile
device through enterprise-administered policies, the managed set of
applications can thus be made to operate with other applications in
the managed set of applications, but can be prevented from
operating with applications that are not part of the managed set.
Leakage of enterprise information out of the managed set of
applications can thus be prevented, as can be receipt of personal
information into the managed set of applications.
[0172] With reference to FIG. 49, illustrative embodiments are
directed to a method of managing applications of an enterprise on a
mobile device. The method includes in step 4901 installing a set of
managed applications of the enterprise on the mobile device,
wherein other applications are installed on the mobile device that
are not part of the set of managed applications. The method further
includes receiving in step 4903 a set of application policies,
wherein each of the set of managed applications is associated with
a respective policy of the set of application policies. Each
managed app is executed in step 4905 by the mobile device in
accordance with applicable policy file(s). The method still further
includes selectively allowing in step 4907 a first application of
the set of managed applications to provide data to a second
application installed on the mobile device, responsive to accessing
a policy of the first application and reading an indication from
the policy of the first application that the second application is
a member of the set of managed applications, and selectively
blocking the first application from providing data to a third
application installed on the mobile device, responsive to accessing
the policy of the first application and failing to read an
indication from the policy of the first application that the third
application is a member of the set of managed applications.
[0173] Other embodiments are directed to computerized apparatus and
computer program products. Some embodiments involve activity that
is performed at a single location, while other embodiments involve
activity that is distributed over a computerized environment (e.g.,
over a network).
[0174] One improved technique for managing enterprise applications
on mobile devices allows users to access enterprise applications
from their own mobile devices, where the enterprise applications
securely coexist with the users' own personal applications and
data. Secure data sharing is accomplished by creating a managed set
of applications that can share files and/or data with one another,
but are selectively prohibited from sharing files and/or data with
applications that are not part of the managed set. Thus, two
objectives are achieved: (1) data are prevented from leaking out of
the managed set and (2) data are allowed to be shared among the
applications within the managed set.
[0175] FIG. 8 illustrates an environment in which embodiments
hereof can be practiced. Here, a mobile device 810, such as a
smartphone, tablet, PDA, and the like, has installed upon it
various mobile applications. The mobile applications include a set
820 of managed applications 822, 824, and 826, and a personal
application 830. In some examples, an enterprise mobility
management (EMM) client 840 (e.g., client agent 404) is also
installed on the mobile device 810, which provides policy
management services. The EMM client 840 is configured to connect,
e.g., via a network such as the Internet, with an EMM server 850,
which typically includes an authentication server 852 and an
application store 854.
[0176] Each application in the set 820 of managed applications is
associated with a respective policy. For example, application 122
is associated with a policy 822a, application 824 is associated
with a policy 824a, and application 826 is associated with a policy
826a. In some examples, the policies 822a, 824a, and 826a are
provided in the form of files, such as XML or JSON files, in which
the respective policy is expressed as a set of key/value pairs. In
an example, each policy 822a, 824a, and 826a includes a record of
all applications within the set 820 of managed applications (e.g.,
an application group identifier, an enumerated list of
applications, or any other mechanism to identify a discrete set of
applications).
[0177] Each of the set 820 of managed applications is specially
designed or adapted for use with the enterprise. Some of the set
820 of managed applications may be designed specifically for the
enterprise. Others of the set 820 of managed applications are more
widely used applications (e.g., available to the public) that have
been specifically adapted for use with the enterprise, e.g., as
described above. One or more of the set 820 of applications may
include injected code that enables the application to conform to a
framework of the enterprise. The injected code can be compiled into
the application using an SDK. Alternatively, the injected code can
be applied as a wrapper around a general-use application, to adapt
it for use with the enterprise. In general, the injected code
serves to divert API calls from the application to its associated
policy, such that the policy can selectively allow or block
activities specified by the API calls.
[0178] In typical operation, a user of the mobile device 810 starts
the EMM client 840, logs on to the EMM server 850 via the
authentication server 852, and accesses the application store 854.
The user can then peruse enterprise applications available from the
application store 854, select desired applications, and download
them to the mobile device 810, where the downloaded applications
are included in the set 820 of managed applications. For each
application downloaded, a corresponding policy is also downloaded
to the mobile device, and the policies of all applications in the
set 820 are updated to reflect all members of the set 820.
[0179] In an example, policies (e.g., 822a, 824a, and 826a) are
refreshed periodically and/or in response to particular events,
such as each time the respective application is started and/or each
time the user logs onto the EMM server 850. Policies can thus be
adapted over time and dynamically transferred to the mobile device
810 from the EMM server 850.
[0180] Depending on settings of the policies 822, 824, and 826,
applications within the set 820 of managed applications can be
constrained to exchange files and/or data only with other
applications within the set 820. For example, API calls from the
application 822 are intercepted by the injected code of the
application 822. The policy 822a is read, and the operation
specified by the API call is either blocked or allowed depending on
the settings in the policy 822a. Because the policy 822a has a
record of all applications in the set 820 of managed applications
(e.g., an application group identifier, an enumerated list of
applications, or any other mechanism to identify a discrete set of
applications), the application 822, by reading the policy 822a, can
test whether the requested operation of the API call involves an
application inside or outside the set 820, and allow or block
activity accordingly. Thus, based on policy settings, movement of
data can be restricted such that data within the set 820 of managed
applications is not comingled with data outside the managed set
(e.g., with application 830).
[0181] In some examples, applications in the set 820 of managed
applications on the mobile device 110 can be assigned to different
groups. In such cases, policies (e.g., 822a, 824a, and 826a) are
updated to include records of groups and group members. The flow of
files and/or data between applications can thus be further
restricted to members of particular groups. Providing different
groups of mobile applications within the managed set 820 can help
to segregate applications handling highly sensitive data from those
that handle less sensitive data.
[0182] The above-described process of intercepting an API call,
consulting an application's policy, and allowing or blocking the
operation specified by the API call based on the policy can be
carried out in a number of contexts. In one example, the above
process can be applied for selecting a set of applications on the
mobile device 810 that can be used to open a file or data element
identified by a link or icon (e.g., using Open In). In another
example, the above process can be applied for copying data or data
objects from one application and pasting the data or data objects
in another application (e.g., via a hidden, encrypted paste
buffer). In yet another example, the above process can be applied
for moving files into and/or out of a protected file vault.
Essentially, any operation used to move data into and/or out of an
application can make use of the above technique.
[0183] These techniques can apply not only to movement of data to
other applications, but also to recording, pictures, printing,
playback of audio, and other functions.
[0184] Operating system extensions may be obtained for the mobile
device 810. One such operating system extension responds to a user
pointing to a link or icon representing a data object, such as a
file, by displaying a list of applications on the mobile device 810
that are capable of opening that data object. An example of such an
operating system extension is "Open In," which is available on iOS
devices. Similar extensions are available for Android and
Windows-based devices.
[0185] In an example, applications within the set 820 of managed
applications support the use of Open In, but the list of
applications displayed for opening a selected data object is
limited based on the policies of the respective applications. For
example, the list of applications displayed when Open In is invoked
from the application 822 can be limited, in accordance with the
policy 822a, only to other applications in the managed set 820.
Thus, in this example, Open In lists only applications that are
both (1) within the managed set 820 and (2) compatible with the
data object.
[0186] On mobile operating systems, such as iOS, Android, and
Windows 8, each application runs in its own sandbox. These apps use
a very high level content sharing mechanism like Open In in iOS,
Intents/activities in Android and Charms in Windows8. On a BYOD
(bring your own device) mobile device, it will have a mix of
managed and un-managed/personal applications running on the device.
Sharing data among the managed set of applications should be
carefully managed as described herein.
5.c. Restrictions on Data Sharing
[0187] On some mobile operating systems like iOS, the file system
is not completely exposed to the end user by design to hide
complexity. The focus is rather on the applications and the data
they handle. As a result, there are many ways data can move in and
out of the device. Thus, according to another aspect, a policy file
may allow or disallow use of one or more data export features
provided by a mobile device, based on whether or not an app is
enrolled in enterprise mobile management (also referred to herein
as EMM). Some data export examples include Email, Cloud based file
data services , browser, browser-based apps, voice dictation,
memory sharing, remote procedure calls, and content provider API
access to stored data (contact lists, etc.).
[0188] One way to keep data moving only among managed applications,
a policy may cause the Open In list provided to the application to
be filtered by intercepting the call and presenting to the
application only the set of managed applications which can handle
that particular file format, as defined in the policy file(s) in
use.
[0189] The same technique may be extended to the Mail To option
where the URL scheme used for Mail To could be intercepted and
presented with the option of Mail To with only a managed mail
application like Citrix Mobile Mail. This way, even the managed
applications can be forced to Save to only the managed data sharing
applications, like pre-approved cloud-based file sharing
services.
[0190] In another example, a policy may cause a device to perform
dictation blocking. Some devices provide a voice dictation system
and/or a voice-based automated assistant (e.g., Siri on iOS
devices), referred to collectively as dictation. However, voice
features often perform voice transcription in the cloud, because
the mobile device might not have enough processing power to
efficiently transcribe voice to text on the device. In a typical
scenario, a user speaks a voice command or voice dictation, the
device then sends a recording of the voice to an online server or
cloud-based transcription service via a network connection, and the
transcription service returns a file with text representing the
words spoken by the user. The mobile device then takes some action
using the text file as input or as a basis for the action.
[0191] Because the voice command is sent to a system external to
the device, a policy may disallow dictation based on one or more
factors. Dictation may be disallowed altogether when a device is
enrolled in EMM, or when the device includes policy managed apps.
In another example, dictation might be disallowed or allowed only
when one or more predefined apps (e.g., managed apps) are active,
executing, and/or on-screen. In another example. Dictation might be
disallowed or allowed only when the device is in a predefined
geographic area, as determined by on-board location services (e.g.,
GPS, triangulation, wifi tracking, etc.). Other factors may also or
alternatively be used by a policy to determine whether or not to
allow dictation (or any other feature described herein).
[0192] In another example, content provider data access may be
blocked based on a policy file. Content providers often provide a
standard interface, or API, through which third party apps may gain
access to structured data stored by the content provider. Examples
may include contact lists, email headers, social graph data, or any
other structured data maintained by the service provider. Similar
restrictions as described above may be placed on access to such
structured data within a managed app, to prevent unmanaged apps
from gaining access to data in managed apps.
[0193] In another example, creation and/or execution of a received
remote procedure call may be allowed or disallowed based on a
policy file and/or based on whether an app is a managed app, as
described herein. In yet another example, sharing of memory space
between two applications may be allowed or disallowed based on a
policy file and/or based on whether an app is a managed app, as
described herein.
[0194] By using above interception and filtering techniques, data
flow in and out of the device as well as on the device is limited
to the managed secure space. The same techniques can also be used
with Android and Windows 8, based on policy definitions.
[0195] With reference to FIG. 45, a method for restricting data
sharing is now described. Initially, in step 4501, a mobile device
(e.g., device 302, 402, etc.) is set up to have one or more managed
apps, and one or more unmanaged apps, e.g., by enrollment in EMM,
by downloading apps from a App store, etc., as described herein. As
part of step 4501, the mobile device downloads any applicable
policy files from server 406 providing enterprise services 308
including policy management services 370, and applies said policy
file(s). In step 4503, a user (or the mobile device itself)
attempts to initiate a data export operation. In step 4505, the
mobile device makes a determination whether that particular data
export is allowed based on information in the policy file. If the
data operation is not allowed, then in step 4507 the mobile device
prevents the data operation from occurring. If the data operation
is allowed, then in step 4509 the mobile device allows the user (or
app, as applicable), to perform the data export operation.
[0196] Variations of the method shown in FIG. 45 may be used. For
example, a data export operation may be allowed when data is
requested to be exported from a managed app to another managed app,
but disallowed when data is requested to be exported from a managed
app to an unmanaged app. In addition, steps may be reordered or
combined. For example, a mobile device, upon application of a
particular policy file, may automatically cut off app or user
access to certain types of data export operations. Thus, it may be
an impossibility for the user to even request certain types of data
export operations after application of a policy file. This scenario
is contemplated as being within the scope of FIG. 45. That is step
4503 may be optional insofar as a mobile device may block one or
more data export operations based on a policy file before a user or
app even requests that an unauthorized export occur.
[0197] In one illustrative use-case scenario, a user may wish to
get a file from a cloud-based file sharing service, annotate it
with an annotator (e.g., a PDF annotator), and pass it to the
corporate email service. This may be accomplished by including the
necessary apps in the managed set 820. But it is also necessary to
prevent the file from going through private email, or to pass for
viewing to other apps that are not part of the managed set 820 (and
therefore trusted), as described above.
[0198] In order to provide enhanced security, it is preferred to
avoid comingling of trusted (managed) apps and untrusted
(unmanaged) apps, but comingling depends on policy. An admin on the
EMM server 850 can set policies for any task of managed application
to allow/disallow features. It is possible that a policy could
allow a user or app to export a file from a managed PDF annotator
to an app outside the managed set 820, but then control over the
PDF file would be lost. Other circumventions may also be possible,
with the understanding that allowing circumvention decreases
security.
[0199] An administrator may set the policies of the managed
applications, with default settings being to contain data within
the managed set 820 of trusted apps as described herein. The
policies may be dynamically delivered from the EMM server 850.
However, exceptions can be provided, e.g., to allow content to leak
out from the managed set 820, when business concerns dictate it.
For apps that are not part of the managed set 820, there is no
interference with normal activities, i.e., they may be
unrestricted.
6. MOBILE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (MRM)
[0200] As described above, when a mobile computing device accesses
an enterprise computer/IT system, sensitive data associated with
the enterprise and/or enterprise-related software applications can
become stored onto the mobile device. Enterprise-related data can
comprise any data associated with the enterprise, such as, without
limitation, product information, sales data, customer lists,
business performance data, proprietary know-how, new innovation and
research, trade secrets, and the like. Because this information can
be very sensitive, an enterprise may wish to safeguard such
information.
[0201] Further, enterprises may wish to regulate how users use
their mobile devices. For example, enterprises may want some
control over where the mobile devices are used, which mobile device
features can be used, which software applications can be installed
and/or run on the devices, and the like. Enterprises also have a
need to control and implement remedial actions for users that
violate their mobile device usage policies.
[0202] When users in the field experience problems with their
mobile devices or could benefit from information, data, software,
or coaching on how to perform certain operations using the devices,
it can be difficult for the enterprise's IT support to provide
highly effective assistance. Accordingly, there is a need for
improved secure management and technical support of mobile devices
associated with an enterprise. This is sometimes referred to as
Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM). Enterprises may manage devices,
applications, software, settings, features, remote tools,
virtualized apps, etc. Management of any device, application, or
accessible tool is also referred to herein as Mobile Resource
Management (MRM).
[0203] Embodiments described herein address these and other
concerns. The present application discloses computer systems and
methods for automated or semi-automated management of mobile
computing devices that access an enterprise computer network, such
as access to computer-implemented resources of the enterprise. As
used herein, an "enterprise" may comprise substantially any type of
organization, including, without limitation, a for-profit business,
partnership, corporation, and the like, as well as non-profit
businesses, organizations, groups, associations, educational
institutions, universities, and any other group of individuals
bound by a common purpose or goal. A "mobile computing device" can
comprise any of a wide variety of devices, such as, without
limitation, a mobile phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant,
tablet computer, handheld computing device, and the like. The
mobile devices managed by the disclosed system may, for example,
include or consist of mobile devices that run the Android.TM., IOS,
or Windows Mobile operating system (or some subset thereof). As
will be recognized, however, the architecture disclosed herein may
be used with other mobile device operating systems, including
operating systems that may be developed in the future.
[0204] Individuals, entities, or groups of users that use mobile
computing devices to access the enterprise computer network are
referred to herein as "users." Users can comprise members of the
enterprise, such as employees, partners, officers, etc.
Alternatively, users can comprise individuals or entities that are
not members of the enterprise, but nevertheless have a need or
reason to access the enterprise computer network. For example,
users can be enterprise customers, suppliers, etc.
[0205] An "enterprise resource" may comprise a machine-accessible
resource associated with the enterprise. Enterprise resources can
comprise any of a wide variety of different types of resources,
including resources that assist or enable users in the performance
of the users' roles or duties associated with the enterprise. For
example, enterprise resources can comprise raw data stored on
non-transitory computer-readable storage, documents stored on
non-transitory computer-readable storage, computer hardware (e.g.,
physical servers), software applications stored on non-transitory
computer-readable storage, macros for software applications (e.g.,
word processor macros) stored on non-transitory computer-readable
storage, electronic mail systems, workspaces, customer relationship
management (CRM) systems, document management systems, enterprise
resource planning (ERP) systems, accounting systems, inventory
systems, engineering tools, forms, style sheets, and many other
resources. Enterprise resources can be configured to be accessed
and used by software applications installed and running on mobile
computing devices.
[0206] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a
computer system 910 associated with an enterprise, as well as one
or more users 915 and mobile computing devices 920 associated with
the enterprise. In this example, each mobile device 920 is assigned
to one enterprise user 915, but alternatives are possible (e.g.,
multiple users 915 assigned to one device, and/or a single user
assigned to multiple devices 920). The mobile devices 920 are
preferably configured to communicate with the enterprise system 910
(also referred to herein as an "enterprise network") over a
communication network 925. The communication network 925 can
comprise a wireless carrier network, the Internet, a wide area
network, a WIFI network, and the like. Hence, the network 925 can
comprise, for example, one or more wireless networks, one or more
wired networks, or a combination of wired and wireless networks.
Additionally, an enterprise system 910 can be configured to be
accessed by non-mobile computing devices, such as desktop
computers.
[0207] The enterprise system 910 preferably includes an external
firewall 922 and an internal firewall 924. Each firewall 922, 924
can comprise a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny
network transmissions based upon certain criteria. The firewalls
922 and 924 can comprise software stored on non-transitory
computer-readable storage, hardware, firmware, or a combination
thereof. The firewalls 922 and 924 can be configured to perform
basic routing functions. Embodiments described herein can cooperate
with one or both of the firewalls 922 and 924 or other devices of
the enterprise system 910 to filter mobile devices' access requests
based on a set of gateway rules, in order to protect the enterprise
system 910 from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate
communications to pass. As will be described in further detail
below, such access rules can be used to regulate access based on,
e.g., mobile device properties, user properties, the specific
enterprise resources 930 for which access is requested, or any
combination thereof.
[0208] The physical or logical subnetwork between the two
illustrated firewalls 922 and 924 can be referred to as the
"demilitarized zone" (DMZ), or alternatively as a "perimeter
network." Typically, the DMZ contains and exposes the enterprise's
external services to a larger untrusted network, usually the
Internet. Ordinarily, the purpose of the DMZ is to add an
additional layer of security to the enterprise's local area network
(LAN); an external attacker only has access to equipment in the
DMZ, rather than any other part of the enterprise network.
[0209] The illustrated enterprise system 910 includes a mobile
device management system 926, a secure mobile gateway 928, and a
"meta-application" 950, each of which is described in further
detail below. The enterprise system 910 also includes enterprise
resources 930 logically positioned behind the internal firewall
924, illustrated as resources 1 to N. At least some of the
enterprise resources 930 can be configured to be accessed and/or
used by the mobile devices 920, such as by software applications
installed and running on the mobile devices.
[0210] Referring still to FIG. 9, the mobile devices 920 can
communicate with the carrier network 925 via connections 942, such
as cellular network connections and/or WIFI connections that
ultimately connect to carrier networks. A mobile device's
enterprise access request can be sent to the secure mobile gateway
925 via a connection 946, and the gateway 928 can send the request
to an enterprise resource 930 via an internal connection 954.
Further, the enterprise system 910 can use the connections 942, 946
to send information back to the mobile device 920, such as data
responsive to the device's enterprise access request.
[0211] In some embodiments, a software application on a mobile
device 920 can communicate with an enterprise resource 930 through
an application tunnel via connections 942, 944, and 952.
Application tunnels are described in further detail below. In the
illustrated embodiment, the mobile device management system 926
acts as a "tunneling mediator" within an application tunnel between
the mobile device 920 (and typically a specific application running
on the mobile device) and the enterprise resource 920.
[0212] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate embodiments that are similar to
FIG. 9, except that the mobile device management system 926 and
meta-application 950 are respectively located (completely or at
least partially) in a cloud computing system or environment 956
("the cloud"). (In a hybrid of these two approaches, both the
mobile device management system 926 and meta-application 950 reside
in the cloud.) A cloud computing system typically includes
computing resources configured to implement a service over a
network, such as the Internet. For example, a cloud computing
system can include a plurality of distributed computing resources,
such as physical servers or other computing devices. With a cloud
computing system, computing resources can be located at any
suitable location that is accessible via a network. A cloud
computing system can store and process data received over a
network, while being accessible from a remote location. Typically,
a cloud computing system is operated by a service provider that
charges the enterprise, and other users of the cloud based
computing system, a usage fee for using the system. In certain
embodiments, both the mobile device management system 926 and the
meta-application 950 are located at least partially in the cloud
956. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the cloud-based device
management system 926 can be configured to provide gateway rules to
the secure mobile gateway 928 via a connection 958, as described in
further detail below. Further, a software application on a mobile
device 920 can communicate with an enterprise resource 930 through
an application tunnel via connections 942, 960, and 962, with the
mobile device management system 926 acting as a tunneling mediator.
In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the meta-application portion 951
located in the cloud 956 can be configured to provide gateway rules
to the secure mobile gateway 928 via a connection 964, as described
in further detail below. The meta-application 951 (or its rules
engine) may alternatively be incorporated into the mobile device
management system 926, in which case it may orchestrate the
management of the mobile device management system 926.
[0213] FIG. 12 is an embodiment similar to FIG. 9, with the secure
mobile gateway 928 implemented in the firewall 922. In the
embodiment of FIG. 12, the secure mobile gateway 928 can be
implemented in a Threat Management Gateway (TMG) server. As
illustrated in FIG. 12, some embodiments of the enterprise system
910 can be implemented without an internal firewall 924.
[0214] FIG. 13 is an embodiment similar to FIG. 9, with the secure
mobile gateway 928 implemented in an enterprise resource 930. In
the embodiment of FIG. 13, the secure mobile gateway 928 can be
implemented in an Internet Information Services (IIS) server. Such
an IIS can be configured as an enterprise resource 930 and/or an
internal firewall 924.
[0215] It will be understood that any of the enterprise systems 910
can be implemented with any of the principles and advantages
described herein, as appropriate. Moreover, it will also be
understood that the enterprise systems illustrated in FIGS. 9-13
are provided for illustrative purposes, and other suitable systems
can be implemented in accordance with the principles and advantages
described herein.
[0216] FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the
mobile device management system 926 of FIG. 9. The mobile device
management system 926 can comprise a system of one or more
computers, computer servers, storage devices, and other components.
As explained in greater detail below, the mobile device management
system 926 can be configured to manage or co-manage the application
of "mobile device rules" 1614 to the mobile computing devices 920,
and/or to act as a "tunneling mediator" between the mobile devices
920 and the enterprise resources 930 during use of application
tunnels therebetween. The mobile device management system 926 can
also be configured to regulate mobile device access to the
enterprise system 910, such as during use of such application
tunnels. The illustrated components of the system 926 are described
below.
[0217] FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a
mobile computing device 920. The mobile device 920 can include a
number of ordinary or standard components of a mobile device, such
as a power supply 1701, a processor 1702, a user interface 1704, a
hard drive memory 1706, a memory card (e.g., Secure Digital (SD)
card) port 1707, a random access memory 1708, a network interface
1710, a subscriber identification module (SIM) card port 1712, a
camera 1714, and/or a GPS chip 1716. The implementation and use of
these components is generally well known and is not discussed
herein in significant detail. The power supply 1701 can include a
battery port, battery, and/or a port for receiving electrical power
from an external source (e.g., a standard electrical outlet). The
processor 1702 can be configured to execute software applications
and various other executable components. The user interface 1704
can include any of various known components, such as a keypad 1724
(such as a set of physical buttons or, alternatively, a touchscreen
keypad) for receiving text input, a screen or display 1726 (which
can be a touchscreen) for displaying text, images, and/or video, a
speaker 1728 or audio out port for producing audible output, and/or
a microphone 1730 for receiving audible input. The hard drive 1706
can comprise any of a variety of different types of nonvolatile
and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage. The memory card
port 1707 is configured to receive a memory card (e.g., an SD card)
on which data can be stored. The random access memory 1708 can be
used to store data used during the running of various processes.
The network interface 1710 can be used to send and receive data
over a network (e.g., the wireless network 925, which can operate
in accordance with a number of standards, such as Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G,
etc.). The SIM card port 1712 is configured to receive a SIM card,
as known in the art. The camera 1714 can be configured to capture
images and/or video. The GPS chip 1716 can be configured to process
GPS signals. The mobile device 920 can further include one or more
installed software applications 1718. The installed software
applications 1718 can be stored, for example, on the hard drive
1706 or in non-volatile solid state storage. The installed
applications can include both enterprise applications and personal
applications. It will be appreciated that the mobile device 920 can
include any other computer hardware components in place of or in
addition to those illustrated in FIG. 3, such as an accelerometer,
transceiver, battery charger, USB controller, baseband processor,
audio codec, etc.
[0218] In the illustrated embodiment, the mobile device 920
includes an enterprise agent 1720, which is preferably a software
application or other executable program installed on the mobile
device. The enterprise agent 1720 is preferably separate from the
operating system of the mobile device 920. In some embodiments,
however, the enterprise agent 1720 can be a component of the
operating system of the mobile device or partially/fully embedded
into the operating system of the mobile device 920. In various
embodiments described in greater detail below, the enterprise agent
1720 executes the mobile device rules 1614 and cooperates with the
enterprise system 910 to regulate the mobile device's access to the
enterprise system 910, including to the enterprise resources 930.
In some embodiments, an enterprise system 910 can prompt an
enterprise agent 1720 to connect to the system 910 (e.g., the
mobile device management system 926) by sending a text message
(e.g., SMS) to the mobile device 920, with a connection
command.
[0219] The enterprise agent 1720 can be installed onto the mobile
device 920 as a condition of the mobile device's enrollment with
the mobile device management system 926. The enterprise can employ
an automated subsystem for installing enterprise agents 1720 onto
the mobile devices 920 associated (e.g., enrolled) with the
enterprise. For example, a mobile device manager 1602 can be
configured to send the enterprise agents 1720 to the mobile devices
920 for automated installation or manual installation by the users
915. Alternatively, IT personnel can manually install the
enterprise agents 1720 onto the mobile devices 920, or end users
can download and install the enterprise agent 1720 from
commercially available application stores. Different types of
enterprise agents 1720 can be provided for different mobile device
types, platforms, operating systems, etc. The mobile device manager
1602 or another software component of the enterprise system 910 can
be configured to select an appropriate enterprise agent 1720 for
each given mobile device 920, based on such properties of the
mobile devices 920 (e.g., mobile device properties 1608 of FIG.
16).
[0220] The enterprise agent 1720 may implement a variety of
security-related features, including features that control (or
enable the control of) mobile device accesses to enterprise
resources 930. For example, the enterprise agent 1720 installed on
a given mobile device 920 may perform (e.g., instruct or cause the
mobile device 920 to perform) some or all of the following tasks:
(1) maintain a data connection with the enterprise system 910,
which connection can be used both for application tunnels and for
communications that do not involve application tunnels; (2) provide
access to a public or private enterprise app store from which the
user can download enterprise applications that have been approved
by and configured for the particular enterprise; (3) create
application tunnels for enabling enterprise applications installed
on the mobile device to securely access certain enterprise
resources, (4) collect, and transmit to the mobile device
management system 926, "inventory" data regarding the properties
and configuration of the mobile device, such as its manufacturer,
model, operating system, screen size, memory size, memory
availability, GPS coordinates, and which personal and enterprise
mobile applications are installed on the device; (5) implement a
log-in or other authentication service that requests and verifies
the user's authentication information (e.g., passcode) when, for
example, the user launches an enterprise mobile application; (6)
decrypt encrypted message attachments received from the secure
mobile gateway 928, such as encrypted attachments to email messages
received from other members of the user's enterprise; (7) maintain
a secure key store that is accessible by enterprise applications
for obtaining keys for encrypting and decrypting data; (8) check
for blacklisted mobile applications installed on the mobile device,
and report any such applications to the mobile device management
system; (9) perform precautionary actions, such as deleting
decryption keys used for decrypting message attachments, when
certain conditions are met, such as when a blacklisted mobile
application is detected on the mobile device or the device is
reported as stolen, (10) kill (terminate execution of) any
blacklisted applications or other mobile applications determined to
create a security risk, (11) provide one or more additional
services for keeping enterprise applications and data on the device
separate from personal application and data; (12) ensuring that
device-based security measures are activated (e.g., keyboard/screen
lock with passcode) and (13) wiping the device of all enterprise
application and data (in response to a command received from the
mobile device management system) when, for example, the user
discontinues employment with the enterprise. As described below,
some of these functions may alternatively be implemented in a
separate mobile application or component that is distinct from the
enterprise agent 1720.
[0221] The enterprise agent 1720 collects information about the
mobile device's configuration using standard operating system APIs
and mechanisms, and/or using its own APIs and mechanisms. For
example, in implementations for the Android operating system, the
enterprise agent may query the package manager to obtain a list of
the applications installed on the device. The enterprise agent can
similarly query the operating system for a list of mobile
applications that are currently running, and can monitor broadcast
messages to identify new applications that are being installed. The
device configuration information collected by the enterprise agent
through this process may be reported to the mobile device
management system 926, which may use the information to generate
rules that are applied by the secure mobile gateway 928 to control
the mobile device's accesses to enterprise resources 930. The
enterprise agent 1720 may itself also use the collected device
configuration information to take various precautionary actions,
such as killing blacklisted mobile applications as mentioned
above.
[0222] In one embodiment, the enterprise agent 1720 is (or is part
of) a mobile application that can be downloaded from an application
store and installed on a mobile device 920. Once the enterprise
agent has been installed and launched, the end user supplies
configuration information, such as a corporate email address and
email password, for enabling the agent to communicate with a
particular enterprise system 910. Once configured, the agent 1720
provides the user access to a secure application store from which
the user can download and install enterprise mobile applications
that have been approved by, and in some cases specifically
configured for, the user's enterprise. The functionality for
downloading and installing enterprise mobile applications may
alternatively be embodied within a separate "secure launcher"
mobile application that runs in conjunction with the enterprise
agent.
[0223] FIG. 18 illustrates some of the executable security-related
components 1750 that may be installed or implemented on a mobile
device 920 with, or as part of, the enterprise agent 1720. As will
be recognized, some of these components 1750 can be installed
without others, and the illustrated components can be combined in
various ways. One component is a key store 1750A that stores one or
more encryption keys. In one embodiment, the key store is
implemented and managed by the enterprise agent 1720, which enables
the enterprise applications to access the key store to obtain
encryption keys. A given enterprise application may, for example,
use the encryption keys to encrypt files and other data stored to
memory 1748.
[0224] With further reference to FIG. 18, a secure launcher 1750B
may also be installed on the mobile device 920 for launching
enterprise applications. The secure launcher may be part of the
enterprise agent 1720, or may be a separate mobile application. The
secure launcher 1750B may implement or enforce various security
policies, such as requiring user entry of a valid passcode when an
enterprise application is launched. One embodiment of a user
interface implemented by the secure launcher 1750B is shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15 and is described below. As described below,
enterprise applications may be modified or written to use the
secure launcher rather than the general launcher included in the
mobile device's operating system. In one embodiment, the secure
launcher also includes functionality for wiping the mobile device
920 of all enterprise applications and data in response to a
threshold number of consecutive invalid passcode entry attempts, or
in response to a remotely issued command from the enterprise's IT
department.
[0225] As further shown in FIG. 18, a secure virtual machine 1750C
may be installed on the mobile device 920 in some embodiments to
create or augment a secure execution environment for running some
or all of the enterprise applications. This secure virtual machine
(VM) supplements, and may run concurrently with, the mobile
operating system's default VM. For example, one or more enterprise
mobile applications may run within the secure VM while all other
mobile applications, including all personal mobile applications,
run on the same device in the operating system's default VM. As
described below under the heading "Secure Virtual Machine," the
secure VM 1750C implements a variety of policies and measures (such
as security, management, storage, networking, and/or process
execution policies) that are not implemented (or are implemented
unsuitably for enterprise applications) in the mobile operating
system's default VM. For example, the secure VM may be capable of
establishing application tunnels for accessing the enterprise
system, and may route requests from enterprise applications over
corresponding application tunnels. The secure VM may also prevent
an enterprise application from running unless and until the user
enters a valid passcode or otherwise successfully authenticates.
The secure VM may be installed on a mobile device together with a
set of code libraries that are used by the secure VM in place of
corresponding code libraries of the operating system.
[0226] One benefit of using a secure VM 1750C is that it reduces or
eliminates the need for the mobile applications to be specifically
written or modified for use with an enterprise system 910. For
example, an enterprise may wish to make a particular
commercially-available mobile application available to its
employees for use in accessing company resources, but may not have
permission to modify the application to implement the various
security features described herein (such as authentication, secure
storage, and secure networking). In such a scenario, the enterprise
may configure the mobile application or the mobile device to cause
this particular application, when executed, to run only within the
secure VM.
[0227] The secure VM is preferably implemented as a separate mobile
application, but may alternatively be part of another application
or component (such as the enterprise agent 1720 or the secure
launcher 1750B). The secure VM may be invoked in various ways; for
example, the enterprise agent may request that the secure VM run a
particular application, or an application may, upon being launched,
request or specify the secure VM as it's execution environment. In
some embodiments, the secure launcher 1750B and the secure VM 1750C
are used in combination to create a secure space for running
enterprise applications, although each can be used independently of
the other. Additional details of the secure VM are described below
in the section titled Secure Virtual Machine.
[0228] As further shown in FIG. 18, a secure container component
1750D may also be installed on the mobile device 920, preferably as
a separate mobile application or as part of the enterprise agent
1720. This component 1750D is responsible for creating a secure
container on the mobile device for the enterprise applications to
store documents and other information. One embodiment of this
feature is described below under the heading Secure Document
Containers. In some embodiments, when a selective wipe operation is
performed, some or all of the documents and data stored in the
secure container are deleted from the mobile device or are
otherwise made inaccessible.
[0229] FIG. 18 also shows two types of mobile applications 1718
that may be installed on the mobile device 920: enterprise
applications 1718A and personal applications 1718B. As illustrated,
an enterprise application 1718 may include executable security code
1760 (code libraries, etc.) for implementing some or all of the
disclosed client-side security functions (application tunnels,
passcode verification, encryption of data, etc.) This security code
1760 may be added via a special SDK, or may be added
post-development via the application wrapping process described
below in the section titled Modifying Behaviors of Pre-Existing
Mobile Applications. As mentioned above, in some cases a given
enterprise application may not include any security code 1760, but
may instead run within either a secure VM 1750C or a secure browser
that imposes a layer of security on the enterprise application.
[0230] In addition to the components shown in FIG. 18, one or more
code libraries may be installed on the mobile device for
implementing various security functions, such as data encryption
and formation of application tunnels. As one example, a custom SSL
library may be installed and used in place of the operating
system's SSL library to create secure application tunnels, as
described below in the section titled Application Tunnels.
[0231] With reference to FIG. 46, according to one aspect, devices
enrolled in MRM may be subject to different policies than those
devices not enrolled in MRM. For example, a policy file may allow
or disallow use of one or more resources provided by or to a mobile
device based on whether or not the device (or an app) is enrolled
in enterprise MRM (also referred to herein as EMM). Policy files
may also be configured to restrict features based on information
learned from the MRM system. In step 4601 a policy manager may
determine whether a device is enrolled in MRM. If the device is not
enrolled in MRM, then in step 4603 the device's policy manager
(e.g., client agent 404) applies a first policy file (or files). If
the device is enrolled in MRM , then in step 4605 the policy
manager applies a second policy file (or files). The mobile device
may subsequently request access to a resource, in step 4607. A
resource may be a data export technique described herein or
otherwise (e.g., memory sharing, URL dispatching, etc.), an
external network service (e.g., fileshare, dictation, network
access, etc.), or any other resource within or accessible by the
mobile device. In step 4609, the mobile device allows or disallows
access to the resource based on the policy file(s) in use.
[0232] When a user (e.g., an employee) executes a managed
application on the mobile device, the user is typically challenged
to authenticate the user's corporate identity along with passwords
and other factors as dictated by corporate policy. After having
authenticated the user and device, the access manager components of
the system verify that the user is entitled to the application in
question and downloads the policies that have been established by
the enterprise administrator for this user when using this specific
application. These application policies are usually cached and
periodically refreshed to ensure compliance with administrative
settings. These policies may further restrict access to the managed
application only during certain times, from certain networks, form
certain geo-locations, and only from devices that are in compliance
with all organizations security policies.
[0233] By basing one or more policies on enrollment in MRM, or on
information learned from enrollment in MRM, a policy can be based
on information not otherwise known to the client agent 404, but
which is known through the MRM service. For example, when enrolled
in MRM, the MRM server stores information regarding whether or not
a device has a device level PIN enabled, device level encryption,
security certificate information, and any other information that
the MRM server has access to through enterprise level management of
the device. Thus, in the example of FIG. 46, the second policy
file, in one embodiment, may base a policy decision on whether or
not the mobile device has a device level PIN enabled. In another
example, the second policy file may set a policy based on whether
or not the mobile device has device level encryption enabled. In
another example, the second policy file may set a policy based on
whether or not the mobile device has been provisioned with a
required certificate to access a particular enterprise resource.
For example, an internal enterprise web site might require that the
device be provisioned with a certificate from the MRM server. In
addition, the converse may also occur. For example, the MRM server
may grant a certificate to a mobile device when an applicable
policy file allows the device (or app) to access a particular
resource that requires a certificate administered by the MRM
server.
7. APPLICATION SPECIFIC POLICIES
[0234] According to some aspects of managed apps, a policy may be
based on or tailored to a particular application or type of
application. For example, a policy may be based on metadata
associated with a particular application (originator, service
description, version, etc.), or may be based on information
specific to that application, a feature offered by that
application, an application ID of the application etc. In such a
manner, a policy may be tailored to a specific application or
application type, e.g., web browsers, email, social networks, word
processing, spreadsheets, presentation, remote access,
virtualization, etc. Policies may further be specific to a
publisher of a specific application, e.g., INTERNET EXPLORER
published by Microsoft may have a first policy, whereas CHROME
published by Google may have a second policy. Alternatively, both
INTERNET EXPLORER and GOOGLE CHROME might be treated with a same
policy that applies to all web browser applications. Still further,
a policy may define how other than a web browser may execute sub
applications within an execution environment within the web
browser, e.g., HTML5 applications, or how a remote access
application, e.g., Citrix RECEIVER, might execute virtualized
apps.
[0235] In still further aspects, policies may be industry specific.
For example, all applications identified as associated with a
financial services industry might be subject to a first set of one
or more policies; all applications identified as associated with a
healthcare industry might be subject to a second set of one or more
policies; and all applications identified as associated with a
legal industry might be subject to a third set of one or more
policies. Individual policies may overlap, but the entire set to
which each is subject may differ, as needed. In still other
aspects, policies may be location specific, even within an industry
or irrespective of industry. For example, a healthcare app might be
subject to a first set of one or more policies when the mobile
device on which the app is running is determined to be
geographically located within a first hospital (e.g., Massachusetts
General Hospital), and the healthcare app might be subject to a
second set of one or more policies when the mobile device on which
the app is running is determined to be geographically located
within a second hospital (e.g., Brigham and Women's Hospital).
[0236] FIG. 50 illustrates an example of a process for managing
apps using an application-specific policy file. Initially, a
managed application may be received and/or installed in step 5001
on a mobile electronic device, as described herein. In step 5003
the device may separately and/or distinctly receive one or more
policy files defining one or more operational and/or behavioral
limitations of the managed app, e.g., based on one or more features
specific to the managed app. While the policy file(s) may be
optionally received as separate files, the policy files may be
received as part of a same communication or installation process as
the managed app.
[0237] In step 5005 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
5007, during operation of the managed app and based on one or the
policy files, a feature of the managed app may be restricted, that
might otherwise have been allowed had the policy file(s) not been
enforced, where such feature is specific to the managed app and not
included or possible with other managed apps. Various examples of
such application-specific policy files are provided in more detail
below, as may be used in accordance with FIG. 50 and/or other
processes described herein.
[0238] Various aspects are described in more detail below.
[0239] 7.A. Secure Web Browser Application
[0240] Another aspect of certain embodiments involves a web browser
within which other mobile device software applications can run. The
web browser can be provided with some or all of the enterprise
security and other features described herein, and can extend those
features for use with the mobile device applications that run
within the browser. In this way, the browser can be used to
implement BYOD policies while maintaining a desired level of
control over applications running on a mobile device 920 of an
enterprise user 915. An enterprise can require some or all of its
users 915 to install and use this web browser, to reduce enterprise
security risks associated with the use of such mobile device
applications. Further, in some circumstances, such a web browser
can make it unnecessary for application developers to develop
different versions of a mobile device application for different
mobile device platforms. As mentioned above, the secure browser can
also be used to enable mobile device users to access a corporate
intranet without the need for a virtual private network (VPN).
[0241] Referring to FIG. 17, a mobile device 920 can include a
specialized web browser 1732. The web browser 1732 can be
configured to perform the functions of conventional web browsers,
including surfing Internet sites, displaying and/or playing
multimedia content received from web servers, etc. The web browser
1732 can store data accessed via a network in a secure document
container 1736 and/or in a secure browser cache. Such data can be
deleted at the direction of an enterprise. For instance, a mobile
device management system 926 can initiate deletion or otherwise
make data stored in the secure document container 1736 and/or the
secure browser cache inaccessible. Additionally, the web browser
1732 is preferably configured to act as a container for at least
some other software applications 1718 installed on the mobile
device 920, to allow those applications 1718 to run within the
browser 1732. A software application 1718 can be configured to
launch the browser 1732 when the application 1718 is itself
launched by a user 915. Moreover, an application 1718 can be
configured to launch the browser 1732 and run within the browser
1732 in a manner that is transparent to the user 915. In other
words, the user 915 can be given the impression that the
application 1718 is running conventionally, without involving the
web browser 1732. The web browser 1732 can leverage a protocol that
facilitates its usage as a container for other software
applications 1718. For example, the web browser 1732 can leverage
HTML5 for this purpose.
[0242] The web browser 1732 can provide some or all of the
functionalities described herein. For example, the web browser 1732
can include some or all of the functionalities provided by the SDK
2404 and/or enterprise agent 1720 described above. Thus, the web
browser 1732 can be configured to use application tunnels for
communications with network resources (such as enterprise resources
930). The web browser 1732 can receive (or have embedded) mobile
device rules 1614 and remedial actions 1616 from the mobile device
management system 926 or another component of an enterprise system
910. The web browser 1732 can alternatively have embedded mobile
device rules and remedial actions. The web browser 1732 can employ
caching and/or compression methods within application tunnels, to
improve the user's communication experience as described above. The
web browser 1732 can be configured to provide credentials to, read
from, write to, and/or provide an editor for displaying and editing
documents obtained from a secure document container 1736 of the
mobile device 920, as described above. In certain embodiments, the
web browser 1732 can implement the secure document container 1736.
The web browser 1732 can prompt a user 915 to supply access
credentials prior and verify the access credentials prior to
exposing functionality of an application 1718 running within the
browser 1732 to the user 915. Alternatively or additionally, the
web browser 1732 can cause data stored to the mobile device 920 by
an application 1718 running in the web browser 1732 to be
encrypted. The web browser 1732 can be configured to participate in
a remote control session with a helpdesk operator, as described
above. The web browser 1732 can be configured to log fault
detections, performance measurements, related events, event times,
event locations, and other data, and to provide such data to an
analytics service as described above in connection with the SDK
2404. The web browser 1732 can be configured to engage in
communications with a meta-application, again as described above.
By providing at least some of these and/or other functionalities,
the web browser 1732 can make it unnecessary for mobile device
application developers to embed such functions within the mobile
device applications 1718.
[0243] In some embodiments, the web browser 1732 is configurable so
that one or more of these functionalities can be activated or
deactivated under defined conditions that can be configured, e.g.,
remotely by a remote computer system such as the enterprise system
910. Definable conditions include temporal conditions, location
conditions, mobile device properties, user properties (e.g., roles
1606), and others. A temporal condition can be the time of day. For
example, the web browser 1732 can be configured to force all mobile
traffic (at least for applications 1718 configured to launch the
browser 1732) through application tunnels only during working hours
(e.g., 8 am to 5 pm on Monday through Friday), and to send the
traffic conventionally outside of those hours. A location condition
can be the location of the mobile device 920. For example, the
browser 1732 can be configured to activate the aforementioned
compression and caching features when the device 920 is in a
geographical area known to have bad wireless connectivity.
[0244] Different web browsers 1732 can be created for different
mobile device platforms, with each of the browser versions using a
single standard for running mobile device applications. This can
advantageously allow mobile device application developers to
develop mobile device applications 1718 in just one programming
language, as opposed to creating different versions for the various
mobile device platforms. This can substantially reduce the
application development workload for developers.
[0245] An enterprise can require its users 915 to install the web
browser 1732 onto their mobile devices 920, and can prohibit the
use of other web browsers. The required browser 1732 can be
configured to direct at least some of the mobile device traffic
through application tunnels to an enterprise-controlled tunneling
mediator, such as the mediator 1624 described above. This gives the
enterprise greater control over the traffic, reducing security
risks. An enterprise can deploy a mobile device rule 1614 that
enables a device-resident enterprise agent 1720 or the web browser
1732 itself to detect the installation and/or use of a prohibited
web browser on the mobile device 920. An associated remedial action
1616 can prevent the usage of the prohibited web browser according
to methods described above, such as by uninstalling it, preventing
it from running, etc.
[0246] In some embodiments, the secure web browser 1732 can be
configured to direct some or all web surfing requests to a
content-filtering server as described above.
[0247] Other aspects of a browser' s operation may also be managed
by policy, e.g., including but not limited to, URL filtering
(whitelist/blacklist), customization of the presentation layer,
bookmarks (preloading/configuration of bookmarks), start/home pages
(presetting a page, preventing page changes, preventing page
changes except by receipt of an updated policy file, etc.),
download behavior (e.g., files in which downloads can be opened or
from which a file can be attached into a web apge), handling of
specific types of URLs (e.g., mailto: to be handled by corporate
email rather than gmail, etc.), handling of specific top level
domains (e.g., .xxx, .onion, .mil, .us, etc.), and/or control and
configuration of runtime platforms such as HTML5, FLASH,
Silverlight, .net, etc. (e.g., when embedded apps may be run, under
what conditions, storage locations accessible to each of different
embedded apps, etc.). Other characteristics may also be managed by
policy files.
[0248] FIG. 51 illustrates an example of a process for managing a
secure browser app using an application-specific policy file.
Initially, a managed secure browser application may be received
and/or installed in step 5101 on a mobile electronic device, as
described herein. In step 5103 the device may separately and/or
distinctly receive one or more policy files defining one or more
operational and/or behavioral limitations of the managed secure
browser app, e.g., based on one or more features specific to the
managed secure browser app discussed above. While the policy
file(s) may be optionally received as separate files, the policy
files may be received as part of a same communication or
installation process as the managed app.
[0249] In step 5105 the mobile device executes the managed secure
browser app in accordance with the policy files. That is, the
mobile device security manager (or equivalent process) restricts
operations of the managed secure browser app as defined by the one
or more policy files. In step 5107, during operation of the managed
secure browser app and based on one or the policy files, a feature
of the managed secure browser app may be restricted, that might
otherwise have been allowed had the policy file(s) not been
enforced, where such feature is specific to the managed secure
browser app and not included or possible with other managed apps.
Various examples of such application-specific policy files and
features that may be restricted/enforced are discussed above.
[0250] 7.B. Secure Personal Information Management (PIM)
Application
[0251] Another aspect of certain embodiments involves a personal
information management (PIM) application, e.g., that includes
email, calendar, contacts, notes, etc. The PIM app can be provided
with some or all of the enterprise security and other features
described herein, and can extend those features for use with the
individual features of the PIM app. In this way, the PIM app can be
used to implement BYOD policies while maintaining a desired level
of control over applications running on a mobile device 920 of an
enterprise user 915. An enterprise can require some or all of its
users 915 to install and use this PIM app, to reduce enterprise
security risks associated with the use of such mobile device
applications. Further, in some circumstances, such a PIM app can
make it unnecessary for application developers to develop different
versions of a mobile device application for different mobile device
platforms. As mentioned above, the PIM app can also be used to
enable mobile device users to access corporate services (e.g.,
email, calendar, etc.) without the need for a virtual private
network (VPN).
[0252] Referring again FIG. 17, a mobile device 920 can include a
specialized PIM application 1733. PIM app 1733 can be configured to
perform the functions of conventional PIM apps, including providing
email, calendar, contact, notes, journal, instant messaging, and
other communication/collaboration services. PIM app 1733 can store
data (e.g., contacts, events, meetings, messages, etc.) accessed
via a network in a secure document container 1736 and/or in a
secure browser cache. Such data can be deleted at the direction of
an enterprise. For instance, a mobile device management system 926
can initiate deletion or otherwise make data stored in the secure
document container 1736 and/or the secure browser cache
inaccessible. Additionally, PIM app 1733 is preferably configured
to act as a container for at least some other software applications
1718 installed on the mobile device 920, to allow those
applications 1718 to run within PIM app 1733 (e.g., add-ons,
integrations, etc.). A software application 1718 can be configured
to launch PIM app 1733 when the application 1718 is itself launched
by a user 915.
[0253] PIM app 1733 can provide some or all of the functionalities
described herein. For example, PIM app 1733 can include some or all
of the functionalities provided by the SDK 2404 and/or enterprise
agent 1720 described above. Thus, PIM app 1733 can be configured to
use application tunnels for communications with network resources
(such as enterprise resources 930). PIM app 1733 can receive (or
have embedded) mobile device rules 1614 and remedial actions 1616
from the mobile device management system 926 or another component
of an enterprise system 910. PIM app 1733 can alternatively have
embedded mobile device rules and remedial actions. PIM app 1733 can
employ caching and/or compression methods within application
tunnels, to improve the user's communication experience as
described above. PIM app 1733 can be configured to provide
credentials to, read from, write to, and/or provide an editor for
displaying and editing documents obtained from a secure document
container 1736 of the mobile device 920, as described above. In
certain embodiments, PIM app 1733 can implement the secure document
container 1736. PIM app 1733 can prompt a user 915 to supply access
credentials prior and verify the access credentials prior to
exposing functionality as defined by an EMM service or policy.
Alternatively or additionally, PIM app 1733 can cause data stored
to the mobile device 920 to be encrypted. PIM app 1733 can be
configured to log fault detections, performance measurements,
related events, event times, event locations, and other data, and
to provide such data to an analytics service as described above in
connection with the SDK 2404. PIM app 1733 can be configured to
engage in communications with a meta-application, again as
described above. By providing at least some of these and/or other
functionalities, PIM app 1733 can make it unnecessary for mobile
device application developers to embed such functions within the
mobile device applications 1718.
[0254] In some embodiments, PIM app 1733 is configurable so that
one or more of these functionalities can be activated or
deactivated under defined conditions that can be configured, e.g.,
remotely by a remote computer system such as the enterprise system
910. Definable conditions include temporal conditions, location
conditions, mobile device properties, user properties (e.g., roles
1606), and others. A temporal condition can be the time of day. For
example, PIM app 1733 can be configured to force all mobile traffic
through application tunnels only during working hours (e.g., 8 am
to 5 pm on Monday through Friday), and to send the traffic
conventionally outside of those hours. A location condition can be
the location of the mobile device 920. For example, PIM app 1733
can be configured to activate the aforementioned compression and
caching features when the device 920 is in a geographical area
known to have bad wireless connectivity, or in unsecure
locations.
[0255] Different PIM apps 1733 can be created for different mobile
device platforms. An enterprise can require its users 915 to
install PIM app 1733 onto their mobile devices 920, and can
prohibit the use of other PIM app software. The required PIM app
1733 can be configured to direct at least some of the mobile device
traffic through application tunnels to an enterprise-controlled
tunneling mediator, such as the mediator 1624 described above. This
gives the enterprise greater control over the traffic, reducing
security risks. An enterprise can deploy a mobile device rule 1614
that enables a device-resident enterprise agent 1720 or PIM app
1733 itself to detect the installation and/or use of a prohibited
PIM app on the mobile device 920. An associated remedial action
1616 can prevent the usage of the prohibited PIM app according to
methods described above, such as by uninstalling it, preventing it
from running, etc.
[0256] In some embodiments, PIM app 1733 can be configured to
direct some or all mail send/receive requests and/or events to a
content-filtering server as described above.
[0257] The above aspects, or other aspects, of a PIM app's
operation may also be managed by policy, e.g., including but not
limited to, address filtering (whitelist/blacklist autopopulation
and/or prepopulation), customization of the presentation layer,
address book contents (preloading/configuration of address book,
conditions under which contacts may be exported, etc.), calendars
to which the user has access, handling of specific types of URLs,
files (e.g., URL dispatches), handling message attachments (e.g.,
defining which applications from which a file can be attached;
defining in which applications attached files may be opened, e.g.,
.PDF to be handled by managed PDF viewer rather than open PDF
viewer), control and configuration of add-ons, extensions, and/or
runtime platforms such as HTML5, FLASH, Silverlight, .net, etc.,
control of message retention (duration, conditions, etc., before
automatic archive or deletion), and/or control of an automatic
installation process for the secure mail/PIM app.
[0258] FIG. 52 illustrates an example of a process for managing a
PIM app using an application-specific policy file. Initially, a
managed PIM application may be received and/or installed in step
5201 on a mobile electronic device, as described herein. In step
5203 the device may separately and/or distinctly receive one or
more policy files defining one or more operational and/or
behavioral limitations of the managed PIM app, e.g., based on one
or more features specific to the managed PIM app discussed above.
While the policy file(s) may be optionally received as separate
files, the policy files may be received as part of a same
communication or installation process as the managed app.
[0259] In step 5205 the mobile device executes the managed PIM app
in accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed PIM app as defined by the one or more policy files. In
step 5207, during operation of the managed PIM app and based on one
or the policy files, a feature of the managed PIM app may be
restricted, that might otherwise have been allowed had the policy
file(s) not been enforced, where such feature is specific to the
managed PIM app and not included or possible with other managed
apps. Various examples of such application-specific policy files
and features that may be restricted/enforced are discussed
above.
[0260] 7.C. Client Agent/Virtualization Application Policies
[0261] Another aspect of certain embodiments involves a
virtualization application, e.g., a client agent such as CITRIX
RECEIVER, and policies specific to such an application. The client
agent can be provided with some or all of the enterprise security
and other features described herein, and can extend those features
for use with the individual features of the client agent. In this
way, the client agent can be used to implement BYOD policies while
maintaining a desired level of control over applications running on
a mobile device 920 of an enterprise user 915. An enterprise can
require some or all of its users 915 to install and use this client
agent, to reduce enterprise security risks associated with the use
of such mobile device applications. Further, in some circumstances,
such a client agent can make it unnecessary for application
developers to develop different versions of a mobile device
application for different mobile device platforms. As mentioned
above, the client agent app can also be used to enable mobile
device users to access corporate services (e.g., applications,
desktops, servers, email, calendar, etc.) without the need for a
virtual private network (VPN).
[0262] Referring again FIG. 17, a mobile device 920 can include a
specialized client agent 1720. Client agent 1720 can be configured
to perform the functions of conventional client agents, e.g.,
remote access to enterprise resources. Client agent 1720 can store
data accessed via a network in a secure document container 1736
and/or in a secure browser cache. Such data can be deleted at the
direction of an enterprise. For instance, a mobile device
management system 926 can initiate deletion or otherwise make data
stored in the secure document container 1736 and/or the secure
browser cache inaccessible. Additionally, client agent 1720 is
preferably configured to act as a container for at least some other
software applications 1718 installed on the mobile device 920, to
allow those applications 1718 to run within client agent 1720
(e.g., as a remotely accessed application or virtualized
application.). A software application 1718 can be configured to
launch client agent 1720 when the application 1718 is itself
launched by a user 915.
[0263] Client agent 1720 can provide some or all of the
functionalities described herein. For example, client agent 1720
can include some or all of the functionalities provided by the SDK
2404. Thus, client agent 1720 can be configured to use application
tunnels for communications with network resources (such as
enterprise resources 930). Client agent 1720 can receive (or have
embedded) mobile device rules 1614 and remedial actions 1616 from
the mobile device management system 926 or another component of an
enterprise system 910. Client agent 1720 can alternatively have
embedded mobile device rules and remedial actions. Client agent
1720 can employ caching and/or compression methods within
application tunnels, to improve the user's communication experience
as described above. Client agent 1720 can be configured to provide
credentials to, read from, write to, and/or provide an editor for
displaying and editing documents obtained from a secure document
container 1736 of the mobile device 920, as described above. In
certain embodiments, client agent 1720 can implement the secure
document container 1736. Client agent 1720 can prompt a user 915 to
supply access credentials prior and verify the access credentials
prior to exposing functionality as defined by an EMM service or
policy. Alternatively or additionally, client agent 1720 can cause
data stored to the mobile device 920 to be encrypted. Client agent
1720 can be configured to log fault detections, performance
measurements, related events, event times, event locations, and
other data, and to provide such data to an analytics service as
described above in connection with the SDK 2404. Client agent 1720
can be configured to engage in communications with a
meta-application, again as described above. By providing at least
some of these and/or other functionalities, client agent 1720 can
make it unnecessary for mobile device application developers to
embed such functions within the mobile device applications
1718.
[0264] In some embodiments, client agent 1720 is configurable so
that one or more of these functionalities can be activated or
deactivated under defined conditions that can be configured, e.g.,
remotely by a remote computer system such as the enterprise system
910. Definable conditions include temporal conditions, location
conditions, mobile device properties, user properties (e.g., roles
1606), and others. A temporal condition can be the time of day. For
example, client agent 1720 can be configured to force all mobile
traffic through application tunnels only during working hours
(e.g., 8 am to 5 pm on Monday through Friday), and to send the
traffic conventionally outside of those hours. A location condition
can be the location of the mobile device 920. For example, client
agent 1720 can be configured to activate the aforementioned
compression and caching features when the device 920 is in a
geographical area known to have bad wireless connectivity, or in
unsecure locations.
[0265] Different client agents 1720 can be created for different
mobile device platforms. An enterprise can require its users 915 to
install client agent 1720 onto their mobile devices 920, and can
prohibit the use of other client agent software. The required
client agent 1720 can be configured to direct at least some of the
mobile device traffic through application tunnels to an
enterprise-controlled tunneling mediator, such as the mediator 1624
described above. This gives the enterprise greater control over the
traffic, reducing security risks. An enterprise can deploy a mobile
device rule 1614 that enables client agent 1720 to detect the
installation and/or use of a prohibited application on the mobile
device 920. An associated remedial action 1616 can prevent the
usage of the prohibited client agent according to methods described
above, such as by uninstalling it, preventing it from running,
etc.
[0266] In some embodiments, client agent 1720 can be configured to
direct some or all mail send/receive requests and/or events to a
content-filtering server as described above.
[0267] Any of the above aspects, or other aspects, of a client
agent's operation may be managed by policy, e.g., including but not
limited to, application filtering (whitelist/blacklist),
differentiation of access/authorizations based on whether an
application is running local on a device or through a client agent
app, customization of the presentation layer, and/or address book
contents (preloading allowable enterprise apps), to name a few.
[0268] Using any of the above features, one or more policy files
may be adapted to or created for applications running in a
virtualization mode on a mobile client device. The virtualization
mode may include, for example, when an application is executing
remotely from the mobile device (e.g., remote access), but is
presented to a user of the mobile device through the client agent
software to appear as though the application is executing locally.
Other types of virtualization may also be possible. The set of one
or more policy files may restrict one or more capabilities of the
remotely executing application when the remotely executing
application is executing through the client agent than when the
same application may be executing directly on the local mobile
device. For example, the set of one or more policy files, when
applied by the mobile client device mobile device, might cause a
managed application to operate using a different set of policy
files when the managed application is running in the virtualization
mode on the mobile client device, than when the managed application
is directly executing on the mobile client device. In some
examples, the set of policy files may automatically configure the
managed application to run in the virtualization mode. In other
examples, the set of policy files may restrict cutting and pasting
between applications executing directly on the device with
applications executing in the virtualization mode. In some
examples, applications running in virtualized mode might be
restricted altogether from accessing a device clipboard and/or a
secure clipboard (described above), based on one or more policy
files. Thus, policy file(s) may be used to restrict one or more
capabilities of an application executing remotely from the local
(e.g., mobile) device. Such capabilities may include a general
capability, such as access to a clipboard, or may include a
capability specific to the application program, e.g., access to
enterprise-specific modules within the application program. As one
non-limiting example, a policy file might restrict user access to a
set of enterprise-specific "shapes" in MICROSOFT VISIO when the
application is executing through the virtualization mode, whereas
the user might have access to the enterprise-specific "shapes" when
VISIO is executing locally on a device.
[0269] According to an aspect, the set of policy files may apply
only to a client agent application capable of executing enterprise
approved applications in the virtualization mode on the mobile
client device. That is, policy files might apply to a client agent
type of application, generically, which may include, e.g., CITRIX
RECEIVER and other applications of the same genre. The policy files
might then affect any application accessed by or within the client
agent application (e.g., using a remote access mode), whereas a
different set of policy files might be applied against other types
of applications executing on the mobile client device. The client
agent application may serve as a sort of application "sandbox",
preventing malicious applications from accessing other areas of a
mobile device.
[0270] In some examples, the policy files might define time-based
or geographic location-based restrictions on access to enterprise
resources through the client agent application. Different
restrictions can be used for each enterprise resource, or common
restrictions might apply to multiple enterprise resources.
[0271] These are but a few examples, and any other type of
restriction may be used that is controllable by a policy file as
described herein. FIG. 53 illustrates an example of a process for
managing a client agent app using an application-specific policy
file. Initially, a managed client agent application may be received
and/or installed in step 5301 on a mobile electronic device, as
described herein. In step 5303 the device may separately and/or
distinctly receive one or more policy files defining one or more
operational and/or behavioral limitations of the managed client
agent app, e.g., based on one or more features specific to the
managed client agent app discussed above. While the policy file(s)
may be optionally received as separate files, the policy files may
be received as part of a same communication or installation process
as the managed app.
[0272] In step 5305 the mobile device executes the managed client
agent app in accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile
device security manager (or equivalent process) restricts
operations of the managed client agent app as defined by the one or
more policy files. In step 5307, during operation of the managed
client agent app and based on one or more of the policy files, a
feature of the managed client agent app may be restricted, that
might otherwise have been allowed had the policy file(s) not been
enforced, where such feature is specific to the managed client
agent app and not included or possible with other managed apps.
Various examples of such application-specific policy files and
features that may be restricted/enforced are discussed above.
[0273] 7.D. Modification of Unmanaged Applications into Managed
Applications
[0274] A system and process will now be described for enabling
non-developers, such as members of a company's IT department, to
add to or otherwise modify the behaviors of an existing mobile
application, such as an Android, IOS, or Windows Mobile
application, based on the specific application or type of
application (e.g., an email application, browser, etc.). The system
and process can be used, as one example, to create different
versions of a mobile application (with different privileges, access
rights, etc.) based on a user's role within the enterprise. For
instance, different versions of the mobile application can be
created for different job categories (e.g., executive,
non-executive employee, intern, etc.) and/or different departments
(sales, IT, human resources, etc.). The processes described in this
section can be implemented in an application modification or
"wrapping" tool or utility that is made available to enterprises
that use the disclosed system. This utility may, for example, be
hosted on a server (e.g., as a web service) that is accessible to
enterprises, or may be provided to the enterprises (e.g., as a PC
application).
[0275] In a typical use case scenario, the mobile application to be
modified is a custom application developed for a particular
enterprise. However, this need not be the case. For example, the
disclosed system and process are also applicable to commercially
available mobile applications available in app stores. The mobile
applications can be modified without being specially written to
support or enable such modifications. For example, the developer
need not include any special code or functionality in the
application to enable or facilitate the modifications, and need not
be involved in the disclosed process of modifying the
application.
[0276] The behaviors that are modified typically include or consist
of behaviors that involve standard API calls or classes. The
following are examples of some of the types of behaviors that can
be added or modified via the disclosed process:
[0277] 1. The cut-and-paste capability commonly provided through
mobile device operating systems, such as Android and IOS, can be
disabled within a particular mobile application, such as an
application that provides access to confidential corporate data.
This behavioral change may be desirable to inhibit employees (or a
certain class of employees) from accidentally or maliciously
sending or moving confidential data to an unauthorized
location.
[0278] 2. A mobile application that stores its output in a
non-encrypted format can be modified to store its output in an
encrypted format. In one embodiment, this is accomplished in-part
by modifying the mobile application's input/output references to
cause the application to use an encryption library to encrypt and
decrypt the data it write to or reads from memory. Code may also be
injected that causes the mobile application to obtain a key from
the enterprise agent for use in encrypting and decrypting the
data.
[0279] 3. A mobile application that uses a certain level or type of
encryption can be modified to use a different level or type of
encryption. For example, if the Federal Government requires the
enterprise to begin using a particular encryption library, an
existing mobile application can be modified to effectively replace
the existing encryption library with the new one.
[0280] 4. An enterprise can modify a mobile application to cause it
to use a special secure connection to the enterprise's network or
enterprise system. For example, the mobile application can be
configured to use a secure application tunnel as described
above.
[0281] 5. A mobile application can be modified to add a log-in or
other authentication prompt or screen.
[0282] 6. A mobile application can be configured to log and/or
report data regarding its usage. This data may include, for
example, the time and duration of use, the location (based, e.g.,
on GPS coordinates) of use, the application features invoked, the
access points accessed, etc. (Existing mobile device operating
systems such as Android and IOS provide functionality for enabling
applications to obtain these and other types of usage parameters).
This usage data may be used by an enterprise to, for example,
monitor employee compliance with the enterprise's usage restriction
policies, to identify and correct problems with particular
enterprise mobile applications, or to determine whether to continue
paying for application licenses for particular users. The
application usage data collected on a mobile device 920 may, for
example, be reported by the enterprise agent 1720 to the mobile
device management system 926, or some other system, for
analysis.
[0283] 7. A mobile application can be modified to enable an
enterprise to remotely initiate deletion of the application's data
on a particular mobile device 920 of a particular employee, without
affecting other users of the application. As mentioned above, such
selective wipe operations may also be executed when, for example, a
user fails to enter a valid enterprise passcode a threshold number
of times.
[0284] 8. A mobile application can be modified such that it can
only be launched in by a secure launcher 1750B (FIG. 18), and not
by the general launcher of the mobile device's operating system.
This may be accomplished by, for example, changing one or more
references in the mobile application to the mobile operating
system's general launcher so that they point instead to the secure
launcher. As explained above, the secure launcher may implement one
or more security policies, such as requiring entry of a valid
passcode before the enterprise application is launched. The secure
launcher may also cause the enterprise applications to run in a
secure execution environment, such as by causing the enterprise
applications to be executed using a secure virtual machine (FIG.
18) that is separate from the mobile operating system's virtual
machine. (See section below.)
[0285] 9. A mobile application can be modified to cause it to
launch in a secure virtual machine 1750C (FIG. 18). This may be
accomplished by, for example, modifying a reference in the
application (e.g., in an Android application's manifest or in any
manner in which the application is launched) to cause it to be
launched in a secure VM. As explained below in the section titled
Secure Virtual Machine, the secure VM may implement some of the
client-side security functions described herein (encryption,
application tunnels, etc.), reducing or eliminating the need to add
such functions to the mobile applications themselves. This can
enable enterprise applications to be run in a secure execution
environment, while personal applications are run in a default
VM.
[0286] Other examples include disabling offline access, adding URL
filtering, adding API filtering, disabling writes to local storage,
and preventing documents from being opened in new applications.
[0287] FIG. 19 illustrates one embodiment of the application
modification system. According to this aspect, the system includes
an application transformer 1900 that makes the modifications based
on operator-selected policies. For example, after completion of the
process described below, an application may be modified to operate
under the control of one or more policy files provided by an EMM.
That is, the modifications do not necessarily implement specific
policies, but rather modify an application to be capable of running
in accordance with one or more EMM policy files. In other aspects,
an application's source code may be modified, e.g., hard-coded, to
permanently implement one or more restrictions described above.
[0288] For Android applications, the transformer 1900 receives the
application's .APK (application package) file, and outputs a new
.APK file representing the modified application. For IOS, the
transformer 1900 receives a IPA (iPhone application archive) file,
and outputs a new .IPA file representing the modified application.
Various other file formats and mobile device operating systems may
be supported. As shown in FIG. 19, the application transformer 1900
preferably includes a disassembler 1900A (for disassembling the
application's executable code), a code analyzer/mapper 1900B, a
code modifier/injector 1900C, and an application rebuilder
1900D.
[0289] As shown in FIG. 19, the transformer 1900 accesses a policy
library 1902 containing policy descriptions for various policies
and associated behaviors, such as those listed above. For example,
a "disable cut-and-paste" policy may be provided. The policies may
be described in any appropriate language and format. For example,
the policy descriptions may be stored as DEX or smali files. As
further shown in FIG. 19, the system also includes a control
interface 1904 or "console" that enables an administrator to select
the policy or policies to be applied to a given mobile application.
The console 1904 may also include a tool for enabling
administrators to define new policies. For example, a new policy
could be defined that adds an authentication sequence, disables
cut-and-paste, and causes all files to be stored in encrypted form.
This policy could then be used as a basis for modifying multiple
mobile applications.
[0290] In a typical use case scenario, a member of a company's IT
department uses the control interface 1904 to: select a mobile
application to be modified, select the policy or policies to be
applied, and initiate the transformation process. The modified
application is then distributed to the relevant employees or other
users (e.g., through a special application store that is accessible
through the enterprise agent, as described above). This process may
be repeated with different policy selections to create different
versions of the application for different users. The policy library
1902 may, for example, include policy files for implementing some
or all of the types of policies described above (and various
others).
[0291] FIG. 20 illustrates a sequence of steps that may be
performed by transformer 1900 to modify an Android application
based on a selected set of one or more policies. A similar process
may be used to transform applications written for other operating
systems, such as IOS and Windows Mobile. The entire process shown
in FIG. 20 is preferably fully automated, meaning that no human
intervention is required. In block 2000, the .APK file is opened.
As in known in the art, this file contains various application
components, such as the application's executable code, images, XML
files, a manifest, and other resources. In block 2002, the
disassembler 1900A disassembles the application's executable code
to generate one or more textual smali files. As will be recognized,
an intermediate language other than smali can be used to implement
the disclosed modification tasks.
[0292] In block 2004, the analyzer/mapper 1900B analyzes and maps
the application code (in smali format) to generate information
regarding API calls that will potentially be replaced. In block
2006, the relevant API calls are replaced with new API calls for
implementing the selected policy or policies. In addition, the
associated code from the policy library 1902 is added. For example,
if the cut-and-paste functionality is being disabled, any API calls
that are used by the application to access the operating system's
cut-and-paste functionality may be removed or replaced.
[0293] As one example, a new version of the Java I/O File Input
Stream (Java.io.FileInputStream) class may be generated, and all
references to the original class may be modified to point to this
new version. The new version may, for example, include code for
encrypting and decrypting data on file write and read operations,
respectively.
[0294] In block 2008 of FIG. 20, additional code may be added, if
applicable, to implement one or more features or behaviors that do
not require the replacement of any existing API calls. As one
example, code may be added for enabling an authorized administrator
to remotely trigger the deletion, on a user-specific or mobile
device specific basis, of the application's data stored on a
particular mobile device. In this example, the code added in block
2008 would add functionality for receiving and processing a message
containing a command to perform such a selective wipe or deletion
operation.
[0295] To provide an additional layer of security, the portions of
the code that are modified in the preceding blocks may be
obfuscated using obfuscation methods and functions that are known
in the art. The use of obfuscation impairs the ability of others to
reverse engineer the security functions added to the application.
Obfuscation may be applied to the disassembled code (e.g., smali
code), or may be applied at a different level.
[0296] In block 2010 of FIG. 20, the application's manifest (e.g.,
AndroidManifest.xml) is modified, if necessary, to reflect the
modified behaviors. As one example, if the application is being
modified to be launched in a secure shell, the manifest would be
modified to instruct the Android operating system to use the secure
shell to launch the application. In some embodiments, this involves
replacing a reference to the operating system's general launcher
with a reference to a secure launcher 1750B (FIG. 18). In block
2012, the modified smali code and manifest, together with the other
extracted application components, are compiled into a new .APK
file. In block 2014, this new .APK file is signed using a digital
certificate.
[0297] Mobile applications written for the IOS operating system may
be modified in a similar manner. Typically, such an application is
distributed as an IPA file that includes an executable in Mach-O
format, a P-list, and resources. Once the executable has been
disassembled to produce ARM assembly code, it is mapped to identify
classes to potentially be replaced, and is then modified by: (1)
identifying one or more specific classes to be replaced, (2)
adding/modifying the code to replace such class(es), (3) adjusting
the class structure to reflect the modifications, so that each new
class is a subclass of the original code, and (4) updating the
references to point to the new class or classes.
[0298] According to an alternative method, an IOS application may
be modified using limited external symbol substitution. A
dynamically linked library may then be added to the application
package before recertifying. Subsequently, when the application is
executed (runtime) the dynamically linked library is initialized
and API interception is accomplished as a result. When using an SDK
approach for delivering iOS framework code, the same library may be
statically linked into the application during a build process while
a small number of relevant symbols may be overridden by compilation
directive. API interception may again occur at run time by hooking
and replacing system functions.
[0299] In some embodiments, the above-described process may be
augmented with one or more tests for verifying that the mobile
application to be modified does not contain malware, or does not
otherwise present a risk to enterprise security. One such test
involves generating a hash of some or all of the application files,
and then comparing this hash to library of hashes that are
associated with known malware. If a match is found (indicating that
the application likely includes malware), the application
modification process may be terminated.
[0300] Another such test involves inspecting the API calls and URL
requests made by the application to check for suspicious activity.
Examples of suspicious activity include reading the personal
contacts stored on the device, sending an email to a cloud storage
service, and sending location information without first requesting
user permission. Based on this analysis, a score (e.g., on a scale
of 1 to 100) may be generated that represents the level of risk
posed by the mobile application. The modification process may be
terminated if this score exceeds a threshold. The score may
additionally or alternatively be included in a report that details
the suspicious activity detected. The application modification tool
may, for example, output this report for review, and may prompt the
administrator-user to confirm or indicate whether the modification
process should proceed.
[0301] The application modification system shown in FIG. 19 may,
for example, be implemented on a server, personal computer,
workstation, or other computer or system of computers within a
company's enterprise system. Alternatively, the application
modification system may be implemented as a hosted service that is
accessible to corporate customers over the Internet. The various
components 1900-1904 of the system may be implemented as code
modules that are stored on any type(s) of non-transitory computer
storage device or system.
[0302] The components 1900, 1902, 1904 of the system shown in FIG.
19 may be provided to companies as part of a larger system (such as
the system described in other sections of this specification) for
enabling the companies to manage mobile devices and to protect data
accessed by such devices. For example, these components may be
bundled and licensed with various other components described in
this disclosure. Alternatively, the application modification system
of FIG. 19 may be provided to companies as a standalone product, or
as a system that is hosted by a service provider and accessed over
a network.
[0303] Using one or more aspects described above, a mail/email
application may be secured using application-specific policies.
That is, one or more policies may apply to the mail app based on
features provided by, within, or to the mail app. According to an
aspect, a policy may define when to accept and/or deny a URL
dispatch including a preformed mail message. According to another
aspect, a policy may derive information from a single sign-on
server (SSO) (e.g., user ID, handle, etc.) to autoconfigure a mail
application with out user interaction. In such a scenario, a mail
application may communicate with a client agent 404, create a
MicroVPN or tunnel to a network server 406, and then configure
itself based on information received via the MicroVPN.
[0304] According to some aspects, mail facilities may be enabled
and/or disable based on a policy file. In one example, contact
sharing may be enabled/disables based on policy. A user may be
allowed to export a contact to other managed apps, but not to
unmanaged apps. In addition, a user may be able to attach, open,
view, access, use, and/or export an attachment only to, from or
within other managed apps, and not be allowed to perform similar
activities on or with an attachment using an unmanaged app.
[0305] According to another aspect, policies may be usable to
define how long messages are retained and when messages are deleted
(e.g., based on time, size, sender, recipient, etc.). Policies may
also be used to define storage
8. NETWORK AND DATA ACCESS
[0306] 8.A. MicroVPN/Tunneling
[0307] FIG. 21 shows an electronic environment which enables an
electronic mobile device to securely access a computerized resource
via per-app policy-controlled VPN tunneling. The cloud represents a
communications medium (e.g., a wireless computer network, the
Internet, a cellular network, combinations thereof, and so on)
which enables the electronic mobile device to communicate with the
remote access point.
[0308] FIG. 22 shows particular details of the electronic mobile
device of FIG. 21. As shown, the electronic mobile device includes,
among other things, a user interface for user input/output, memory
to store information, and processing circuitry. Examples of
suitable mobile devices include smart phones, tablet devices,
electronic notebooks, and so on. Furthermore, various specific
platforms are suitable for use such as those running iOS provided
by Apple Computer, Android provided by Google, and Windows provided
by Microsoft are suitable.
[0309] During operation, the mobile device builds per-application
policy-controlled VPN-style connections between the specific
applications and a remote access point (e.g., a VPN server, a
gateway, an individual computer, etc.). In particular, each
specific application (i.e., a specially configured trusted
application) is capable of coordinating operation with the
specialized network software so that an application specific tunnel
is constructed between that specific application and the remote
access point.
[0310] FIG. 23 shows a flowchart of a procedure which is performed
by the processing circuitry of the mobile device when operating in
accordance with various software constructs stored in the memory of
the mobile device. In particular, the procedure enables the mobile
device to access a computerized resource via an application
specific tunnel.
[0311] A variety of authentication techniques may be employed in
the procedure above. For example, in some arrangements, a set of
tickets (or tokens) is loaded into the mobile device during initial
authentication. Such tickets may be one-time use and/or time-based,
and impose constraints to certain applications, resources and/or
privileges (e.g., short-lived vs. longer-lived access).
[0312] During authentication of the user to the remote access
point, such tickets are offered in order to authenticate the user
in a transparent manner. That is, one or more tickets are provided
from the mobile device to the remote access point in an effort to
avoid burdening the user to re-authenticate. Nevertheless, it
should be understood that over time, such tickets may expire. If
such tickets expire prior to use, operations that required tickets
instead now require that the user re-authenticate.
[0313] In some arrangements, access control is structured so that
the level of security diminishes over time. For instance, some
tickets which enable high security may expire first (e.g., after a
predefined amount of time such as an hour, 15 minutes, etc.). Other
tickets which enable lower security may expire at a later time
(e.g., after a later predefined amount of time such as a day,
etc.). Other ticket-based techniques for imposing different levels
of security based on time are suitable for use as well.
[0314] Enterprises may be increasingly interested in developing
native applications for popular mobile device platforms such as
iOS, Android, and/or Windows phones and tablets. One of the
requirements for such applications may be the need for enterprise
developed applications to be able to access the corporate intranet
from wherever the device and user maybe.
[0315] Many mobile resource management (MRM) solutions (also
referred to herein as EMM) offer a virtual private network (VPN)
solution as the mechanism for providing such access. However,
traditional VPNs have the downside that all applications running on
the mobile device are granted uniform access to the corporate
intranet. Increasingly, mobile devices used to access enterprise
resources are employee owned and not enrolled with an EMM server,
and therefore not tightly controlled or managed by a corporate IT
department. As such, there is a real risk of malware and other
unauthorized software running on an employee's own mobile device to
gain access to the corporate intranet when using traditional VPN
software.
[0316] Some forms of EMM seek to manage an entire mobile device.
This is often referred to as Mobile Device Management (MDM). Unlike
MDM, a Mobile Application Management (MAM) solution seeks only to
manage the enterprise applications and their associated data which
may be installed and running on an employee's mobile device. Such
systems generally use role based access to provision specially
prepared enterprise apps that are specifically designed to protect
corporate assets. Such applications may be policy controlled by an
enterprise administrator and often require the employee to logon to
corporate servers in order to access the managed applications.
[0317] Access to corporate servers is not a problem when the mobile
device is connected directly to a private corporate wireless
network or LAN. But when the employee's device is connected to a
foreign network such as 3G/4G network, home-based WiFi, or other
public access point, transparent network access to corporate
intranet is problematic without a VPN. However, because a system
level VPN gives access to all the mobile device applications
uniformly, a better solution for a managed enterprise applications
is a per-application VPN technology that can be policy controlled.
In this case, VPN access is granted to specific users and their
specially prepared enterprise applications only based on each
employee's role within the organization. Non-enterprise
applications would have no awareness of or access to resources
inside of the corporate intranet through this per-application VPN
connection.
[0318] An object of certain embodiments is to provide a method for
specially prepared enterprise applications delivered and managed
through an enterprise mobile application management system to
utilize VPN technology for access to corporate intranet resources
even when the mobile device is connected to a foreign network
outside the corporate LAN, and to do so with enterprise assigned
policies that limit such access to specifically designated mobile
applications for specifically designated users based on their role
within the organization.
[0319] Enterprises first create (or adapt) their native mobile
applications using tools and SDKs associated with the mobile
application management solution they have chosen to deploy. Among
other things, this step adds some specialized network software to
an application such that it will be capable of making VPN-style
connection through a corporate gateway device after authenticating
the user and application.
[0320] These specially prepared enterprise managed applications are
then uploaded into an enterprise app store for an organization's
employees to peruse and choose to install based on their role
within the organization. Alternatively, such applications can be
pushed directly to mobile devices for employees who have enrolled
their device with a corporate EMM/MRM server, or may be
downloaded/installed from an enterprise web site, email, public
network storage, removable media, through other apps, etc.
[0321] When a user (e.g., an employee) executes a managed
application on the mobile device, the user is typically challenged
to authenticate the user's corporate identity along with passwords
and other factors as dictated by corporate policy. After having
authenticated the user and device, the access manager components of
the system verify that the user is entitled to the application in
question and downloads the policies that have been established by
the enterprise administrator for this user when using this specific
application. These application policies are usually cached and
periodically refreshed to ensure compliance with administrative
settings. These policies may further restrict access to the managed
application only during certain times, from certain networks, form
certain geo-locations, and only from devices that are in compliance
with all organizations security policies.
[0322] Assuming policy compliance is established and an application
is permitted to run, when the managed application actually begins
to interact with the network API's, the specialized network
software added during the application preparation stage checks the
current policy settings to determine if network access should be
permitted. Assuming the mobile device is running on a foreign
network and the enterprise administrator has permitted VPN access
for this application for this user, then the specialized network
software initiates a secure connection to the corporate gateway
device, authenticates the user using a ticket or token linked to
the same credentials that were previously used to logon and confirm
entitlement. If such token/ticket has expired, then the user may be
asked to authenticate again before allowing VPN access for the
mobile application. After authenticating to the gateway, the
specialized network software constructs a VPN tunnel through the
gateway device to the actual intranet resource that the application
seeks to access. However unlike other system level VPN solutions,
this VPN tunnel is only available for this specific application to
use.
[0323] If network access policy dictates no network access, then
specialized network software may cause the network APIs to fail to
connect. If the network access policy permits network usage but
does not permit VPN access, then the network service calls are
routed directly to the mobile device platform network services
though the local network that the device is attached to rather than
being tunneled back to the corporate intranet. Additional network
policies can further constrain the range of corporate intranet
servers that are accessible by IP address, domain or host names,
port/protocol, TCP/UDP, etc.
[0324] Traditional system level VPN solutions do not discriminate
between trusted and untrusted applications. By building in a
per-application policy-controlled VPN solution, enterprises can
ensure that only authorized applications for authorized users in
specifically configured access scenarios are able to access
corporate intranet resources from a foreign network.
[0325] In addition, by adjusting policy files, an enterprise can
make policy decisions regarding whether to allow a MicroVPN (also
sometimes referred to as per app VPN), disallow a MicroVPN, or
tunnel data from specific managed applications to and from the
enterprise servers. Each MicroVPN and/or tunnel may use single
sign-on (SSO) credentials to authenticate a user, and may vector
communications through gateway server 406 to enterprise resources.
Using the SSO credentials, an enterprise can determine what
certificates a user has or is entitled to, and may respond to
certificate challenges accordingly. In addition, mobile device 404
and/or gateway server 406 may intercept network traffic based on
policy information and/or based on certificates associated with the
user/device, and/or may respond to authentication challenges by
virtue of seeing network level conversation. In one example, the
network traffic may be intercepted at the mobile device end point
and the managed app may retrieve proper authentication cert (e.g.,
based on enterprise policy) and supply to the enterprise resource
it tries to access.
[0326] The above-provided description may discuss particular
operations of the applications figuratively (e.g., as the
applications performing the operations). However, it is actually
the processing circuitry of the mobile device that may perform
operations while executing the applications.
[0327] 8.B. Using a Secure Container to Control Access to
Enterprise Resources
[0328] An improved technique for managing encrypted data vaults for
storing data on mobile devices includes directing read and write
operations from an application running on a mobile device according
to an enterprise-generated policy, specific to that application,
which designates an encrypted vault for the data specified by the
read and write operations.
[0329] Referring back to FIG. 8, which shows an illustrative
environment in which embodiments hereof can be practiced, a mobile
device 810, such as a smartphone, tablet, PDA, and the like, has
installed upon it various mobile applications. The mobile
applications include a set 820 of managed applications 822, 824,
and 826, which are managed by the enterprise, and a personal
application 830, which is not managed by the enterprise. In some
examples, an enterprise mobility management (EMM) client 840 is
also installed on the mobile device 810. The EMM client 840, also
referred to herein as a "broker," is configured to connect, e.g.,
via a network such as the Internet, with an EMM server 850, which
typically includes an authentication server 852, an application
store 854, and a key server 856. An example of the EMM client 840
is a client agent available for Citrix. An example of the EMM
server 850 is a gateway server 406 that provides access to
enterprise resources and/or cloud resources.
[0330] The illustrated mobile device 810 also includes a shared
data vault 842. The shared data vault 842 includes encrypted files
and/or data objects accessible to each of the set 820 of managed
applications. Encrypted data vault 842 may also be referred to
herein as a secure persistent storage area.
[0331] Each application in the set 820 of managed applications is
associated with a respective policy. For example, application 822
is associated with a policy 822a, application 824 is associated
with a policy 824a, and application 826 is associated with a policy
826a. In some examples, the policies 822a, 824a, and 826a are
provided in the form of files, such as XML or JSON files, in which
the respective policy is expressed as a set of key/value pairs. In
an example, each policy 822a, 824a, and 826a includes a record of
all applications within the set 820 of managed applications, as
discussed above.
[0332] In some examples, each application in the set 820 of managed
applications is also associated with a respective private
application vault. For example, application 822 is associated with
a private application vault 822b, application 824 is associated
with a private application vault 824b, and application 826 is
associated with a private application vault 826b. Encryption keys
for the private application vaults 822b, 824b, and 826b, as well as
an encryption key for the shared vault 842 are obtained from the
key server 856 on the EMM server 850 and can be held temporarily
within the mobile device.
[0333] Each of the set 820 of managed applications is specially
designed or adapted for use with the enterprise. Some of the set
820 of managed applications may be designed specifically for the
enterprise. Others of the set 820 of managed applications are more
widely used applications (e.g., available to the public) that have
been specifically adapted for use with the enterprise. Each of the
set 820 of applications includes injected code that enables the
application to conform to a framework of the enterprise. The
injected code can be compiled into the application using an SDK.
Alternatively, the injected code can be applied as a wrapper around
a general-use application, to adapt it for use with the enterprise.
In the context of the improvements disclosed herein, the injected
code serves to divert API calls for reading and writing from the
application to its associated policy, such that the read or write
requests are redirected to a designated secure vault in accordance
with the settings of the policy.
[0334] In typical operation, a user of the mobile device 810 starts
the EMM client 840, logs on to the EMM server 850 via the
authentication server 852, and accesses the application store 854.
The user can then peruse enterprise applications available from the
application store 854, select desired applications, and download
them to the mobile device 810, where the downloaded applications
are included in the set 820 of managed applications. For each
application downloaded, a corresponding policy is also downloaded
to the mobile device, and the policies of all applications in the
set 820 are updated to reflect all members of the set 820.
[0335] In an example, policies (e.g., 822a, 824a, and 826a) are
refreshed periodically and/or in response to particular events,
such as each time the respective application is started and/or each
time the user logs onto the EMM server 850. Policies can thus be
adapted over time and dynamically transferred to the mobile device
810 from the EMM server 850.
[0336] Depending on settings of the policies 822, 824, and 826,
applications within the set 820 of managed applications can be
constrained to exchange files and/or data only with other
applications within the set 820. For example, API calls from the
application 822 specifying file reads or writes are intercepted by
the injected code of the application 922. The policy 822a is read,
and the read or write operation specified is diverted to an
encrypted vault (e.g., the private vault 822b or the shared vault
842), depending on the settings in the policy 822a.
[0337] In some examples, applications in the set 820 of managed
applications on the mobile device 810 can be assigned to different
groups. In such cases, policies (e.g., 822a, 924a, and 826a) are
updated to include records of groups and group members. The flow of
files and/or data between applications can thus be further
restricted to members of particular groups. For example, each group
may be provided with its own shared vault 942. Providing different
groups of mobile applications within the managed set 820 can help
to segregate applications handling highly sensitive data from those
that handle less sensitive data.
[0338] The above-described process of intercepting an API call,
consulting an application's policy, and allowing, blocking, or
redirecting the operation specified by the API call based on the
policy can be carried out in a number of contexts. In one example,
the above process can be applied for selecting a set of
applications on the mobile device 810 that can be used to open a
file or data element identified by a link or icon (e.g., using Open
In). In another example, the above process can be applied for
copying data or data objects from one application and pasting the
data or data objects in another application (e.g., via a hidden,
encrypted paste buffer). In yet another example, the above process
can be applied for moving files into and/or out of a protected file
vault, as described herein. Essentially, any operation used to move
data into and/or out of an application can make use of the above
technique.
[0339] FIG. 24 shows various features of the mobile device 2410 in
additional detail. Here, the application 2422 (representative of
any of the applications of the managed set 820) issues read
operations 2410 and write operations 2412 to persistent space on
the mobile device 2410. In non-managed applications, such read and
write operations would typically be directed to the application's
sandbox. Here, however, read and write operations are intercepted
by the policy-aware interception layer 2420 and directed to an
appropriate encrypted vault. For read operations 2410, the
policy-aware interception layer 2410 inspects the type of data to
be read and consults the policy 2422a. If the policy 2422a
specifies that the identified type of data is stored in the private
application vault 2422b, the policy-aware interception layer 2420
obtains the data from the private application vault 2422b. However,
if the policy 2422a specifies that the identified type of data is
stored in the shared data vault 2442, the policy-aware interception
layer 2420 obtains the data from the shared data vault 2442. The
policy-aware interception layer 2420 then decrypts the data (using
an encryption key from the EMM server 2450), and returns the data
to the application 2422.
[0340] In the case of write operations 2412, the policy-aware
interception layer 2420 inspects the type of data to be written and
consults the policy 2422a. If the policy 2422a specifies that the
identified type of data is to be stored in the private application
vault 2422b, the policy-aware interception layer 2420 encrypts the
data and stores the data in the private application vault 2422b.
However, if the policy 2422a specifies that the identified type of
data is to be stored in the shared data vault 2442, the
policy-aware interception layer 2420 encrypts the data and stores
the data in the shared data vault 2442.
[0341] Referring back to FIGS. 17-18, in some embodiments, a mobile
device 1720 can include a secure document container or secure
storage area 1736, which can be referred to as a "vault" or as a
"container." As explained herein, container 1736 can help prevent
the spread of enterprise information to different applications and
components of the mobile device 1720, as well as to other devices.
The enterprise system (which can be partially or entirely within
the cloud) can transmit documents to the devices 1720, which can be
stored (e.g., by the enterprise agent 1720) within the container
1736. The container 1736 can prevent unauthorized applications 1718
and other components of the device 1720 from accessing information
within the container 1736. For enterprises that allow users to use
their own mobile devices 1720 for accessing, storing, and using
enterprise data, providing containers 1736 on the devices 1720
helps to secure the enterprise data. For instance, providing
containers 1736 on the devices 1720 can centralize enterprise data
in one location on each device 1720, and can facilitate selective
or complete deletion of enterprise data from the device 1720.
[0342] As used in this context, a "document" can comprise any
computer-readable file including text, audio, video, and/or other
types of information or media. A document can comprise any single
one or combination of these media types.
[0343] The secure document container 1736 can compose an
application that implements a file system 1738 that stores
documents and/or other types of files. The file system 1738 can
comprise a portion of a computer-readable memory of the mobile
device 1720. The file system 1738 can be logically separated from
other portions of the computer-readable memory of the mobile device
1720. In this way, enterprise data can be stored in secure document
container 1736 and private data can be stored in a separate portion
of the computer-readable memory of the mobile device 1720. The
container 1736 can allow the enterprise agent 1720, mobile device
applications 1718 and/or other components of the device 1720 to
read from, write to, and/or delete information from the file system
1738 (if authorized to do so). Deleting data from the container
1736 can include deleting actual data stored in the container 1736,
deleting pointers to data stored in the container 1736, deleting
encryption keys used to decrypt data stored in the container 1736,
and the like. The container 1736 can be installed by, e.g., the
agent 1720, IT administrators of the enterprise system, or the
device 1720 manufacturer. The container 1736 can enable some or all
of the enterprise data stored in the file system 1738 to be deleted
without modifying private data stored on the mobile device 1720
outside of the container 1736. The file system 1738 can facilitate
selective or complete deletion of data from the file system 1738.
For example, a component of the enterprise system can delete data
from the file system 1738 based on, e.g., encoded rules. In some
embodiments, the agent 1720 deletes the data from the file system
1738, in response to receiving a deletion command from the
enterprise EMM system. In other embodiments, the data is deleted
without the assistance of the agent 1720, for example if an agent
1720 is not provided.
[0344] The secure document container 1736 can comprise an access
manager 1740 that governs access to the file system by applications
1718 and other components of the mobile device 1720. Access to the
file system 1738 can be governed based on document access policies
(e.g., encoded rules) stored in the documents and/or the file
system 1738. A document access policy can limit access to the file
system 1738 based on (1) which application 1718 or other component
of the device 1720 is requesting access, (2) which documents are
being requested, (3) time or date, (4) geographical position of the
device 1720, (5) whether the requesting application 1718 or other
component provides a correct certificate or credentials, (6)
whether the user of the device 1720 provides correct credentials,
(7) other conditions, or any combination thereof A user's
credentials can comprise, for example, a password, one or more
answers to security questions (e.g., What is the mascot of your
high school?), biometric information (e.g., fingerprint scan,
eye-scan, etc.), and the like. Hence, by using the access manager
1740, the container 1736 can be configured to be accessed only by
applications 1718 that are authorized to access the container 1736.
As one example, the access manager 1740 can enable enterprise
applications installed on the mobile device 1720 to access data
stored in the container 1736 and to prevent non-enterprise
applications from accessing the data stored in the container
1736.
[0345] Temporal and geographic restrictions on document access may
be useful. For example, an enterprise administrator may deploy a
document access policy that restricts the availability of the
documents (stored within the container 1736) to a specified time
window and/or a geographic zone (e.g., as determined by a GPS chip
1716) within which the device 1720 must reside in order to access
the documents. Further, the document access policy can instruct the
container 1736 or agent 1720 to delete the documents from the
container 1736 or otherwise make them unavailable when the
specified time period expires or if the mobile device 1720 is taken
outside of the defined geographic zone.
[0346] Some documents can have access policies that forbid the
document from being saved within the secure document container
1736. In such embodiments, the document can be available for
viewing on the mobile device 1720 only when the user is logged in
to the enterprise system.
[0347] The access manager 1740 can also be configured to enforce
certain modes of connectivity between remote devices (e.g., an
enterprise resource or other enterprise server) and the container
1736. For example, the access manager 1740 can require that
documents received by the container 1736 from a remote device
and/or sent from the container 1736 to the remote device be
transmitted through application tunnels, for example, as described
above. Such application tunnels can use the tunneling mediator of
the enterprise system. The access manager 1740 can require that all
documents transmitted to and from the container 1736 be encrypted.
The enterprise agent 1720 or access manager 1740 can be configured
to encrypt documents sent from the container 1736 and decrypt
documents sent to the container 1736. Documents in the container
1736 can also be stored in an encrypted form.
[0348] The secure document container 1736 can be configured to
prevent documents or data included within documents from being used
by unauthorized applications or components of the mobile device
1720 or other devices. For instance, a mobile device application
1718 having authorization to access documents from the container
1736 can be programmed to prevent a user from copying a document's
data and pasting it into another file or application interface, or
locally saving the document or document data as a new file outside
of the container 1736. Similarly, the container 1736 can include a
document viewer and/or editor that does not permit such copy/paste
and local save operations. Moreover, the access manager 1740 can be
configured to prevent such copy/past and local save operations.
Further, the container 1736 and applications 1718 programmed and
authorized to access documents from the container 1736 can be
configured to prevent users from attaching such documents to emails
or other forms of communication.
[0349] A mobile device application 1718 can be programmed to lookup
and find the secure document container 1736 (or a secure web
browser 1732, described below, that includes the container 1736) as
a resource of the mobile device 1720. In certain embodiments, the
application 1718 can run in a secure virtual machine separate from
a virtual machine of an operating system of the mobile device 1720.
According to some other embodiments, the application can run within
the secure web browser 1732. An application 1718 can be programmed
to write enterprise-related data only into the container 1736. For
instance, the application's 1718 source code can be provided with
the resource name of the container 1736. Similarly, a remote
application (e.g., an enterprise resource 830) can be configured to
send data or documents only to the containers 1736 of one or more
mobile devices 1720 (as opposed to other components or memory
locations of the devices 1720). Storing data to the container 1736
can occur automatically, for example, under control of the
application 1718, the enterprise agent 1720, or the web browser
1732. An application 1718 can be programmed to encrypt or decrypt
documents stored or to be stored within the container 1736. In
certain embodiments, the container 1736 can only be used by
applications (on the device 1720 or remote) that are programmed to
look for and use the container 1736, and which have authorization
to do so.
[0350] The secure document container 1736 can serve as a temporary
repository for documents and other files sent to the mobile device
1720. Remote applications can be configured to send documents to
the container 1736 (e.g., via application tunnels) on a onetime or
periodic basis. For example, a sales-related enterprise resource
930 can be programmed to send sales-related documents (e.g., most
recent price sheets) every morning to the containers 1736 of a team
of users having sales-related roles (e.g., sales persons). The
sales-related documents can have document access policies such that
the documents will "self-destruct" (e.g., be automatically deleted
from the container 1736--the deletion being performed by, e.g., the
container 1736 itself or the enterprise agent 1720) at a certain
time or at the expiration of a time period beginning at a defined
event (e.g., the user's opening of a document). Document
distribution policy file(s) (e.g., encoded rules, as described
herein) can be provided (e.g., within the mobile device management
system) to control when and how remote applications (e.g.,
enterprise resources) send documents to the containers 1736, to
which users the documents are sent, what restrictions (e.g.,
temporal or geographic restrictions) are placed on the use and
availability of the documents (e.g., in the form of document access
policies as described above), etc.
[0351] Remote applications that send documents to one or more
secure document containers 1736 of mobile devices 1720 can be
configured to integrate with other repositories, for the purpose of
sending documents from such repositories to the containers 1736.
Such other repositories can be stored, for example, within the
enterprise system (e.g., enterprise document repositories such as a
Microsoft Sharepoint.TM. repository) or in a cloud computing system
(e.g., a Box.net.TM. repository).
[0352] EMM solutions have traditionally taken the approach of
managing entire mobile devices through mobile device management
(MDM) servers. Increasingly EMM solutions are focusing on a mobile
application management (MAM) solution that seeks only to manage the
enterprise applications and their associated data which may be
installed and running on an employee's mobile device. Such systems
generally use role-based access to provision specially prepared
enterprise apps that are specifically designed to protect corporate
assets. Such applications often require employees to logon to
corporate servers in order to access the managed applications.
Additionally, such applications may be associated with policies
established by an enterprise administrator to control application
access while also seeking to protect and control information held
by the application.
[0353] One of the biggest challenges in managing enterprise
applications on an otherwise unmanaged mobile devices is ensuring
that information used by the managed application cannot escape from
the set of trusted enterprise applications that IT administrators
make available to their enterprise users. Information can escape in
any number of ways, and a robust EMM system will provide policies
and enforcement mechanisms to prevent such information leakage
where IT administrators deem it proper and to provide policy
overrides, where appropriate. However, even with a robust set of
information containment policies, there are other threats to the
security of the information managed by applications on mobile
devices.
[0354] One such threat is that applications may store some
information persistently on the mobile device by writing files or
other data into the flash memory or other persistent storage on the
device. Most mobile platforms will segregate persistent data
recorded by applications into private application sandboxes.
However this sandboxing is trivially defeated with common tools
capable of rooting or jail-breaking the device. Rooting and
jail-breaking are techniques that seek to replace parts of the
mobile device operating system platform often with goal of
defeating app sandboxing, app integrity checks, and other OS
provided security mechanisms. Rootkits and jail-breaking software
for most popular mobile platforms are readily available on the
public Internet and easy to use. Since rooting and jail-breaking
are so easy to accomplish, most enterprises do not wish to rely on
mobile device OS enforced sandbox as the only means of protecting
data that an application may need to persist.
[0355] Some mobile device platforms additionally allow information
to be encrypted in its persistent form and some applications do
take advantage of these features. Invariably, such encryption
mechanisms rely on the encryption keys being held on the device
itself with the keys themselves protected by a user supplied PIN or
passcode. The fact that the keys are held on the device and
protected by weak cryptographic factors means that the data is not
particularly well protected from hacking, particularly if a device
is stolen and hacker has ample time to try to unlock the keys.
Also, since the keys are in possession of the device holder, an
enterprise is powerless to remove them or revoke access for a
terminated employee unless they can recover the device.
[0356] Another issue with app sandboxing that occurs on mobile
platforms is that it is problematic to have a single repository of
documents that are available to all managed applications on the
mobile device and potentially synced offline to cloud based
storage. Mobile applications work around the sandbox limits in
various ways, all of which have drawbacks. Often, they will
exchange files of certain fixed types with other applications that
have registered to accept certain those same types. The drawback
here is that one ends up with multiple copies of a particular file
in each app's sandbox. If one or more apps wish to edit the file
content, keeping track of which app has latest versions is
problematic for users.
[0357] One can overcome the issue highlighted above if users are
trained to always send their modified documents back to a common
sync agent application which might also be charged with syncing
documents to/from cloud based storage. Cloud-based file sharing
service mobile applications are an example of an application that
permits this sort of data exchange with cloud-based sync. The
drawback here is that these extra steps are easy to forget. Also,
they are not required when using equivalent desktop applications
that operate on the notion of shared documents folders for all
applications. These two facts can lead to data file consistency
issues and poor user experience if users are not properly
trained.
[0358] Another approach to this problem is to save the files that
one wishes to share into shared storage on those mobile platforms
that support this concept. This has the downside that shared
storage is world readable and therefore shared with all
applications. Once information is placed into shared storage,
containment of the information is lost since any application on
mobile device can read it. Also the data can trivially be accessed
by anyone who gains physical access to the device using standard
file viewers and development tools.
[0359] The challenges of information containment and sharing of
documents between trusted applications that are highlighted above
are overcome by introducing the concept of an encrypted file vault.
An encrypted file vault is a logical container into which all
persistent data read/written by a mobile application (which would
otherwise end up in a writeable file in the app sandbox) will be
redirected. The contents of the vault are themselves written into
file(s) held inside an app sandbox. But the contents of all files
and the file metadata itself (name, size, access times, etc.) are
all encrypted.
[0360] Strong encryption algorithms (e.g. FIPS 140-2 certified) are
used to protect all information placed into the vault with keys
that are managed by the enterprise rather than the users
themselves. Keys would typically be assigned based on a tuple of
user, device, and application or app group. That implies that
distinct key sets are used each unique combination of user, device,
and application/app group. The keys are maintained off device in an
enterprise key management server. The keys may be downloaded
temporarily to the mobile device to enable data access, but only
after strongly authenticating the user, device, and application in
question.
[0361] An application may be written in such a way that it is aware
of the presence of file vault services. Applications written with
this awareness can utilize any number of file vaults, which they
can identify explicitly with vault name identifiers. However
applications will not always be written with such awareness.
Correspondingly, administrator defined policies can be used to
configure a default file vault for each application. The default
file vault of an application is used for the transparent
redirection of all application file I/O that would otherwise end up
in a writable portion of the application sandbox or shared
storage.
[0362] The typical mechanism for assigning apps to a default file
vault dictates that the administrator place each configured mobile
application into a named security group by policy. Then all
applications that share the same security group inherit the same
default file vault. In this manner, applications not only gain the
security of the encrypted container for their data, but apps
configured with the same default file vault will see a single
consistent view of their data shared with other similarly
configured file applications.
[0363] It should be noted that not all writable areas in the app
sandbox are appropriate for sharing with other applications, for
example the application's /tmp directory. The implication here is
that there is always an app private file vault that would be used
to hold certain files and directories. If the app is not configured
into a shared group, then all files are redirected to the app
private vault. However if an app were configured into shared group,
documents and other such files would be redirected to the common
vault but files designated for special private directories like
/tmp would continue to flow to the app's private vault.
[0364] It should also be noted that the notion of a shared file
vault does imply the existence of a common broker that manages the
shared files on behalf of all applications. Without such a broker,
one would not be able to share files transparently. While such a
broker could be a network-attached service that does not exist on
the mobile device itself, such a design would preclude offline
access to the encrypted file vault. For this reason, another
application installed on the mobile device will generally serve
this role. An EMM client agent like the Citrix client agent mobile
application would be the typical host of this shared vault
broker.
[0365] The above-described technique thus offers the unique
combination of transparent file access, strong encryption with keys
managed by the enterprise, and dynamic reconfiguration of the
vaults by policy.
[0366] Enterprises may create (or adapt) their native mobile
applications using tools and SDKs associated with the enterprise
mobility management (EMM) solution they have chosen to deploy. In
preparing their app for EMM deployment, they certainly have the
freedom to (re)write specific application logic to utilize
encrypted file vault services exposed by the EMM developer SDK as
needed for their application. However, most often, an application
will already be written to use standard file system APIs of the
platform for which they were developed. As such, it is far more
convenient for the application developer if the EMM SDK and tools
can transparently redirect these native file access services to one
or more file vaults dictated by administrative policy rather than
rewriting their application. This approach also allows an
administrator to reconfigure targeted file vaults without directly
modifying and recompiling the application.
[0367] When taking this approach, the application developer need
not worry about the specifics of how to interface with the native
file vault services. Instead, by integrating the header files,
libraries, and run-time support of the EMM system framework code
with the application, all file system APIs called by the
application will be redirected to a policy-aware interception
layer. Assuming the encrypted file vault feature is configured,
then based on the policies in force for the current user, device,
and app, a set of default file vaults will be selected and the file
system API interception layer will be configured to target
them.
[0368] After preparing the application for the specific EMM system,
the managed application is uploaded to the EMM server for the
purpose of publishing the application for the enterprise users to
consume. As part of this app publishing workflow, an IT
administrator will choose policies and settings that apply to the
application and associated user roles. Once uploaded and
configured, the applications is made available to organization's
employees to peruse and install based on their role within the
organization. Alternatively, such applications can be pushed
directly to mobile devices for employees who have enrolled their
device with a corporate EMM server.
[0369] When a user executes a managed application on the mobile
device, the user is typically challenged to authenticate their
corporate identity along with passwords and other factors as
dictated by corporate policy. After having strongly authenticated
the user, device, and application, the access manager components of
the system verifies that the user is entitled to the application
and downloads the configured policies for this specific app and
user.
[0370] Based on those policies, the EMM framework that is delivered
with the managed app configures itself. It will select one or more
default file vaults to use and configure the file system API
interception layer to target the selected vaults. If a configured
file vault does not already exist, a new empty vault is
initialized. This ensures that a change in file vault policies that
would select a not-previously-used vault will appear to the
application as if it had been recently installed (e.g. empty
writable directories).
[0371] As the application begins to utilize the file system APIs,
the file system API interception layer looks for file accesses that
intersect the writable portions of the app sandbox or shared
storage. Such files are flagged and tracked by the file system
interception layer such that all subsequent file I/O is passed
through encryption/decryption before being placed into the real
file container that holds the data.
[0372] In order to accomplish this encryption, the required keys
first need to be recovered. These are retrieved from the key
management server and cached locally. If this is the first access
to the protected files in a long time, the user will be forced to
do a strong authentication by logging on to the EMM server.
Periodically these keys will need to be refreshed as dictated by
the time to live policy setting for the keys. When refreshing, as
long as user has maintains an active logon with EMM server, this
refreshing of keys can occur without user interaction. If user logs
off or their logon session expires, then the refreshing of keys
will need to be strongly authenticated again.
[0373] When the file vault is private to the application, the file
vault services layer directly uses the mobile platform's file I/O
functions to read and write encrypted version of the data. Also,
all file directory access functions are also similarly intercepted
such that the real file names and sizes can be obscured.
[0374] To support random access to any range of bytes within an
encrypted file, a scheme that uses encrypted blocks is may be used.
For this to work, the keys used to encrypt/decrypt each of the file
block are derived mathematically from base keys and the file/block
offset. Similarly, different files will use initialization vectors
for the cryptography as well. These techniques represent sound and
reasonably standard practices for the encoding encrypted file
volumes using a single set of cryptographic keys.
[0375] For efficiency, the system may read ahead or delay writing
of data to encrypted data content as necessary to optimize
application performance. Delayed write of encrypted data must be
flushed prior to closing files or exiting the application.
[0376] When the file vault is to be shared with another
application, the same processes described above are used, but they
must occur in a common file system repository under the control of
common file system broker application. The implication is that when
the file system interception layer is operating on shared file
vault, the file vault services will operate not by directly
reading/writing encrypted data, but rather by redirected these
services via remote procedure call mechanism to the brokering
application. Within the brokering application, the same local file
vault services used for private vault files are utilized for the
shared vault content.
[0377] There are other possible designs for implementing shared
vaults. For example, one can use shared storage coupled with
inter-process synchronization mechanisms to coordinate access. But
in any workable design, the key factor to be noted is that same
underlying encrypted file vault services are used to encrypt the
actual file data regardless of where the encrypted data will be
retained or how concurrent access to it coordinated.
[0378] By providing strong and transparent file encryption services
with keys managed by enterprise servers, security of information
held and stored locally by managed mobile applications can be made
secure without the need to rewrite applications to use new file
access paradigms.
[0379] Adding the notion a policy directed file vault configuration
that permits multiple applications to be bound to the same default
file vaults further permits secure sharing of documents between
properly configured managed applications.
[0380] The architecture described herein can be used by a
corporation or other enterprise to flexibly implement a policy,
such as a corporate owned device, BYOD (bring your own device)
policy, for allowing enterprise users to use their mobile devices
to securely access enterprise resources (documents, confidential
data, corporate application and database servers, etc.). This is
accomplished through various security features that, for example,
enable the enterprise to specify and implement policies for
controlling mobile device accesses to particular enterprise
resources. The policies may, for example, control mobile device
accesses to enterprise resources based on a variety of criteria,
such as the role of the respective user (e.g., which department the
user is in), the configuration of the mobile device (e.g., whether
any blacklisted mobile applications are installed), the logged
behaviors of the user, the location of the mobile device, and/or
the time at which access to the enterprise resource is requested.
The architecture further enhances security, in some embodiments, by
creating application tunnels that enable enterprise mobile
applications to securely communicate over a network with the
enterprise system. The architecture may also enable IT staff to
selectively (and remotely) wipe a user's mobile device of
enterprise application(s) and corporate data when, for example, the
user discontinues employment or violates a corporate policy (such
as if they jailbreak their device or otherwise use it in a
disallowed configuration).
[0381] The use of passcodes (or other types of authentication
information) for enterprise applications reduces the likelihood
that enterprise resources will be improperly accessed when, for
example, the mobile device is lost or stolen, or when the mobile
device is used by an employee's children to play games. In some
embodiments, the secure launcher (or another component installed on
the mobile device) further reduces this risk by performing a
selective wipe of the mobile device when, for example, the user
attempts but fails to enter a valid passcode a threshold number of
consecutive times (e.g., 5 or 10). The selective wipe operation
deletes some or all of the enterprise applications and associated
data from the mobile device, without deleting any personal
applications or data. In some embodiments, the enterprise's IT
department can initiate a selective wipe of a particular mobile
device by remotely issuing a wipe command to the device.
[0382] In some embodiments, when a selective wipe operation is
performed, some or all of the documents and data stored in the
secure container are deleted from the mobile device or are
otherwise made inaccessible.
[0383] In another example, a meta-application can be configured to
create gateway rules based at least partly on the time(s) at which
a mobile device was "wiped" (e.g., deletion of some or all data
stored on the device or removal of software application(s) from the
device).
[0384] A system and process will now be described for enabling
non-developers, such as members of a company's IT department, to
add to or otherwise modify the behaviors of an existing mobile
application, such as an Android, iOS, or Windows Mobile
application. The system and process can be used, as one example, to
create different versions of a mobile application (with different
privileges, access rights, etc.) based on a user's role within the
enterprise. For instance, different versions of the mobile
application can be created for different job categories (e.g.,
executive, non-executive employee, intern, etc.) and/or different
departments (sales, IT, human resources, etc.). The processes
described in this section can be implemented in an application
modification or "wrapping" tool or utility that is made available
to enterprises that use the disclosed system. This utility may, for
example, be hosted on a server (e.g., as a web service) that is
accessible to enterprises, or may be provided to the enterprises
(e.g., as a PC application).
[0385] In a typical use case scenario, the mobile application to be
modified is a custom application developed for a particular
enterprise. However, this need not be the case. For example, the
disclosed system and process are also applicable to commercially
available mobile applications available in app stores. The mobile
applications can be modified without being specially written to
support or enable such modifications. For example, the developer
need not include any special code or functionality in the
application to enable or facilitate the modifications, and need not
be involved in the disclosed process of modifying the
application.
[0386] The behaviors that are modified typically include or consist
of behaviors that involve standard API calls or classes. The
following are examples of some of the types of behaviors that can
be added or modified via the disclosed process:
[0387] A mobile application can be modified to enable an enterprise
to remotely initiate deletion of the application's data on a
particular mobile device of a particular employee, without
affecting other users of the application. As mentioned above, such
selective wipe operations may also be executed when, for example, a
user fails to enter a valid enterprise passcode a threshold number
of times.
[0388] Additional code may be added, if applicable, to implement
one or more features or behaviors that do not require the
replacement of any existing API calls. As one example, code may be
added for enabling an authorized administrator to remotely trigger
the deletion, on a user-specific or mobile device specific basis,
of the application's data stored on a particular mobile device. In
this example, the code added would add functionality for receiving
and processing a message containing a command to perform such a
selective wipe or deletion operation.
[0389] FIG. 54 shows an illustrative method for managing access by
a mobile device to enterprise storage, as described above.
Initially, a managed application may be received and/or installed
in step 5401 on a mobile electronic device, as described herein. In
step 5403 the device may separately and/or distinctly receive one
or more policy files defining one or more operational and/or
behavioral limitations of the managed app, e.g., based on one or
more features discussed above. While the policy file(s) may be
optionally received as separate files, the policy files may be
received as part of a same communication or installation process as
the managed app.
[0390] In step 5405 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
5407, during operation of the managed app and based on one or more
of the policy files, the managed app may be restricted in accessing
an enterprise data storage, that might otherwise have been allowed
or disallowed had the policy file(s) not been enforced. Various
examples of such policy files and features that may be
restricted/enforced are discussed above.
[0391] 8.C. Single Sign-On and Identity Management
[0392] According to some aspects of policy-based device management,
an EMM controller may incorporate single sign-on (SSO) features
based on enterprise-level authentication. Single sign-on generally
refers to a property of access control of multiple related, but
independent software systems. With SSO enabled a user logs in once
and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in
again for each separate software system. Using authentication via
network proxy, the EMM service may provide various forms of inline
authentication challenges to provide seamless SSO, e.g., NTLM,
Kerberos, digests, certificates, etc. For example, if an
authentication challenge arrives via HTTP, a gateway may intercept
the challenge and automatically respond on a user's behalf.
However, if a certificate is required, the certificate typically
originates with a client to respond to an authentication
challenge.
[0393] In view of the above, one or more policy files may define
the circumstances under which one or more applications operating
under the control of or in accordance with those policy files can
and cannot use an SSO service to bypass an authentication or
security challenge.
[0394] FIG. 25 depicts an illustrative system having a client
device 2505, a proxy device 2510, resource(s) 2520, and/or
authentication service(s) 2515, which may be configured to perform
SSO and operate under the control of one or more policy files. FIG.
26 depicts an illustrative detailed view of the client device 2505
and proxy device 2510. These elements may implement one or more
aspects described herein. A brief summary of these aspects will now
be provided, with additional examples provided below. The client
device 2505 may communicate with one or more resources 2520 and/or
authentication services 2515 using a proxy device 2510. In some
aspects, the client device 2505 might not be configured to
communicate directly with the resources 2520 and/or authentication
services 2515. For example, the client device 2505 and resources
2520 may use different authentication and/or communication
protocols. The proxy device 2510 may translate between these
different protocols. Additionally or alternatively, the proxy
device 2510 may provide additional benefits, as will be described
in the examples below.
[0395] The client device 2505 may send a request for resources
2520, such as documents, emails, services, files, and the like, to
the proxy device 2510. The proxy device 2510 may forward the
request to the resource 2520, and in response, authentication
between the proxy device 2510 and resource 2520 may be initiated.
At one or more points during the authentication, the resource 2520
may request a signature, such as from a client certificate. The
proxy device 2510 might not directly have access to the client
certificate, so the proxy device 2510 may involve the client device
2505 in the authentication process, such as if the client device
2505 controls access to the client certificate. For example, the
proxy device 2510 may request that the client device 2505 sign or
decrypt an authentication message using the client certificate (or
a private key included therein), or return a list of available
security certificates or a selection by the user of a particular
security certificate.
[0396] The proxy device 2510 may provide the client device 2505
with context information that identifies the authentication session
between the proxy device 2510 and the resource/authentication
server. For example, the context information may identify a data
structure of authentication information exchanged (or to be
exchanged) between the proxy device 2510 and resource 2520 and/or
the proxy device 2510 and the authentication service 2515. The
client device 2505 may use the context information to verify or
otherwise confirm the authentication session between the proxy
device 2510 and the resource/authentication server. Once the
context information is verified, the client device 2505 may provide
the requested signature to the proxy device 2510, and the proxy
device 2510 may complete authentication with the resource 2520
and/or the authentication service 2515. Then, the proxy device 2510
may retrieve the resource requested by the client device 2505 and
provide it to the client device 2505.
[0397] The client device 2505 may comprise any of an end point
device, client computers 107, 109, 211-214, mobile device 302,
mobile device 402, or any other device. For example, the mobile
device may comprise any of a smartphone, a tablet, and the like.
One or more applications may be running on the client device 2505.
An application may desire to access a protected resource, such as
an enterprise resource, and a module included in the application
(or other applications) may facilitate access to those protected
resources. For example and with reference to FIG. 26, an
application running on the client device 2505 may send a request
for a resource (e.g., an HTTP request) to MAMP Framework 2605,
which may facilitate communications with the proxy device 2510. In
some aspects, the MAMP Framework 2605 may run as a privileged
application on the client device 2505. The MAMP Framework 2605 may
comprise all of or a portion of the functionalities provided by the
MAMP framework 414, as previously described.
[0398] The client device 2505 may also have a PKOperation SDK
module 2610 that facilitates access to a keystore 2615 that stores
one or more client certificates that may be used to sign for
authentication purposes. For example, the client device 2505 may
authorize access to or have possession of client certificate(s)
representing the user of the client device 2505. In some aspects,
the certificate may be an enterprise-issued certificate. The
certificate may be bound to a physical smart card having a
cryptographic module. In other words, the cryptographic secret may
be confined to the smart card. The user may authorize the client
device 2505 to access the smart card protected certificate.
Alternatively, the certificate may be bound to a virtual smart
card, which may use hardware and/or software modules to protect the
key. The client device 2505 and/or a removable hardware module of
the client device 2505 may be authorized by a provisioning process
to store the certificate and private key. The user may be required
to enter a PIN code using the client device 2505 to authorize
operations involving the client certificate private key. Another
external device separate from the client device 2505 (e.g., another
smartphone) may control the certificate, and the client device 2505
may utilize a custom reader interface to access the certificate
controlled by the external device.
[0399] In some embodiments, the client certificate and/or private
key might be confined to the client device 2505 or to a physical
smart card. Accordingly, the client device 2505 may maintain
control of the key. If authentication using the key is required,
the client device 2505 may need to be involved in the
authentication process. This allows the client device 2505 to have
assurance that operations performed with the certificate private
key are ones that the client device 2505 intended. Some
organizations may use smart cards to achieve non-repudiation for
certain operations, which may require users to have authority over
all uses of a certificate issued by the organization. For example,
document signing may require explicit user authority, whereas
authentication to certain systems might not require explicit user
authority. Suitable mechanism(s) for providing such assurance may
depend on the nature of the resource being accessed, the proxy
device involved, and how the client device 2505 operates.
[0400] The proxy device 2510 may comprise one or more of a server
(e.g., servers 201, 206, 1701, 410), computing device, access
gateway 360, gateway server 406, or any other device. The proxy
device 2510 may facilitate communications between the client device
2510 and enterprise resources or other networks. For example, a
user of the client device 2505 may wish to access enterprise
resources that require authentication, and the proxy device 2510
may mediate access. The client device 2505 may use the proxy device
2510 to access resource if, for example, the client device 2505 is
not able to directly access the resources. For example, the client
device 2505 might not be configured for a protocol utilized by the
enterprise resources. In some aspects, the enterprise resource may
implement Kerberos with PKINIT for authentication, but the client
device 2505 might not implement Kerberos with PKINIT. Similarly,
the enterprise resource may implement SSL with client certificate
authentication, but the client device 2505 might not implement SSL
with client certificate authentication. Instead, the client device
2505 and proxy device 2510 may communicate using a protocol having
standard components and fitting well-known authentication
frameworks. The proxy device 2510 may translate between a first
protocol to the resource (e.g., Kerberos or SSL) and a second,
different protocol to the client device 2505 (e.g., HTTP or HTTPS).
By utilizing the proxy device 2510, client devices might not need
to understand and operate a complex or different protocol used by
the enterprise resource. In these examples, the proxy device 2510
may play the client role. However, the proxy device 2510 might not
have control of the client certificate private key.
[0401] The proxy device 2510 may be used to facilitate access to
resources in other circumstances, such as if the client device 2505
is not permitted to directly access the resources, if access
capabilities of the client device 2505 are limited, and/or if the
proxy device 2510 enhances access by improving performance or
offering a preferable interface. The proxy device 2510 may also
facilitate enhanced security. For example, Kerberos resource
authentication may require obtaining service tickets from Kerberos
KDCs (e.g., Active Directory domain controllers). However, the KDCs
themselves may comprise sensitive enterprise resources that should
not be directly accessible to some client devices. For these cases.
Kerberos authentication may require use of a trusted proxy device
2510. As another example, the proxy device 2510 may be a hardened
communication gateway deployed in the DMZ network of an enterprise.
To provide extra security benefits, the proxy device 2510 may be
able to inspect communications being proxied to enterprise
resources, rather than allowing a transparent end to end
communication flow between the client device 2505 and the
enterprise resources as if the proxy device 2510 were not present.
That is, the proxy device 2510 may have knowledge of what resources
the client device 2505 is using and the protocols the client device
2505 utilizes. As will be discussed in further detail in the
examples below, the proxy device 2510 may also provide, to the
client device 2505, context information that identifies one or more
aspects of the authentication session between the proxy device 2510
and an authentication service 2515 and/or resource 2520. The client
device 2505 may use this context information to determine whether
or not to sign data provided by the proxy device 2510 that requires
a signature.
[0402] The proxy device 2510 may include a packet engine 2620,
which may be a hardware module and/or software module. The packet
engine 2620 may facilitate communications with the client device
2505 and/or the resource. The proxy device 2510 may also include a
session cache 2625. As will be described in further in the examples
below, the session cache 2625 may store a session key and/or ticket
(e.g., for Kerberos sessions) to enable communications between the
proxy device 2510 and one or more resources or servers storing the
resources. The proxy device 2510 may include a client-side
authentication module 2630 configured to manage authentication with
the client device 2505, such as obtaining a signature from the
client device 2505. For Kerberos authentication, the client-side
authentication module 2630 may comprise a PKINIT module (which may
be referred to as a likewise daemon) that implements the client
side of the public key form of the Kerberos authentication protocol
(e.g., a PKINIT protocol). For example, this could be the kinit
command line program that is available from open source
implementations of Kerberos.
[0403] The proxy device 2510 may also include a library module 2635
(e.g., a PKOperation Proxy SDK 2635) used by the client-side
authentication module 2635 to abstract details for accessing the
client certificate private key.
[0404] The client device 2505 and the proxy device 2510 may
communicate using a standard framework, such as an HTTP framework.
In some aspects and as will be described in the examples below, the
client device 2505 and proxy device 2510 may exchange one or more
authentication messages. They may exchange HTTP status codes, such
as HTTP 401 codes for requesting authentication, and/or
challenge-response messages. In some embodiments, if the client
device 2505 which receives a 401 authentication challenge does not
support secured exchange of client private certificates, the client
device 2505 may recognize the 401 message as an authentication
challenge that the client device 2505 does not understand. The
client device 2505 may react with the appropriate error handling
behavior, such as displaying a message to the user that an
operation could not be completed because the client device 2505
does not support secured exchange of client private certificates.
The HTTP level encoding to support public key operation remoting
may be relatively simple. The Packet Engine 2620 and the MAMP
Framework 2605 may process the HTTP level encoding. Communications
may be structure similar to the HTTP Negotiate authentication
scheme described in RFC 4559, which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. Base64 encoded blobs may be exchanged
back and forth between the client device and proxy device using
WWW-Authenticate and/or Authorization headers. The blobs may be
generated and processed at each device by the respective
PKOperation SDKs (810, 2635).
[0405] In some embodiments, components in the communication path
between the client device 2505 and the proxy device 2510 that are
HTTP aware might not interface with the authentication process. For
example, an HTTP proxy server between the client device 2505 and
the proxy device 2510 may be aware that the connection to the proxy
device 2510 should not be reused to send requests from other client
devices and/or users. Furthermore, caching of any HTTP data
returned from the proxy device 2510 should be correctly scoped so
that the data is not sent to another client device.
[0406] In some aspects, authentication between the client device
2505 and proxy device 2510 may utilize a standard authentication
framework, such as web authentication or Generic Security Services
Application Program Interface (GSSAPI) with a custom mechanism.
Objects may be transmitted from the proxy device 2510 to the client
device 2505. The client device 2505 may process the objects and
validate them by standard cryptographic mechanisms, such as
certificate path validation with a name check.
[0407] A specialized communication channel between the client
device 2505 and proxy device 2510 may be created. For example, the
specialized communication channel may be used to relay certificate
operation requests and results. Utilizing the specialized
communication channel may provide extra cryptographic protection
beyond that provided by a standard SSL channel between the client
device 2505 and the proxy device 2510. This may be appropriate
given the sensitivity of the inputs and outputs of the
cryptographic operations being remoted. In some examples, a
Diffie-Hellman key exchange (or other exchange) between the client
device 2505 and the proxy device 2510 may occur. The exchange may
provide mutual authentication between client device 2505 and proxy
device 2510. In some embodiments, mutual authentication may already
have been established prior to a resource access request by the
client device 2505. Channel binding, as described in RFC5929, which
is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, may be used to
cryptographically link the specialized communication channel to an
outer SSL session. With brief reference to FIG. 26, setting up the
specialized communication channel for data, such as PK operation
payloads, may utilize multiple exchanges between the client device
2505 and the Packet Engine 2620. This may be opaque to everything
except the PKOperation SDK 2610 and PKOperation Proxy SDK 2635.
[0408] One reason for providing extra protection via the
specialized communication channel is that SSL, in practice, may be
terminated by a networking device, such as an offload device, in
front of the proxy device 2510. Offload devices may be optimized
for SSL connection processing, such as by using specialized
hardware for accelerating CPU intensive operations involved in SSL
connections. The hardware module may also be certified to meet
commercially important cryptographic processing standards, such as
the Federal Information Processing Standard (e.g., FIPS-140).
Another reason for providing extra protection is that an inspection
device may be given access to the SSL certificate key in order to
decode communications. The inspection device may comprise a
security device designed to monitor network traffic for compliance
with security policies, such as by detecting attempts to send
confidential information outside of a trusted network zone, or
attempts to communicate with untrusted or unauthorized servers.
Some of these inspection devices may be configured to impersonate
other servers during SSL connection handshakes, in order to prevent
the inspection process from being foiled by the use of encrypted
communication channels. Using the specialized communication channel
may prevent unnecessary and/or inappropriate exposure of sensitive
data to the offload device and/or inspection device. Accordingly,
non-repudiation properties expected from using smart card
equivalent client certificates may be protected. For example, the
specialized communication channel may prevent the data to be signed
from being modified by external devices and/or leaks of decrypted
data.
[0409] The specialized communication channel may be implemented in
many ways. For example and as previously noted, a custom GSSAPI
mechanism operating inside a standard HTTP authentication protocol
may be utilized. This implementation provides several non-exclusive
benefits. First, the proxy device 2510 may indicates to the client
device 2505 in a standard way (e.g., HTTP) that authentication to a
resource and/or authentication server is required to complete the
requested resource access. Second, an arbitrary binary protocol may
be conducted between the client device 2505 and the proxy device
2510, with multiple rounds if necessary. Third, the implementation
allows for secure communication mechanisms to be negotiated and
applied to transfer data in a standard way (e.g., at the GSSAPI
level). In some implementations, the custom GSSAPI mechanism
operating inside a standard HTTP authentication protocol can also
allow for a platform implementation of GSSAPI to be used with a
custom mechanism being added, such as the MICROSOFT NegoEx
mechanism.
[0410] Referring to FIG. 25, one or more authentication service
2515 (or server running the authentication service 2515) may exist.
Authentication service 2515 may implement one or more types of
authentication, including Kerberos or SSL. The aspects described
herein may be implemented for any authentication protocol that
involves client certificate private key operations. For example,
for Kerberos, the authentication server may be tasked with issuing
tickets, including ticket granting tickets and/or session tickets.
The authentication server may communicate with the proxy device
2510 over one or more channels. Furthermore, the one or more
channels may use a communication protocol different from the
communication protocol used by the client device 2505 to
communicate with the proxy device 2510. In some aspects, the
authentication services 2515 might remain unchanged, even with
implementation of the aspects described herein. In other words, the
authentication services 2515 may exist in a traditional
infrastructure. The authentication services 2515 may include, for
example, the authentication services 558 noted above.
[0411] One or more resources 2520 (or servers storing the resources
2520) may exist. The resource 2520 may communicate with the proxy
device 2510 using one or more of the same or different protocols as
the authentication server uses to communicate with the proxy device
2510. In some aspects, the resources might remain unchanged, even
with implementation of the aspects described herein. In other
words, the resources may exist in a traditional infrastructure.
Non-limiting examples of resources may include, but are not limited
to, file resources, web resources, mail resources, Sharepoint
resources, and the like. These resources may include Structure
Query Language (SQL) databases, remote procedure call (RPC)
servers, Distributed Component Object Module (DCOM) servers, Simple
Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web services, Representational State
Transfer (REST) web services, and other proprietary resources that
may use GSSAPI or a similar security framework for authentication.
One or more of these resources may be directly accessed by internal
devices, such as computers on the same network as the resources or
in another protected network. The resources may comprise the
enterprise resources 304, 308, 408, 409 or the like. Furthermore,
the resources may be stored on one or more servers. The resources
may be accessed through a multi-tier system. The proxy device 2510
may communicate with a front-end server that may in turn
communicate (and authenticate as a requesting user) with a back-end
server.
[0412] The above described implementation is merely one possible
system architecture that may be used. Modifications may necessarily
be made based on an organization's particular implementation. For
example, a system as shown in FIG. 4 may alternatively be used,
where authentication is part of the "logon" process. In such a
system, a managed app, when launched by a user, consults policy
file(s), and may determine that a network logon is required for
that app to fully function. The managed app may request (e.g.,
through the client agent) to perform network login. If there is no
logon session, the client agent may initiate the logon sequest
where the user is challenged for credentials. The credentials may
be passed securely to the authenticating server and, if approved,
the server issues the logon token(s) which are then returned to the
client agent. The client agent indicates logon success to the
managed app, and therefore the managed app is able to continue.
[0413] In another example, the managed app may perform SSO for a
network resource. The managed app may initiate network conversation
with an enterprise network resource/server through a secure tunnel
to the gateway which then forwards the network request to the
enterprise server. Because the network resource requires
authentication before granting access to the resource, the network
resource may generate an authentication challenge (SSL cert
challenge or HTTP 401 auth required challenge, etc.).
[0414] In some cases, an intermediate gateway may respond
transparently to the auth challenge. The gateway monitors for
authentication challenges in the traffic that flows through the
gateway. When an authentication challenge is recognized to which
the gateway can respond, rather than passing the response back to
the client, the gateway responds transparently by retrying the
request after adding the appropriate authorization header or
certificate derived from the gateway's notion of who the user is.
For some HTTP auth protocols, this may include multiple challenges
and responses, all of which are handled transparently until the
final authorization token is derived. In the end, the gateway
supplies the appropriate certificate or HTTP auth challenge
response and retries the operation. If successful, subsequent
network traffic will continue to use the certificate or
authorization response header implying the user never sees an
authentication challenge.
[0415] In some cases, the gateway can generate the responses to the
auth challenges independently (e.g. password replay). In other
cases, it may need to interact with the client agent to derive the
appropriate credential and generate the response (e.g., Kerberos
via PKINIT).
[0416] In other cases, the network challenge might not be visible
because traffic being passed through the gateway has been
encrypted, e.g., by SSL. Such challenges will pass back to the
client app on the mobile device uninterrupted. Similarly, if the
gateway encounters a challenge that it is not prepared to handle,
the gateway allows the challenge to flow back to the client
application on the mobile device.
[0417] In some cases, the managed app framework code may respond to
an auth challenge transparently. If the gateway is unable see,
intercept, and respond to an auth challenge, then the challenge
will flow back to the client application on the mobile device. In
this case, the managed application framework code includes its own
authentication challenge awareness and that may allow the
authentication challenge to respond transparently without involving
the application. The process is similar to the transparent gateway
process above except that the auth challenge responses originate in
the managed application framework that sits between the mobile OS
provided network functions and the application specific code that
employs these services. When an SSL client certificate challenge is
encountered, software in the managed app framework can recognize
the callback and supply an appropriate certificate. Similarly, if
an HTTP status code 401 (Authentication Required) is encountered,
the managed app network framework code may generate the appropriate
authentication response and retry the request. If successful, the
authorization token or certificate are provided on all subsequent
network requests and the end user never sees an authentication
challenge.
[0418] If the managed app framework encounters a challenge that the
framework does not understand or is not prepared to handle, the
framework allows the challenge to flow back to the client
application and the app will behave accordingly normally. In many
cases, this will result in the user being challenged to
authenticate him or herself (i.e., no SSO).
[0419] In some cases, the managed app may initiate a network
conversation with a network resource/server that is reachable
without the gateway acting as proxy (e.g., a general network
resource not protected by the gateway, or where the mobile device
is already directly on the internal corporate network). In this
case only the managed app framework might have an opportunity to
see and respond to the authentication challenges from the server,
and the flow is similar as above.
[0420] For all of the above, application policy may serve to permit
or limit such responses, or the location that intercepts a
challenge, or the location from which a response is sent. Policies
may also define available certificates, etc.
[0421] When a second managed app subsequently requests
authentication, the first authentication may be used to bypass a
second logon. For example, when he second managed app is launched,
the second manages app may consult policies and determine that
network logon is required for this app. The second managed app
signals the client agent to perform logon. However, because there
is already a valid logon session being maintained by the client
agent (based on the first managed app), the client agent may signal
logon success to the second managed app, allowing the second
managed app to continue as an authorized app without interrupting
the user.
[0422] Similarly, regarding network resource single-sign-on (SSO)
for second managed app, the second managed app will have access to
the same network level SSO facilities as the first managed app
described above. However, the policies of the second managed app
may be configured differently from the first managed app with
respect to allowing or blocking various forms of SSO. It may also
have access to different certificates.
[0423] Thus, as indicated above, and using any or all of the above
described system architecture, one or more policy files may define
the circumstances under which one or more applications operating
under the control of or in accordance with those policy files can
and cannot use an SSO service to bypass an authentication or
security challenge.
[0424] FIG. 30 shows an illustrative method for managing single
sign on access by a mobile device, as described above. Initially, a
managed application may be received and/or installed in step 3001
on a mobile electronic device, as described herein. In step 3003
the device may separately and/or distinctly receive one or more
policy files defining one or more operational and/or behavioral
limitations of the managed app, e.g., based on one or more features
discussed above. While the policy file(s) may be optionally
received as separate files, the policy files may be received as
part of a same communication or installation process as the managed
app.
[0425] In step 3005 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
3007, during operation of the managed app and based on one or more
of the policy files, the managed app may restrict or enable a
single sign-on process, as discussed above. Alternative, the
managed app may employ a single sign on credential in accordance
with the policy file(s). There are many examples of policy files
and single sign on features and processes that may be
restricted/enforced.
[0426] According to an aspect, one or more policy files may define
what type, level, and/or location of SSO is allowed. For example,
SSO may be allowed for users at a first level or role (e.g.,
management), but not at a second level (e.g., supervisors). As
another example, SSO may be allowed by a first app (e.g., email),
but not by a second app (e.g., a web browser). As yet another
example, SSO may be allowed based on basic or digest challenges,
but not based on certificate challenges (or vice versa). Still
further, complex combinations of requirements may be defined in the
policy files. For example, a managed web browser being used by a
user signed in as a manager might be allowed able to perform any
type of SSO, whereas the managed web browser might only be allowed
to use SSO to respond to certificate challenges when in use by a
user signed in as a supervisor.
[0427] As another example, policy files may define permissible use
of SSO based on the resource being accessed, rather than the app
doing the accessing. Resources may include documents, emails,
files, services, and the like. Policy files may further define
where SSO may be permitted to occur, e.g., on the device, at an
intermediate gateway, etc. Still further, policy may define the
types of permissible SSO challenges, e.g., basic, digest, OAuth,
Kerberos, NTML, certificate, PKI, etc. According to another aspect,
a policy file may define an SSO policy based on permissible
authentication and/or communication protocol. Using any one or more
of the above policy-based features, an administrator can define a
policy as simple or complex as needed by an organization.
9. DYNAMIC DEVICE CLOUD
[0428] Aspects described herein allow a collection of devices owned
by individuals or groups to be used in a coordinated, collective
way, beyond simple screen sharing. This collective coordination of
devices can be done on either a memorized (for your own personal
devices), or an ad hoc basis (such as when two people use their
devices collectively).
[0429] For example, consider online meeting software (e.g., the
GOTOMEETING software application by Citrix Systems, Inc.). It
exists on laptops, smart phones and tablets. However, each platform
does essentially the same thing and the devices do not work in
harmony when used by the same user. According to one aspect, a
smart phone may take on the role of microphone for a meeting; a
tablet may take on the role of displaying video for the meeting,
and a laptop may display a screen sharing element of the
meeting.
[0430] Other examples of cross device coordination include:
assigning web links that get clicked on by a laptop to appear on a
tablet device, and transferring an already opened PowerPoint
presentation from one device to another.
[0431] In addition to the ability to assign specific roles to
devices while interacting with devices, aspects allow for the
persistent assignment of device roles, to allow efficient usage of
multiple devices, without extra interaction on the part of the
user. For example, online meeting software may involve making the
smartphone the microphone, the tablet display video, and the laptop
display screen sharing immediately when a meeting starts.
[0432] In order to address the above problems, and other problems
that will become apparent to the reader, aspects described herein
harness and orchestrate devices together to allow complex multi
device behaviors that make the internet of things come alive to
make a big impact on people's daily lives. One problem solved by
aspects described herein is to allow user level customization of
behaviors that result when many different devices interact with
each other. One problem today is that while many devices can
interact with each other, the way they interact with each other is
hard wired, and not configurable by the users of the system. The
range of behaviors is limited, and often limited to devices from
similar vendors, who have already established how devices will
interact with each other, based on specific, closed use cases.
[0433] Using aspects described herein, a user can configure
flexible interactions between different devices to allow
orchestration of different devices to work together in harmony.
This allows devices which are typically unrelated to work together
to trigger different behaviors. For example, if a user has a
smartphone, a laptop and a tablet, aspects described herein provide
the following illustrative use-case solution:
[0434] a. If the user is driving in a car and a meeting starts,
then they do not want to have to enter meeting join
information--they just want the meeting to call them on the
telephone using the PSTN, which allows simple integration with the
in car steering wheel phone controls.
[0435] b. However, if the user is in the office, then they want to
use the device they are currently interacting with.
[0436] Aspects described herein give the user the choice to
customize these actions according to their preferences, utilizing
triggers that are provided by devices. Users can customize these
actions either by explicitly specifying them, or they can rely on
the system observing user behavior and following their
preferences.
[0437] One known solution to the above recited problems is to
manually carry out the orchestration steps between devices to
achieve some of the features the software described herein
provides, such as manually connecting to a meeting by dialing the
PSTN bridge information while in the car, despite the dangers of
doing so.
[0438] Other features of the software described herein, such as
triggers that invoke when a user is not physically present, cannot
be achieved at the moment, and the user lives without such
features. Limited known previous attempts at this problem involve
solutions such as web mashups, including technologies like OnX and
IFTTT. However, these technologies are focused on bringing together
different web sites and some features of mobile devices. They are
not broader technologies that cover the wider range of devices that
are part of "the internet of things". Still other known
technologies include standards such as X10, DMX and ZWave. However,
these are home automation technologies focused on devices and
sensors such as light, motion sensors, and motorized control of
items in the home.
[0439] One known solution to the multi-device problem is to
manually dedicate specific devices to specific roles, through
manual manipulation of software on devices. For example, in the
context of online meeting software, this can mean making the laptop
screen minimize the video part of the meeting, to allow screen
sharing to take up the screen, and mirroring this to the room
display. It also means manually muting all speakers other than that
of the smartphone, which is acting as the microphone. It also means
making the tablet maximize the video display of the online meeting
software. Once after this is done, a single user appears to be
connected multiple times in the list of users in a meeting, which
provides a sub optimal user experience. For other situations, such
as launching an application from one device onto another, there are
no existing solutions in place. Thus, existing solutions, to the
extent they exist, are laborious, manually driven and error
prone.
[0440] FIG. 27 shows multi-device use according to illustrative
aspects described herein. The system of FIG. 27 outlines the way
that items are spread across devices, as well as ways that users
may trigger cross device interactions. As shown by way of example
in FIG. 27, a user may select content at one computing device to
share with another computing device. The user may select the
content to share and then select one of the other computing devices
connected via the orchestration framework. Upon selection of the
selected computing device (the destination computing device), the
selected content may be transferred to the selected computing
device. As seen in FIG. 27, various approaches may be selectively
employed to present or display a set of computing devices available
for selection as the device to receive the selected content. In one
approach, the computing devices available for selection may "peek"
in from the edges of the interface as selectable targets of a
drag-and-drop action. In another approach the computing devices
available for selection may be presented as a set of selectable
icons. In a further approach, the computing devices available for
selection may be presented as selectable entries in a list of
computing devices. Similar approaches may be employed in order to
request that a computing device perform at least a portion of a
computing activity initiated at another computing device. Moreover,
the set of computing devices presented as available for selection
may be dynamically generated or configured based on, e.g., the
computing devices associated with the computing device, the
computing devices associated with a user of the computing device,
the computing devices co-located with the computing device,
operation modes of the computing device, operation modes of
applications at the computing devices, whether the computing
devices are capable of presenting the content or performing the
computing activity, based on whether the computing devices are
permitted to present the content or perform the computing activity,
and additional or alternative criteria that will be appreciated
with the benefit of this disclosure.
[0441] FIG. 28 shows a system architecture according to one or more
illustrative aspects described herein. The system in FIG. 28 shows
a cloud service responsible for the server side facilities, and
multi-device (MD) software running on client devices responsible
for cross device interaction. The MD software on each different
kind of client device may be adapted based on the capabilities of
that client device. The system of FIG. 27 may include the
following: 1) a cloud service, which provides server and the back
end services (this can be implemented, e.g., using ASP.NET MVC
running in Windows Azure); and 2) different client devices, each
representing a different form factor of device. A laptop,
smartphone, tablet and large room display are shown in the diagram,
but other devices may also be used.
[0442] The cloud server components of the system may include:
[0443] a. Cloud file interface. This is responsible for
communicating with the underlying data cloud storage provider. In
one example, CITRIX SHAREFILE may be used. Other services may be
used (e.g., DropBox, Box, etc.) [0444] b. Cloud file service.
Cloud-based file storage service, which acts as an external data
provider. [0445] c. Device Service. This is responsible for
maintaining knowledge of all the devices that a user has, and the
capabilities of each device, such as what kind of device it is,
what applications it is capable of running, and what kind of
peripherals (such as cameras), that it has available. [0446] d.
Device Database. This database maintains the information used by
the Device Service. [0447] e. User Service. This is responsible for
maintaining knowledge of all the users available in the system. It
is also used for identity management. [0448] f. User Database. This
is the database maintaining the information in the User Service.
[0449] g. Device Management Interface. This is an interface that
allows users of the system to define what specific roles or actions
occur on what specific devices. It allows the user to customize how
their devices behave for specific situations, such as online
meeting software, or what device will display web content. It
defers the work of actually sequencing what goes to what device to
the Orchestration Service. [0450] h. Push Notification Service.
This is responsible for leveraging push notification frameworks
that are used by iOS, Android, Windows, and other services to
notify devices that they need to take action. [0451] i.
Orchestration Service. This is responsible for coordinating the
different actions related to making devices display certain
content. It is a central point within the system and issues
instructions to all the other components
[0452] Client components of the system may be the same, regardless
of the kind of device. However, implementation details may vary
according to the underlying platform. Client components may
include: [0453] a. Cloud file Interface. This is responsible for
communicating with the underlying data cloud storage provider.
[0454] b. Application Resolver. This is responsible for determining
how to act upon a request to engage in a cross device request. For
example, if the user wants to make use of a tablet as an online
meeting application video renderer, then the resolver determines
that the request involves launching the online meeting software in
video output mode only. [0455] c. Notification Interface. Handles
notifications that are received from the server to engage in cross
device behavior. [0456] d. Application Launcher. Launches an
appropriate application on the device, after any data that needs to
be brought to a device is on the device. [0457] e. Presence
Subsystem. Ensures that the cloud service is aware that a device is
online and available. It may also transfer location information or
NFC related information, which may be used by the server to
determine if devices are co-located. [0458] f. Orchestration Agent.
This is responsible for orchestrating work items related to a cross
device activity so that a user can accomplish their goals with
minimal intervention. For example, if a power point presentation is
being transferred to this device from another device, the
orchestration agent ensures that the presentation is available on
the device, and downloads it to the device if needed. The
orchestration agent then makes use of the application resolver to
determine the appropriate way to launch the application, and then
using the application launcher to launch the application.
[0459] As an illustrative example of how these components work
together to address the above problems, the following describes the
flow of execution during a use-case scenario where a user wants to
launch a multi device online meeting application, and then display
web links on another device to that which the link was clicked
upon.
[0460] Initially, prior to the meeting, the user has MD software
client running on his/her laptop. The presence subsystem of the
client on the laptop communicates to the device service of the
cloud service, to indicate that the device is available. The
presence subsystem of the client on the user's smart phone and
tablet indicate that the devices are available. At the time of the
meeting, the Orchestration Service decides that it is time to start
a meeting. The Orchestration Service consults with the Device
Service to determine what devices are available for the user. The
Device Service makes use of the Device Database to determine what
devices a user has and what their status is. The Orchestration
Service uses the Push Notification Service to send messages to the
active devices that the user has registered with the MD software.
The Notification Interface on the clients receive the notification
that a meeting is to be launched and passes this onto the
Orchestration Agent, which ensures that the user is asked if they
want to join the meeting. The Orchestration Agent uses the
Application Resolver to determine what application and what
parameters are needed to launch the meeting with the given role.
This information may be different for each device. For example, the
laptop may be given information indicating that just screen sharing
is to be used, whereas the tablet may be given information
indicating that just the video is to be used. The Orchestration
Agent uses the Application Launcher to start the online meeting
software with the appropriate information. This sequence may occur
for each of the user's active devices.
[0461] At the end of the meeting, the user then decides to make use
of his/her tablet to display web content for links that are clicked
on the laptop. The user clicks on a link in a web browser. The web
link used is intercepted by the MD software. The MD software sends
the link to the Orchestration Service at the cloud service. The
Orchestration Service uses the Device Service to determine if the
tablet is available. The Orchestration Service sends a request to
the Push Notification Service to send a push notification to the
tablet device. The Notification Interface on the client receives
the request from the cloud service and passes it onto the
Orchestration Agent. The Orchestration Agent uses the Application
Resolver to determine which application and what parameters are
needed to launch the particular web link. In this example, the
information passed back is that the internal web browser needs to
be used, and the information to pass to the browser. The
Orchestration Agent uses the Application Launcher to launch the web
browser with the information passed from the other machine.
[0462] Using aspect described herein, the MD software overcomes the
difficulties involved in effectively using multiple devices
together in a complementary fashion. Without the MD software,
multiple devices are not able to work together in harmony, in a
complementary fashion. Each device can display applications and
content, but there is no coherence or ability to orchestrate across
multiple devices.
[0463] Using the MD software, for example, provides a
user/enterprise the ability to associate a person's devices with
their identity in a collaboration system. Collaboration systems
such as CITRIX GOTOMEETING do not currently have any particular
association for a user's devices, and consequently cannot take
advantage of pre-assigned roles for different devices. The MD
software also provides for associating devices with a space or
group of people. Examples include conference room devices such as
smart displays and speakerphones being associated with a space.
These assets can then be shared by a group occupying that space
(temporary assignment) or be permanently assigned to a logical
group of people. The MD software also provides for the ability to
move/assign interactions across devices in the form of applications
(native, virtual, web, etc.) with associated content and
preferences in such a way that it is seamless to spread work across
devices. The MD software also provides the ability to scaffold
context/state across devices to afford better user experiences. For
example, upon launch of a collaboration, the automatic launch of a
meeting onto all a user's devices, with each device launching into
its specific role. The MD software also provides the context of one
device (such as
[0464] Using the MD software, for example, provides a
user/enterprise the ability to associate a person's devices with
their identity in a collaboration system. Collaboration systems
also do not currently have any particular association for a user's
devices, and consequently cannot take advantage of pre-assigned
roles for different devices. The MD software also provides for
associating devices with a space or group of people. Examples
include conference room devices such as smart displays and
speakerphones being associated with a space. These assets can then
be shared by a group occupying that space (temporary assignment) or
be permanently assigned to a logical group of people. The MD
software also provides for the ability to move/assign interactions
across devices in the form of applications (native, virtual, web,
etc.) with associated content and preferences in such a way that it
is seamless to spread work across devices. The MD software also
provides the ability to scaffold context/state across devices to
afford better user experiences. For example, upon launch of a
collaboration, the automatic launch of a meeting onto all a user's
devices, with each device launching into its specific role. The MD
software also provides the context of one device (such as location
of the phone) to be used as information for another device (such as
a tablet). The MD Software also provides the ability to use device
assignment/movement to afford device specific roles in a
collaboration system. Examples include a smartphone acting as a
speakerphone, a tablet acting as an avatar, or any device acting as
a camera. The MD software also provides targeted paste, e.g.,
allowing an application to be a paste target on one of the devices,
subsequent copies on any of the associated devices get pasted
automatically into the paste target. This cuts the typical copy and
paste operation overhead in half. The MD software provides methods
and systems to make a natural user interaction (voice, touch,
gesture, keyboard, etc.) action on one device that allows all
devices to respond. An example is to bring the focus of an app
(such as email) to the front on any of the devices.
[0465] Use the aspects described herein simplify the use of
multiple devices by reducing manual configuration and coordination.
Other aspects provide the ability to share world knowledge/state
between devices to enhance the user experience. This reduces
redundant entry of information. Some aspects provide the ability to
quickly spread activities across devices by reducing the friction
caused by applications, data, and context being locked into
devices. Other aspects reduce copy/paste efforts in half. Some
aspects provide cross device Natural User Interaction (NUI) that
allows less capable devices to participate in natural interaction.
Other aspects provide the ability to quickly bring an app to the
front on any device, no matter what devices the app was on
previously. This allows faster movement between applications, e.g.,
"show email on my tablet".
[0466] According to another aspect, additional applications may
benefit from use of MD software, e.g., client agent software in
virtualization environments. The MD software may enable migrating
client agent applications from one device to another device. This
may be performed using push driven Smooth Roaming. Other aspects of
MD software may provide for the ability to share the state of web
browser sessions across devices. Still other aspects of MD software
may provide ad hoc device discovery using technologies such as NFC
and using the Orchestration Service and Orchestration Agent to
assign roles for the devices.
[0467] FIG. 29A illustrates a system architecture according to one
or more illustrative aspects. FIG. 29A outlines a general structure
that may be used. It shows a cloud service responsible for server
side facilities and new, dynamic software running on client
devices.
[0468] The system architecture may include at least three discrete
subsystems: 1) a cloud service, which provides the back end
services (This may be implemented using ASP.NET MVC running in
Windows Azure, as one example); 2) client devices, which run the
software the user interacts with for collaboration, deferred work,
applications and other software. This software can be running on
platforms such as Windows, iOS, Android, Mac or a Smart TV, among
others; and 3) internet enabled sensors, such as motion sensors,
light sensors, temperature sensors. Client devices may be connected
directly, each executing peer software as described herein, or may
be connected through the cloud service (e.g., the cloud service may
be optional, where the functionality is built into software on each
device).
[0469] Cloud service components of the system include: [0470] a.
Device Service, maintains knowledge of all the devices that a user
has, and the capabilities of each device, such as what kind of
device it is, what applications it is capable of running, and what
kind of peripherals (such as cameras), that it has available.
[0471] b. Device Database. maintains the information used by the
Device Service. [0472] c. User Service, maintains knowledge of all
the users available in the system. It is needed for identity
management. [0473] d. User Database. maintains all the information
in the User Service. [0474] e. PSTN Interface, interface that
proactively contacts users via the public switched telephone
network (PSTN). [0475] f. Push Notification Service, leverages push
notification frameworks that are used by iOS, Android and Windows
(among others) to notify devices that they need to take action.
[0476] g. Orchestration Service, coordinates different actions
based on different events, or triggers that happen. The
Orchestration Service may include the following components: [0477]
2. Trigger Handler. receives input from different external sources,
such as sensors and clients about when specific events occur that
can act as a trigger for different actions to occur. [0478] 2.
Rules Service, determines what actions to carry out when a
particular event, or trigger, occurs. The Rules Service is the core
of the system that determines what to do when something occurs.
[0479] 3. Action Generator. translates the sequence of actions that
need to occur based on what the resultant actions generated from
the Rules Service are for a given trigger. [0480] h. Rules
Database. Maintains information used by the Orchestration Service
and Rules Service which determines how the software behaves based
on different triggers. [0481] i. Orchestration Interface. Provides
an interface for users of the system to customize the behavior of
the system for different devices, events and triggers. It is
through this interface that the users customize the system.
[0482] The client components of the system may be the same,
regardless of the kind of device. However, the implementation
details may vary according to the underlying platform. Client
components may include: [0483] a. Application Resolver. This is
responsible for determining how to act upon a request that involves
launching an application. For example, if the user wants to launch
Google maps on their tablet when they enter a car, the Application
Resolver determines how to launch Google Maps--be it a web
application, native application, or client agent published
application. [0484] b. Notification Interface. Handles
notifications that are received from the server based on
information from the server side. [0485] c. Application Launcher.
Launches an appropriate application on the device. [0486] d.
Presence Subsystem. Ensures that the cloud service is aware that a
device is online and available. [0487] e. Orchestration Agent.
Orchestrates the work items related to making deferred and
distributed work possible. This includes tasks such as starting
meetings in response to events from the server, triggering
authentication and general coordination of the client. The
Orchestration Agent may include the following components: [0488] 1.
Trigger Handler. Receives input from different external sources,
such as sensors and clients about when specific events occur that
can act as a trigger for different actions to occur. [0489] 2.
Rules Engine. Determines what actions to carry out when a
particular event, or trigger, occurs. The Rules Service is the core
of the system that determines what to do when something occurs.
[0490] 3. Action Generator. Translates the sequence of actions that
need to occur based on what the resultant actions generated from
the Rules Engine are for a given trigger.
[0491] To illustrate how these components work together to address
the problems the software addresses, the following example use-case
scenario shows how a user would set rules to ensure that if they
are driving in a car when a meeting starts, that the system should
call the user on the PSTN to let them join the meeting.
[0492] Initially, the user points their web browser to the
Orchestration Interface. The user enters a rule with the following
definition: [0493] a. A trigger set to "If a meeting starts".
[0494] b. Contextual conditions set to "The motion sensor or GPS in
my smart phone indicates that I am moving at a speed greater than 5
km/h". [0495] c. An action set to "Call a specified telephone
number and patch me into the meeting automatically."
[0496] The rule entered into the Orchestration Interface is sent to
the Rules Service, which writes the information to the Rules
Database. At this point, the rules are all set up on the server.
The Rules Service instructs the Device Service to send each device
a message with the new rules. The Presence Subsystem on the client
device communicates with the Device Service to indicate that the
device is present. The client receives a response back indicating
that it needs to update its rules. The Rules Engine on the client
requests the latest set of rules that apply to the device from the
Rules Service. The Rules Service provides the information back to
the client, which stores the information in its internal Rules
Engine configuration. Now that the client knows about the rules
specified by the user, it can send information about the state of
this rule to the server. So, in this case: [0497] a. The Trigger
Generator on the client receives a message each time the Presence
Subsystem intends to notify the server about its status. [0498] b.
The Rules Engine on the client determines that information about
the device's motion/speed needs to be sent back to the server.
[0499] c. The Rules Engine uses the Action Handler on the client to
append information to the data sent back to the server by the
Presence Subsystem.
[0500] The Device Service on the server side receives the message
about the device's presence, and the rule information from the
client, which it passes on to the Trigger Handler, which passes it
onto the Rules Service. The Rules Service updates its information
about the state of the device, relative to the rule relating to
meeting starting and motion sensor speed. When a meeting is due to
start, the Trigger Handler receives a message from an external
service monitoring the user's calendar. The Trigger Handler passes
the message about the start of the meeting to the Rules Service.
The Rules Service consults the rules database and determines that
there is a rule triggered by the start of a meeting. The Rules
Service consults the rules database for further information about
how the contextual condition for the rule relates to the state of
the client device. The status received last from the client
indicates that the device is moving and the contextual condition
for the rule evaluates to true, namely, carry out the action of the
rule.
[0501] The Rules Service passes on the result of the rule
evaluation to the Action Generator. In this case, it passes on an
action of calling the user on a specified telephone number. The
Action Generator creates the sequence of instructions needed to
call the telephone. The Action Generator issues a request to the
PSTN Service to make a telephone call to the specified telephone
number. The PSTN Service calls the requested telephone number, and
connects to the user's telephone. The Action Generator issues a
request to the PSTN Service to dial the appropriate instructions to
patch the user into the meeting they are due to attend. At this
point, the user is connected into the meeting while they are
driving, without having to take their eyes off the road, or enter
complex sequences into their smart phone.
[0502] The software and systems described herein overcome the
difficulties that arise when users have several devices that can
work together to automate tasks, yet are not configured out of the
box to allow such orchestration, or do not allow flexibility of
orchestration. Aspects described herein thus provide the ability to
define inferred contextual (temporal, geospatial, situational) and
explicit (from all forms of natural interaction across devices)
triggers from a variety of devices. Aspects also provide the
ability to define actions for devices to perform based upon
triggers determined from device context, and for the definition of
rules that can be fired based on an inference engine to enable
complex automation behaviors across devices. Aspects also provide a
question and answer interface to refine desired behaviors, as well
as the ability to learn how device behavior triggers based on
learning or observing user behavior across devices, instead of only
relying on users explicitly scripting the behavior. For example,
learning what a user does when they respond to something like a
meeting notification, and replicating this behavior the next time,
such as automatically muting their microphone, or setting it to a
particular volume. Aspects also provide the ability to learn device
behavior based upon a question and answer or if/then/else style
interface.
[0503] While there are existing rules engines and automation
frameworks available, they are typically related to one particular
application or device. The dynamic device cloud described herein
spans across multiple devices and applications that a user has.
This provides several advantages, including providing the ability
to provide future proof behaviors of devices working together
collectively, even if they are not explicitly designed to cooperate
with each other. Aspects described herein also provide the ability
to define simple triggers, actions, and behavior rules to give a
level of flexibility not available out of the box in other
solutions. Aspects also provide the ability to learn system
behaviors based upon question and answer style interfaces, and/or
by observing how a user uses the system can make customization
accessible to users without any programming background.
[0504] Other aspects described herein provide the ability for users
to customize orchestration by providing a learning facility, a
question and answer style interface and a traditional scripting
approach. The orchestration software may adapt to how users
interact with the system, and adjust rules based on user behavior.
Thus, the system may learn new interactions and rules, based upon
the observed behavior of a user of the system.
[0505] As noted above, the cloud service may be utilized for
sharing various types of content at a computing device, e.g., for
cross-device file sharing, URL sharing, and copy-and-paste
functionality. The back-end cloud service advantageously allows
cross-device sharing across different operating environments using
only a multi-device client installed at the various devices. The
content shared across devices may be anything residing at a device
including, e.g., document files, image files, audio files, video
files, archive files, software applications, URLs, text-based
content, presentation meetings, and the like. Moreover, users may
share content with devices they are associated with (e.g., a
personal mobile telephone, a personal laptop computer, a personal
tablet computer, etc.) and may share content with devices
associated with other individuals.
[0506] In some example implementations, a user may select the
particular device selected content it is shared with. In other
example implementations, the cloud service may automatically
determine which device to share the content with. The cloud service
may make the determination based on, e.g., the type of content
shared, the devices presently connected to the cloud service, and
so forth. This context-based decision-making of the cloud service
advantageously provides a seamless and unobtrusive workflow for the
users. Allowing users to select which devices content is shared
with, however, advantageously gives the users more control over the
destination of their shared content. It will thus be appreciated
that the cloud service may be selectively configured to share
content between devices according to the selections of the users,
according to the present context, according to file sharing rule
sets, or a combination of such.
[0507] As noted above, the orchestration framework may also
interconnect computing devices to operate as a coordinated whole
via a peer-to-peer communication session. FIG. 29B illustrates an
example implementation in which the orchestration agents are
interconnected via a peer-to-peer communication session. The
orchestration agents may still allow the computing devices to
access, e.g., a cloud storage resource, a rules database, a device
database, and a user database as described above. It will be
appreciated that aspects of the orchestration framework are
applicable in the peer-to-peer context as well as the client-server
context.
[0508] A word processing application (e.g., Microsoft Word) is one
example of an application where the orchestration framework may
distribute operation of the application across multiple
interconnected devices. In this example, a desktop computing device
may initiate the word processing application and request that a
television display device present the output from the application,
e.g., a document being edited. The orchestration framework may
distribute the application across other interconnected computing
devices such that input for the word processing application may be
received from the other computing devices interconnected with the
desktop application. For example, a user at a laptop device may
provide input at the laptop keyboard in order to edit the document,
and another user at a tablet device may provide input at the
touchscreen keyboard in order to edit the document. In this way, a
user may share a document with other devices while accessing the
document at a first device.
[0509] In another example, interconnected devices may coordinate
with each other if one of the devices does not have the hardware or
software needed to carry out a computing activity. Online meetings
are provided in this disclosure as one example in which computing
devices may be interconnected via an orchestration framework that
coordinates operation of a computing activity across the computing
devices. In one particular example, a user may only have access to
a cellular telephone and a television display device when joining
the meeting. In this example, the television display device may not
have an audio input device, and the cellular telephone may not have
an adequate video output device. Accordingly, the orchestration
framework may coordinate the operation of the cellular telephone
and the television display device to enable the user to join the
online meeting. Respective orchestration agents at the cellular
telephone device and the television display device may connect the
devices via the orchestration framework as shown by way of example
in FIG. 29B. During the online meeting, the orchestration framework
may thus cause video of the online meeting to be presented at the
television display device and cause audio from the user to be
received for the online meeting from the microphone of the cellular
telephone device. Additional and alternative examples will be
appreciated.
[0510] FIG. 31 is a flowchart 3100 of example method steps for
cross-device file sharing. A user may operate a computing device at
which various computer files reside. The user may select one of the
files to share with another device (block 3102). With the file
selected, the user may initiate a cross-device share request (block
3104). The user may initiate the cross-device share request via,
e.g., a keyboard shortcut, menu selection, and the like. Upon
initiation of the cross-device share request, the multi-device
client may launch or activate at the device (block 3106).
[0511] The multi-device client may present a list of destinations
the user may transmit the selected file to (block 3108). The list
of destinations may include line items corresponding to computing
devices associated with the user as well as line items
corresponding to individuals. As noted above, the user may select a
personal device associated with that user or an individual to
transmit the selected file to. As also noted above, the list of
line items may include the devices associated with the listed
individuals, and the user may select which device associated with
an individual to transmit the selected file to. If the user selects
an individual rather than a device, the cloud service may
automatically determine which device associated with the selected
individual to transmit the selected file to. It will be appreciated
that the list of individuals may also include the user, and
selection of the user may transmit the selected file to a different
device associated with the user.
[0512] As noted above, the determination of which device to
transmit the selected file to may be based on user selection,
context, or rule sets. The user may manually select which device or
individual to transmit the selected file to. Additionally or
alternatively, the cloud service may determine which devices are
presently connected to the cloud service, and automatically select
one of those devices to receive the selected file. The cloud
service may also automatically select a device based on the type of
file selected. As an example, the cloud service may select an audio
device to receive the selected file when the file is an audio file.
As another example, the cloud service may automatically select a
large display device to receive the selected file when the file is
a video file. The cloud service may also employ one or more rule
sets to determine which device should receive the selected file.
Users may modify the rule sets according to their preferences, and
the rules may consider various characteristics associated with the
users (e.g., user role, location, etc.), the devices (e.g., device
type, etc.), the selected file, and combinations of such. This
rule-based approach to file sharing may advantageously provide
greater flexibility in customizing how the cloud service
automatically shares files across devices.
[0513] Moreover, the list of destinations may be context-sensitive
such that the destinations included in the list depend on various
factors. In one example implementation, the multi-device client may
dynamically filter the list of destinations based on the
capabilities of the potential device destinations. In this regard,
the multi-device client may be aware of the capabilities of the
various devices. The cloud service may maintain capability
information corresponding to each device connected to the cloud
service and provide this capability information to the multi-device
client. In turn, the multi-device client may utilize the capability
information when constructing the list of destinations. If a
potential device destination is not capable of opening the selected
file, then the multi-device client may exclude that device
destination from the list of destinations. In this way, the
multi-device client may tailor the list of destinations to include
only those devices having the capability to open the selected file.
The multi-device client may tailor the list of destinations based
on additional or alternative criteria. For example, the individuals
included in the list of destinations may be the attendees of an
ongoing meeting that the user is attending. It will be appreciated
that the multi-device client may employ combinations of criteria to
construct the list of destinations.
[0514] Referring back to FIG. 31, the user may select from the list
of destinations a destination to transmit the selected file to
(block 3110). Having selected the destination, the multi-device
client may upload the selected file to a remote file sharing
service that stores the selected file (block 3112). The
multi-device client may then notify the cloud service that the
selected file is available at the file sharing service (block
3114). The notification to the cloud service may include, for
example, the selected destination for the file, the location of the
file at the file sharing service (e.g., a URL corresponding to the
file), and the like. The cloud service may then notify the
destination device that the file is available at the file sharing
service (block 3116). The notification to the destination device
may likewise include the location of the file at the file sharing
service.
[0515] The multi-device client at the destination device may
respond differently depending on whether the user shared the file
with a device associated with that user (e.g., another personal
device) or a device associated with another individual. In
particular, the multi-device client may present an unobtrusive
notification at the mobile device when another user shares a file.
In this way, the multi-device client may avoid interrupting users
while engaging in other computing activities. As seen in FIG. 31,
if the destination device is not a personal device of the user that
shared the file (block 3118:N), then the multi-device client at the
destination device may display a notification that a new filed has
been shared with the destination device (block 3120). Upon receipt
of the notification of the shared file, the multi-device client may
provide the recipient with the option to accept or reject the
shared file. If the recipient does not accept the shared file
(block 3122:N), then the multi-device client may wait (block 3124)
until the recipient accepts the shared file, e.g., by providing
input requesting receipt of the shared file. When the recipient
accepts the shared file (block 3122:Y), the multi-device client may
retrieve the file from the file sharing service (block 3126). The
file sharing service may be located remotely relative to the device
the multi-device client resides at, and may be accessible, e.g.,
via the Internet. Accordingly, the multi-device client may submit a
request to the file sharing service using the URL corresponding to
the location of the shared file at the file sharing service. The
multi-device client may download the file from the file sharing
service and launch the appropriate application at the destination
device to open the file (block 3128).
[0516] In some example implementations, the multi-device client may
be configured to automatically respond to a file share.
Accordingly, if the destination device is a personal device of the
user that shared the file (block 3118:Y), then the multi-device
client may automatically retrieve the shared file from the file
sharing service (block 3130) upon notification of the shared file.
When the multi-device client receives the shared file from the file
sharing service, the multi-device client may also automatically
launch the appropriate application at the destination device to
open the shared file.
[0517] It will be appreciated that the example approach described
above provides a quick and efficient way to share, e.g., email
attachments. Instead of forwarding or creating new emails to share
email attachments, users may share email attachments using the
cloud service which streamlines the sharing process. The example
approach described above also provides a quick and efficient way to
share online presentations or meetings with other devices or
individuals. Instead of having users launch and log on to join an
existing meeting, a user may share the meeting information and
details with another individual using the cloud service, and that
meeting may automatically launch at a device utilized by the
individual. Similarly, the cloud service allows an attendee to
transfer an ongoing meeting presented at one device to another
device associated with the attendee. As an example, an individual
may attended an online meeting using a desktop computing device. If
the individual needs to leave the desktop device for any reason,
the individual may use the cloud service to transfer the meeting to
a mobile device such as a tablet computing device or mobile phone
device. In this way, users are not tied to any particular device
when attending an online meeting and may advantageously jump
between devices while attending the meeting.
[0518] FIG. 32 is a flowchart 3200 of example method steps for
cross-device URL sharing. Similar to selecting a file to share, a
user may select a URL to share (block 3202), e.g., by highlighting
the URL. The user may then initiate a cross-device request as
described above (block 3204) and launch the multi-device client
(block 3206). The user may select a destination from a list of
destinations (block 3208), e.g., another device or an individual.
With the destination selected, the multi-device client may upload
the URL to the cloud service (block 3210). The cloud service may
similarly notify the destination device of the shared URL (block
3212). The notification may include the shared URL.
[0519] As with sharing files, the multi-device client at the
destination device may respond differently depending on whether the
destination device is associated with the user that shared the URL
or another individual. As noted above, if the destination device is
not a personal device of the user that shared the URL (block
3214:N), then the multi-device client may display a notification
indicating the shared URL (block 3216) so as to avoid any
interruptions of other computing activities occurring at the
destination device. If the individual does not accept the shared
URL (block 3218:N), then the multi-device client may wait (block
3220) until input is received indicating acceptance of the shared
URL. When the recipient accepts the shared URL (block 3218:Y), the
multi-device client may initiate launching of a web browser at the
destination device as well as a request for the shared URL (block
3222). If the user shares the URL another personal device (block
3214:Y), then the multi-device client at the destination device may
automatically initiate launching of a web browser and request the
shared URL (block 3224).
[0520] The cloud service may be configured to share URLs in a
context-sensitive manner. In particular, the cloud service may
recognize URLs for different types of online resources, e.g., a
text-based webpage and a video sharing webpage. Accordingly, the
cloud service may automatically select a destination device based
on the URL type. As an example, the cloud service may recognize
that the URL addresses a video sharing website and, in response,
select a large display device to share the URL with. In this way,
the cloud service may advantageously share the URL with the device
suitable for presenting the content addressed by the URL. As
another example, the cloud service may recognize that the URL
addresses a text-based website and, in response, select a tablet
device or desktop device to share the URL with. The cloud service
may also employ rule sets to determine which device to share the
URL with. For example, a URL sharing rule set may list various
websites and the devices or types of devices the cloud service
should select when sharing URLs associated with those websites.
Users may configure the rule sets according to their preferences in
order to customize the behavior of the cloud sharing service when
sharing URLs. The rule sets may be associated with individual users
for use when those users share the URL, and additionally or
alternatively, the cloud service may maintain a global rule set
applicable to all users.
[0521] FIG. 33 is a flowchart 3300 of example method steps for
cross-device copy-and-paste functionality. Stated generally, a user
may select content at one device and copy the content to a
clipboard at the cloud service from which other users may paste the
content at their own devices. A user may first select the content
to share (block 3302), e.g., by highlighting text or otherwise
selecting the content. The user may then initiate a cross-device
request as described above (block 3304), and the multi-device
client may launch or otherwise activate (block 3306). The
multi-device client may then upload the content to a global
clipboard of the cloud service (block 3308). The global clipboard
corresponds to a storage location at the cloud service accessible
to at least some of the devices connected to the cloud service.
[0522] When a user copies content to the global clipboard, the
cloud service notifies one or more of the devices connected to the
cloud service that new clipboard content is available (block 3310).
Users may utilize the multi-device client to paste the global
clipboard content at their respective devices. The multi-device
client may transmit a request to the cloud service for the global
clipboard content. When the cloud service receives the request
(block 3312), the cloud service may download the global clipboard
content to the device (block 3314). Having received the global
clipboard content from the cloud service, the user may paste the
content into an application at the device (block 3316).
[0523] As set forth above, a device may not have the capability to
open a file shared with that device. For example, the application
used to open the shared file may not be installed at the
destination device. Nevertheless, the cloud service and
multi-device client may be configured handle situations where a
destination device does not have the capability to open a shared
file. As described in more detail below, the cloud service may
automatically launch a virtual environment that has the capability
to open the shared file, and the multi-device client may launch a
virtualization client to connect to the virtual environment when a
destination device is not capable of opening a shared file.
[0524] FIG. 34 is a flowchart 3400 of example method steps for
launching a shared file at a destination device. The cloud service
may receive notification of a shared file (block 3402) as discussed
above. The cloud service may then determine whether the destination
device is capable of opening the shared file (block 3404). As noted
above, the cloud service may store device capability information
and may thus be aware of the capabilities of the devices connected
to the cloud service. Devices may provide the cloud service with
their respective capability information during the negotiation
process when connecting to the cloud service. If the destination
device is capable of opening the shared file (block 3406:Y), then
the device may launch the appropriate application to open the
shared file, e.g., automatically or in response to receipt of input
accepting the shared file as discussed above.
[0525] If the destination device is not capable of opening the
shared file (block 3406:N), then the cloud service may initiate
creation of a virtual environment (block 3410). The cloud service
itself may create and maintain the virtual environment locally or,
additionally or alternatively, a virtualization server that is
located remotely relative to the cloud service may create and
maintain the virtual environment. The virtual environment may be
configured with the capability to open the shared file (block
3412). As an example, the virtual environment may be configured to
include the application used to open the shared file. The virtual
environment may also be provided with the shared file (block 3414).
As an example, the cloud service may provide the virtual
environment with the location of the shared file at the file
sharing service, and a multi-device client at the virtual
environment may retrieve the file from the file sharing service. In
this regard, the virtual environment may also be considered as a
destination for the shared file.
[0526] Once the virtual environment retrieves the shared file from
the file sharing service, the virtual environment may launch a
virtualized application to open the shared file (block 3416). The
multi-device client at the destination device may launch a
virtualization client (block 3418), and the virtualization client
may connect to the virtual environment (block 3420). In this way,
users may advantageously share files across devices that may not be
equipped to open those files. A more particular example may include
a 3D formatted computer file that can only be opened using 3D
modeling software. A mobile phone may not be equipped with the
necessary software to open the 3D file. Using the cloud service and
the virtualization approach described above, a virtual environment
may launch a virtualized instance of the 3D modeling software, and
the virtualization client at the mobile phone may connect to the
virtual environment to access 3D files shared with the mobile phone
device. Other practical uses will be appreciated with the benefit
of this disclosure.
[0527] FIG. 56 shows an illustrative method for managing process
transfers and device integration using a mobile device and based on
one or more policy files, as described above. Initially, a managed
application may be received and/or installed in step 5601 on a
mobile electronic device, as described herein. In step 5603 the
device may separately and/or distinctly receive one or more policy
files defining one or more operational and/or behavioral
limitations of the managed app, e.g., based on one or more features
discussed above. While the policy file(s) may be optionally
received as separate files, the policy files may be received as
part of a same communication or installation process as the managed
app.
[0528] In step 5605 the mobile device executes the managed app in
accordance with the policy files. That is, the mobile device
security manager (or equivalent process) restricts operations of
the managed app as defined by the one or more policy files. In step
5607, during operation of the managed app and based on one or more
of the policy files, the managed app may restrict or enable the
ability of a device to transfer a process or integrate with one or
more other devices and/or resources, as discussed above. Various
examples of such policy files and device integration features and
processes that may be restricted/enforced are discussed above.
10. MULTIPLE OPERATION MODES
[0529] An improved technique for managing enterprise applications
on mobile devices allows users to access enterprise applications
from their own mobile devices, where the enterprise applications
securely coexist with the users' own personal applications and
data. Enterprise mobile applications are specially created or
adapted in such a way that they are forced to interact with other
applications and services on a mobile device through respective
application policies. Each enterprise mobile application running on
the mobile device has an associated policy through which it
interacts with its environment. The policy selectively blocks or
allows activities involving the enterprise application in
accordance with rules established by the enterprise. Together, the
enterprise applications running on the mobile device form a set of
managed applications. The policy associated with each of the
managed applications includes a record of each of the other managed
applications. Typically, policy settings for interacting with
managed applications are different from policy settings for
interacting with other applications, i.e., applications which are
not part of the managed set, such as a user's personal mobile
applications. Managed applications are typically allowed to
exchange data with other managed applications, but are blocked from
exchanging data with other applications, such as the user's own
personal applications. In some examples, application policies of
managed applications are configured to allow links and/or icons
presented in one managed application to be followed or opened in
another application only if the other application is also a managed
application.
[0530] For example, a managed email application can be configured,
through its policy, to allow an attachment to be opened in a
managed PDF annotator. But the same managed email application can
be configured to prevent the same attachment from being opened in a
PDF annotator that is not part of the managed set.
[0531] By constraining managed applications to interact on a mobile
device through enterprise-administered policies, the managed set of
applications can thus be made to operate with other applications in
the managed set of applications, but can be prevented from
operating with applications that are not part of the managed set.
Leakage of enterprise information out of the managed set of
applications can thus be prevented, as can be receipt of personal
information into the managed set of applications. Certain
embodiments are directed to a method of managing applications of an
enterprise on a mobile device. The method includes installing a set
of managed applications of the enterprise on the mobile device,
wherein other applications are installed on the mobile device that
are not part of the set of managed applications. The method further
includes receiving a set of application policies, wherein each of
the set of managed applications is associated with a respective
policy of the set of application policies. The method still further
includes selectively allowing a first application of the set of
managed applications to provide data to a second application
installed on the mobile device, responsive to accessing a policy of
the first application and reading an indication from the policy of
the first application that the second application is a member of
the set of managed applications, and selectively blocking the first
application from providing data to a third application installed on
the mobile device, responsive to accessing the policy of the first
application and failing to read an indication from the policy of
the first application that the third application is a member of the
set of managed applications.
[0532] An improved technique for managing enterprise applications
on mobile devices allows users to access enterprise applications
from their own mobile devices, where the enterprise applications
securely coexist with the users' own personal applications and
data.
[0533] Secure data sharing is accomplished by creating a managed
set of applications that can share files and/or data with one
another, but are selectively prohibited from sharing files and/or
data with applications that are not part of the managed set. Thus,
two objectives are achieved: (1) data are prevented from leaking
out of the managed set and (2) data are allowed to be shared among
the applications within the managed set. FIG. 35 shows an example
environment in which embodiments hereof can be practiced. Here, a
mobile device 3510, such as a smartphone, tablet, PDA, and the
like, has installed upon it various mobile applications. The mobile
applications include a set 3520 of managed applications 3522, 3524,
and 3526, and a personal application 3530. In some examples, an
enterprise mobility management (EMM) client 3540 is also installed
on the mobile device 3510. The EMM client 3540 is configured to
connect, e.g., via a network such as the Internet, with an EMM
server 3550, which typically includes an authentication server 3552
and an application store 3554. An example of the EMM client 3540 is
a client agent available from Citrix. An example of the EMM server
3550 is a gateway server that provides access to enterprise
resources and/or cloud resources. Each application in the set 3520
of managed applications is associated with a respective policy. For
example, application 3522 is associated with a policy 3522a,
application 3524 is associated with a policy 3524a, and application
3526 is associated with a policy 3526a. In some examples, the
policies 3522a, 3524a, and 3526a are provided in the form of files,
such as XML or JSON files, in which the respective policy is
expressed as a set of key/value pairs. In an example, each policy
3522a, 3524a, and 3526a includes a record of all applications
within the set 3520 of managed applications, e.g., as discussed
above. Each of the set 3520 of managed applications is specially
designed or adapted for use with the enterprise. Some of the set
3520 of managed applications may be designed specifically for the
enterprise. Others of the set 3520 of managed applications are more
widely used applications (e.g., available to the public) that have
been specifically adapted for use with the enterprise. Each of the
set 3520 of applications includes injected code that enables the
application to conform to a framework of the enterprise. The
injected code can be compiled into the application using an SDK.
Alternatively, the injected code can be applied as a wrapper around
a general-use application, to adapt it for use with the enterprise.
In general, the injected code serves to divert API calls from the
application to its associated policy, such that the policy can
selectively allow or block activities specified by the API
calls.
[0534] In typical operation, a user of the mobile device 3510
starts the EMM client 3540, logs on to the EMM server 3550 via the
authentication server 3552, and accesses the application store
3554. The user can then peruse enterprise applications available
from the application store 3554, select desired applications, and
download them to the mobile device 3510, where the downloaded
applications are included in the set 3520 of managed applications.
For each application downloaded, a corresponding policy is also
downloaded to the mobile device, and the policies of all
applications in the set 3520 are updated to reflect all members of
the set 3520. In an example, policies (e.g., 3522a, 3524a, and
3526a) are refreshed periodically and/or in response to particular
events, such as each time the respective application is started
and/or each time the user logs onto the EMM server 3550. Policies
can thus be adapted over time and dynamically transferred to the
mobile device 3510 from the EMM server 3550.
[0535] Depending on settings of the policies 3522, 3524, and 3526,
applications within the set 3520 of managed applications can be
constrained to exchange files and/or data only with other
applications within the set 3520. For example, API calls from the
application 3522 are intercepted by the injected code of the
application 3522. The policy 3522a is read, and the operation
specified by the API call is either blocked or allowed depending on
the settings in the policy 3522a. Because the policy 3522a has a
record of all applications in the set 3520 of managed applications,
the application 3522, by reading the policy 3522a, can test whether
the requested operation of the API call involves an application
inside or outside the set 3520, and allow or block activity
accordingly. Thus, based on policy settings, movement of data can
be restricted such that data within the set 3520 of managed
applications is not comingled with data outside the managed set
(e.g., with application 3530).
[0536] In some examples, applications in the set 3520 of managed
applications on the mobile device 3510 can be assigned to different
groups. In such cases, policies (e.g., 3522a, 3524a, and 3526a) are
updated to include records of groups and group members. The flow of
files and/or data between applications can thus be further
restricted to members of particular groups. Providing different
groups of mobile applications within the managed set 3520 can help
to segregate applications handling highly sensitive data from those
that handle less sensitive data.
[0537] It is understood that the above-described process of
intercepting an API call, consulting an application's policy, and
allowing or blocking the operation specified by the API call based
on the policy can be carried out in a number of contexts. In one
example, the above process can be applied for selecting a set of
applications on the mobile device 3510 that can be used to open a
file or data element identified by a link or icon (e.g., using Open
In). In another example, the above process can be applied for
copying data or data objects from one application and pasting the
data or data objects in another application (e.g., via a hidden,
encrypted paste buffer). In yet another example, the above process
can be applied for moving files into and/or out of a protected file
vault. Essentially, any operation used to move data into and/or out
of an application can make use of the above technique.
[0538] It is further understood that this techniques can apply not
only to movement of data to other applications, but also to
recording, pictures, printing, playback of audio, and other
functions.
[0539] Operating system extensions may be obtained for the mobile
device 3510. One such operating system extension responds to a user
pointing to a link or icon representing a data object, such as a
file, by displaying a list of applications on the mobile device
3510 that are capable of opening that data object. An example of
such an operating system extension is "Open In," which is available
on iOS devices. Similar extensions are available for Android and
Windows 8 devices.
[0540] In an example, applications within the set 3520 of managed
applications support the use of Open In, but the list of
applications displayed for opening a selected data object is
limited based on the policies of the respective applications. For
example, the list of applications displayed when Open In is invoked
from the application 3522 can be limited, in accordance with the
policy 3522a, only to other applications in the managed set 3520.
Thus, in this example, Open In lists only applications that are
both (1) within the managed set 3520 and (2) compatible with the
data object. On mobile operating systems, such as iOS, Android, and
Windows 8, each application runs in its own sandbox. These apps use
a very high level content sharing mechanism like Open In in iOS,
Intents/activities in Android and Charms in Windows8. On a BYOD
(bring your own device) mobile device, it will have a mix of
managed and un-managed/personal applications running on the device.
Here, we focus on how to enable data sharing among the managed set
of applications.
[0541] On modern mobile operating systems like iOS, the file system
is not really exposed to the end user by design to hide complexity.
The focus is rather on the applications and the data they
handle.
[0542] There are many ways data can move in and out of the device.
Primary examples include email, cloud based data/file sharing
services, browser etc. Then the data needs to be moved among the
managed applications to get actual work done.
[0543] A method and system for operating an application with
multiple modes are described. A plurality of applications may be
presented to a user on a mobile device and one of the displayed
applications may be selected. The selected application may have one
or more contexts that are determined. For example, a context for
the selected application may be that the application is configured
to access an enterprise account. Based on the context, the selected
application may be run on the mobile device in one of a plurality
of operations modes. The operation modes may comprise unmanaged and
one or more managed modes, among others. Multiple managed modes may
be used to provide different levels of security, access to
different resources, and the like.
[0544] In an embodiment, the context for the selected application
may comprise an account to be accessed by the selected application,
a location for the mobile device that will be running the selected
application, a determination as to whether a predetermined
application is running on the mobile device, one or more network
connections for the mobile device, and one or more settings for the
mobile device. One or more of these contexts may be compared to
policies to determine an operation mode for the selected
application.
[0545] In another embodiment, an operation mode may be switched for
a selected application. One or more contexts may be monitored for
the selected application while running and a change in operation
mode may be detected based on the monitoring. For example, one or
more contexts may change for the selected application and a policy
may define that an operation mode for the selected application is
to be changed. Accordingly, the operation mode may be switched to
the updated operation mode.
[0546] In an embodiment, an application that is capable of running
in multiple modes, e.g., managed mode and/or unmanaged mode among
others, may be controlled by partition, by policy, by one or more
sandboxes, or any other suitable configuration. For example, a
managed operation mode may include running the application as a
part of a managed partition of a mobile device. In an embodiment,
an application running in managed mode may access data stored in a
secure data container in the managed partition of the mobile
device. The data stored in the secure data container may include
data restricted to a specific secure application, shared among
other secure applications, and the like. Data restricted to a
secure application may include secure general data and highly
secure data. Secure general data may use a strong form of
encryption such as AES 128-bit encryption or the like, while highly
secure data may use a very strong form of encryption such as AES
256-bit encryption. In an embodiment, an application running in
managed mode may save, modify, or delete data in secure data
container. The data saved or modified may be encrypted similar to
other data stored in secure data container. In this example, an
unmanaged operation mode may include running the application as
part of unmanaged partition, as described above.
[0547] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode or
unmanaged mode may be controlled by policies. As such, one or more
policies may define that the application running in managed mode
may access secured data (e.g., data in secure data container,
encrypted data, such as data encrypted with a particular key, or
any other suitable secured data), may communicate with a secure
server (e.g., gateway server), may be managed by a device manager
(e.g., device manager), or any other suitable policy. One or more
policies may also define that the application running in unmanaged
mode may not access secure data (e.g., data in secure data
container, encrypted data, such as data encrypted with a particular
key, or any other suitable secured data), may not communicate with
a secure server (e.g., gateway server), may access unsecured data
(e.g., unsecured data container, unencrypted data, or any other
unsecured data), or any other suitable policy. In this example, an
application running in managed mode and an application running in
unmanaged mode may either include partitions (e.g., managed
partition and unmanaged partition) or may not include
partitions.
[0548] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode or
unmanaged mode may be controlled by one or more sandboxes. A
sandbox may comprise a physical or virtualized portion of a device
where applications running in the sandbox may include access
policies that are different from access policies for applications
that are not running in the sandbox. For example, an application
running in managed mode may run in a sandbox that includes policies
for the managed mode, such as the policies described herein. In
another example, an application running in unmanaged mode may run
in a sandbox that includes policies for the unmanaged mode, such as
the policies described herein. In this example, an application
running in managed mode and an application running in unmanaged
mode may either include partitions (e.g., managed partition and
unmanaged partition) or may not include partitions.
[0549] FIG. 36 illustrates a sample interface of a mobile device,
and FIGS. 37-43 illustrate sample embodiments of methods for
determining an operation mode for an application. The methods
depicted in FIGS. 37-43 may be combined in any suitable manner in
various embodiments. The sample interface depictured in FIG. 36 may
be displayed on a mobile device, such as device 107, 109, 240, 502,
and/or 602, and the methods depicted in FIGS. 37-43 may be
implemented by such a mobile device.
[0550] In FIG. 37, a flowchart of example method steps for
determining an application mode for an application is shown. The
method of FIG. 37 may begin at step 3702, where a plurality of
applications are presented. For example, a plurality of
applications may be presented to a user on a mobile device. FIG. 35
illustrates an embodiment where user interface 700 displayed on a
mobile device (e.g., tablet, smart phone, or the like) presents
Applications A 700, B 701, C 702, and E 703 to a user. This is
merely an example, and the plurality of applications may be
presented in any suitable manner. In an embodiment, the plurality
of applications may comprise email applications, web browsing
applications, software-as-a-service (SaaS) access applications, and
the like.
[0551] The method of FIG. 37 may proceed from step 3702 to step
3704, where a selection for one of the plurality of applications is
received. With reference to an embodiment depicted in FIG. 35, a
user of a mobile device may select one of the presented
applications by, for example, pressing a display of the mobile
device to select the application. This is merely an example, and
the application may be selected in any suitable manner.
[0552] The method of FIG. 37 may proceed from step 3704 to step
3706, where a context for the selected applications is determined
based on one or more operational parameters of the device executing
the selected application. For example, a context may be based on an
account to be accessed by the application, a location of the mobile
device or a network connectivity status of the mobile device
executing the application, or based on any other operational
parameter. The methods of FIGS. 38-42, further described below,
illustrate various embodiments where example contexts are
described.
[0553] The method of FIG. 37 may proceed from step 3704 to step
3706, where an operation mode for the selected application is
determined based on the context. In an embodiment, the operations
modes may comprise managed and unmanaged modes. There may be
multiple different managed modes, e.g., based on different security
levels of various users or sets of credentials provided by a user,
different user roles identified by a set of credentials (e.g.,
manager versus staff employees), geographic locations from which
the device is operated, network locations, operational environment
(e.g., a healthcare-related managed mode versus a financial
industry managed mode), or based on any other contextual
determination.
[0554] In an embodiment, the determined context may be compared to
a stored policy in order to determine an operation mode. A mobile
device, such as mobile device 302, may store one or more policies
used to determine an operation mode for an application. In an
embodiment, the policies may be stored remotely, such as at policy
manager 370, described above with reference to FIG. 3, or may be
stored locally on the device. In an example, a context may comprise
a selected application configured to access a secure account, such
as an email application configured to access a secure email
account. This context may be compared to a stored policy. For
instance, the stored policy may define that an email application
that is configured to access a secure email account is to be run as
a managed application. The stored policy may further indicate that
the email application, when configured to access a personal account
of the device user, may operate in an unmanaged mode. Additional
contexts and policies will be described with respect to FIGS.
38-42.
[0555] The method of FIG. 37 may proceed from step 3706 to step
3708, where the selected application is run in the determined
operation mode. For example, the operation mode may be determined
as unmanaged, or as one of multiple managed modes, and the selected
application may be run in the determined mode.
[0556] In an embodiment, a managed operation mode may include
running the application as a part of the managed partition 310 of
mobile device 302, as described above with reference to FIG. 3. As
such, the managed application may be run as secure native
applications 314, secure remote applications 322 executed by a
secure application launcher 318, virtualization applications 326
executed by a secure application launcher 318, and the like.
[0557] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode may
access data stored in a secure data container 328 in the managed
partition 310 (physical, logical, or virtual) of the mobile device.
The data stored in the secure data container 328 may include data
restricted to a specific secure/managed application 330, shared
among other secure applications, and the like. Data restricted to a
secure application may include secure general data 334 and highly
secure data 338. Different levels and types of security features
may be used to differentiate levels of secure data. In an
embodiment, an application running in managed mode may save,
modify, or delete data in secure data container 328. The data saved
or modified may be encrypted similar to other data stored in secure
data container 328.
[0558] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode may
connect to enterprise resources 304 and enterprise services 308
through virtual private network connections, as described about
with reference to FIG. 3. The virtual private network connections
may be microVPNs, which are specific to particular application,
such as the selected application, particular devices, particular
secured areas on the mobile device, and the like. For example,
wrapped applications in a secured area of the phone may access
enterprise resources through an application specific VPN such that
access to the VPN would be granted based on attributes associated
with the application, possibly in conjunction with user or device
attribute information, and policy information.
[0559] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode may
encrypt data transmitted from the application. For example, an
application running in managed mode may be communicating with a
computing device over a network, and the data transmitted from the
application to the device may be encrypted. In addition, the data
communicated from the computing device to the application may also
be encrypted, and the application running in managed mode may be
configured to decrypt the received data.
[0560] In an embodiment, an application running in managed mode my
access a secure portal. For example, an application may connect to
a computing device over a network, for example, a microVPN, and may
access a secure portal that might not be access by unsecured
applications, such as applications running in unmanaged mode.
[0561] In an embodiment, an unmanaged operation mode may include
running the application as a part of the unmanaged partition 312 of
mobile device 302, as described above with reference to FIG. 3. In
an unmanaged mode, the application may access data stored in an
unsecured data container 342 on the unmanaged partition 312 of the
mobile device 302. The data stored in an unsecured data container
may be personal data 344.
[0562] In an embodiment, where more than one managed mode is
possible, an application running in a less secure managed mode may
be run similar to an application running in the more secure managed
mode, but might not include all aspects of the latter. For example,
an application running in a less secure managed mode may have the
information transmitted from the application over a network
encrypted, but the application might not have access to secure data
container 328, as described with reference to FIG. 3. In another
example, an application running in the less secure managed mode may
have access to secure data container 328, but might not be able to
connect to enterprise resources 304 and enterprise services 308
through virtual private network connections. Accordingly, depending
on the determined context, an application running in a less secure
managed mode may include aspects of an application running in the
more secure managed mode and aspects of an application running in
unmanaged mode.
[0563] In FIGS. 38-42, flowcharts of example method steps for
determining a context and operation mode for an application are
shown. In an embodiment, steps 3706 and 1608 of FIG. 37 may
comprise the method steps of any one or more of FIGS. 38-42. The
method of FIG. 38 may begin at step 3802, where an account to be
accessed by a selected application is detected. For example, a
selected application may comprise an email application and an email
account that the email application is configured to access may be
detected. In this example, the email application may be able to
access multiple email accounts, such as an enterprise email account
and a personal email account, and the account that the email
application is configured to access at the time of running may be
determined as the context account to be accessed.
[0564] The method of FIG. 38 may proceed from step 3802 to step
3804, where an account type of the account to be accessed may be
determined. The account type may comprise a context for the
selected application. For example, a selected application may
comprise an email application and the email application may be
configured to access an enterprise account. In another example, the
email application may be configured to access a personal
account.
[0565] The method of FIG. 38 may proceed from step 3804 to step
3806, where an account type may be compared with an account type
policy. For example, a policy may define that an email application
that is to access an enterprise account should run in managed mode
and an email application that is to access a personal account
should run in unmanaged mode. The method of FIG. 38 may proceed
from step 3806 to step 3808, where an operation mode is determined
based on the comparison.
[0566] The method of FIG. 39 may begin at step 3902, where a
location for a mobile device is determined. For example, a mobile
device, such as mobile device 302, may implement the method of FIG.
39, and a location for the mobile device may be determined. The
location may be determined by GPS, signal triangulation, or any
other suitable or otherwise known manner. The location may comprise
a context for the selected application.
[0567] The method of FIG. 39 may proceed from step 3902 to step
3904, where a determined location may be compared with a location
policy. For example, a policy may define that a selected
application run in managed mode when in a certain location, for
example, on company premises. In an embodiment, a policy may define
that a selected application run in a less secure managed mode when
in a certain location, for example, when the determined location is
inside the United States but off company premises. For example, the
less secure managed mode may encrypt communication to and from the
selected application, but might not allow access to enterprise
resources, such as resources 304. In another embodiment, a policy
may define that a selected application run in unmanaged mode when
in a certain location, for example, when the determined location is
outside the United States. The method of FIG. 39 may proceed from
step 3904 to step 3906, where an operation mode is determined based
on the comparison.
[0568] Alternatively or in addition to physical location, a network
location may also or instead be used to determine whether access is
permitted. For example, network location may refer to whether a
user is either internal to a data center (or pre-approved Wifi
access point), or is external to it. Appropriate access modes may
be based on such a determination.
[0569] The method of FIG. 40 may begin at step 4002, where it is
monitored whether a predetermined application is running on a
device. For example, a mobile device, such as mobile device 302,
may implement the method of FIG. 40, and the mobile device may be
monitored to determine whether a predetermined application is
running. The predetermined application may comprise any application
capable of running on the mobile device, such a client agent 404 as
described with reference to FIG. 4. The monitored predetermined
application may comprise a context for the selected
application.
[0570] The method of FIG. 40 may proceed from step 4002 to step
4004, where a monitored application is compared against a policy.
For example, a policy may define that a selected application run in
managed mode when a predetermined application, such as client agent
404, is running and that the selected application run in unmanaged
mode when the predetermined application is not running. The method
of FIG. 40 may proceed from step 4004 to step 4006, where an
operation mode is determined based on the comparison.
[0571] The method of FIG. 41 may begin at step 4102, one or more
network connections are detected. For example, a mobile device,
such as mobile device 302, may implement the method of FIG. 41, and
the network connections that the mobile device makes may be
detected. In an example, network connections may comprise a
connection to a cellular network, a connection to a WIFI network,
or a connection to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or the
like. The one or more network connections may comprise a context
for the selected application.
[0572] The method of FIG. 41 may proceed from step 4102 to step
4104, where detected network connections are compared against a
network connection policy. For example, a policy may define that a
selected application run in managed mode when a mobile device is
connected to an internal network, such as a WLAN internal to a
company, and that the selected application run in unmanaged mode
when the mobile device is only connected to a wireless network,
such as cellular network or WIFI network. The method of FIG. 41 may
proceed from step 4104 to step 4106, where an operation mode is
determined based on the comparison.
[0573] The method of FIG. 42 may begin at step 4202, where one or
more settings for a mobile device are detected. For example, a
mobile device, such as mobile device 302, may implement the method
of FIG. 42, and one or more settings for the mobile device may be
detected. In an example, it may be detected whether the mobile
device has a lock screen, such as a PIN required for using the
mobile device, or it may be detected whether the mobile device is
jailbroken/rooted, e.g., has received after-market modifications.
The one or more settings may comprise a context for the selected
application.
[0574] The method of FIG. 42 may proceed from step 4202 to step
4202, where detected settings are compared against a settings
policy. For example, a policy may define that a selected
application might not run in managed mode if the mobile device does
not have a lock screen or if the mobile device is
jailbroken/rooted. The method of FIG. 42 may proceed from step 4206
to step 4206, where an operation mode is determined based on the
comparison. In an embodiment, when running the selected application
in the determined mode, an indicator may be displayed on the mobile
device that informs a user of certain policies, such as a
requirement for a mobile device to have a lock screen before the
mobile device is allowed to run the selected application in managed
mode. FIGS. 38-42 describe a plurality of contexts, and any other
suitable context and corresponding policy may be implemented.
[0575] In an embodiment, one or more of the contexts described in
FIGS. 38-42 may be combined and these contexts may be compared
against a policy for the selected application. For example,
contexts for a selected application may comprise an account type to
be accessed as an enterprise email account and a detected network
connection as a cellular network. In this example, the policy may
define that when an enterprise account is attempted to be accessed
over a cellular network, the selected application should be run in
managed mode. The policy may be defined in this way because the
selected application may encrypt the communication with the
enterprise email account, and therefore the risk of sending secure
traffic over a cellular network may be mitigated.
[0576] In another example, contexts for a selected application may
comprise a determined location outside of the United States and a
network connection with a WLAN internal to a company. A policy may
define that a selected application is to run in managed mode when a
determined location is outside the United States and a network
connection is with a WLAN internal to a company. The policy may be
defined in this way because a network connection with a WLAN
internal to a company mitigates the risk associated with secure
communications outside of the United States.
[0577] In an embodiment, the one or more contexts as described in
FIGS. 38-42 may include a priority. For example, a context for a
selected application may comprise a mobile device setting as
jailbroken or rooted and a policy may define that a selected
application is to run only in unmanaged mode when a context
indicates a jailbroken/rooted mobile device, regardless of what
other contexts indicate. Accordingly, a jailbroken/rooted mobile
device will have a selected application run in unmanaged mode even
when the mobile device is connected to a WLAN internal to a company
or if the selected application is attempting to access an
enterprise account.
[0578] In an embodiment, a policy may indicate that a selected
application is to be run in a less secure managed mode based on a
plurality of contexts as described in FIGS. 38-42. For example,
contexts for a selected application may comprise an account type to
be accessed as an enterprise email account and a detected network
connection as a cellular network. In this example, the policy may
define that when an enterprise account is attempted to be accessed
over a cellular network, the selected application should be run in
the less secure managed mode. The less secure managed mode may
encrypt communication to and from the selected application, but
might not allow access to enterprise resources, such as resources
304. The policy may be defined in this way because the encrypted
communication with the enterprise email account may be a low risk
communication, and allowing access to enterprise resources may be a
high risk communication.
[0579] In FIG. 43, a flowchart of example method steps for
switching an operation mode for an application is shown. For
example, the method steps of FIG. 43 may follow the method steps of
FIG. 37. The method of FIG. 43 may begin at step 4302, where one or
more contexts may be monitored while a selected application is
running. In an embodiment, one or more of the contexts described
with reference to FIGS. 38-42 may be monitored. For example, a
mobile device running a selected application may be connected to a
cellular network and while the selected application is running, the
mobile device may make a new network connection with a WLAN
internal to a company.
[0580] The method of FIG. 43 may proceed from step 4302 to step
4304, where a change in an operation mode for a selected
application is detected based on the monitoring. Stated
differently, the mobile device may detect a change in information
that formed the basis for selecting a particular operational mode.
For example, a selected application may be running in unmanaged
mode, and once a mobile application running the selected
application connects to a WLAN internal to a company, a policy may
define that the operation mode for the selected application should
switch to managed mode. The method of FIG. 43 may proceed from step
4304 to step 4306, where the operation mode for the selected
application is switched.
[0581] FIG. 55 shows an illustrative method for choosing policy
file(s) based on the operating mode of an app on a mobile device.
Initially, a managed application may be received and/or installed
in step 5501 on a mobile electronic device, as described herein,
where the managed app is capable of executing in at least two
different operating modes. In step 5503 the device may separately
and/or distinctly receive one or more policy files defining one or
more operational and/or behavioral limitations of the managed app,
e.g., based on one or more features discussed above. While the
policy file(s) may be optionally received as separate files, the
policy files may be received as part of a same communication or
installation process as the managed app. The device may receive
different policy files for each operating mode, or may receive
policy files only for one operating mode. That is, an unmanaged
mode might not be associated with any policy files.
[0582] In step 5505 the mobile device determines an operating mode
of the managed app, e.g., whether the managed app is executing in
managed or unmanaged mode. In step 5507 the device may select one
or more policy files (or zero policy files, e.g., in an unmanaged
mode) to apply to the current operating mode of the managed app.
Various examples of such policy files and multi-mode features and
processes that may be restricted/enforced are discussed above.
11. ENTERPRISE APPLICATION APP STORE
[0583] As discussed above, with reference back to FIG. 3, an
enterprise mobility technical architecture 300 may include an
application store 378. The application store 378 may include
unwrapped applications 380, pre-wrapped applications 382, and the
like. Applications may be populated in the application store 378
from the application controller 374. The application store 378 may
be accessed by the mobile device 302 through the access gateway
360, through the public Internet 348, or the like. The application
store may be provided with an intuitive and easy to use user
interface. The application store 378 may provide access to a
software development kit 384. The software development kit 384 may
provide a user the capability to secure applications selected by
the user by wrapping the application as described previously in
this description. An application that has been wrapped using the
software development kit 384 may then be made available to the
mobile device 302 by populating it in the application store 378
using the application controller 374.
[0584] The enterprise mobility technical architecture 300 may
include a management and analytics capability. The management and
analytics capability may provide information related to how
applications are downloaded and/or used, how often applications are
downloaded and/or used, and the like. How applications are used may
include which devices download which applications, which
applications access which data, and the like. How often
applications are used may include how often an application has been
downloaded, how many times a specific set of data has been accessed
by an application, how often the application is launched, shared,
interfaced, referenced, called, and the like.
[0585] In some embodiments, the one or more controls that are
included in the mobile service management interface (e.g., the
mobile service management interface provided in step 620) may be
further configured to allow the administrative user to define
different policies for different users of the one or more
applications. For example, the one or more controls that are
included in the mobile service management interface may be
configured to allow the administrative user to define a first
policy for a first user or group of users with respect to a
particular application, and further configured to allow the
administrative user to define a second policy for a second user or
group of users with respect to the same application, where the
second policy is different from the first policy and the second
user or group of users is different from the first user or group of
users.
[0586] In one or more arrangements, the one or more controls that
are included in the EMM or enterprise app store interface may be
further configured to allow an administrative user to define
different policies for different user roles and/or applications on
the application store. For example, using such controls, the
administrative user may define, with respect to a particular
application that may be available in the enterprise application
store, a first policy for a first user or group of users having a
first role within an enterprise (e.g., information security) and a
second policy for a second user or group of users having a second
role within the enterprise (e.g., sales), where the second policy
is different from the first policy (e.g., in terms of the functions
that are enabled and/or disabled in the application, the functions
that are enabled and/or disabled on the device while the
application is running, the enterprise resources and/or other
resources that can and/or cannot be accessed by the application
and/or while the application is running, etc.).
[0587] In some embodiments, the EMM or store interface may be
provided in response to receiving one or more applications at the
enterprise application store. For example, after an administrative
user uploads and/or otherwise provides a particular application to
the enterprise application store, the enterprise application store
may provide the mobile service management interface (which may,
e.g., be configured to allow the administrative user to define one
or more policies for the application that has just been uploaded)
responsive to receiving the application. Using these features, an
administrative user of the enterprise application store may, for
instance, configure an application that he or she is uploading into
and/or otherwise making available in the enterprise application
store for various non-administrative users of the enterprise
application store. For instance, the administrative user may be
able to use the mobile service management interface to initially
define policies for an application that has just been uploaded to
and/or otherwise added to the enterprise application store.
[0588] In some instances, after providing the application store
interface, a policy change for an application may be received via
the application store interface. For example, in some instances,
the enterprise application store may receive a policy change for a
particular application. Such a policy change may, for instance, be
received as user input provided by the administrative user via the
application store interface.
[0589] Based on receiving such a policy change, information
associated with the policy change may automatically be provided to
one or more mobile devices that have already downloaded the
application from the application store. For example the enterprise
application store may provide information specifying details of the
policy change to one or more applications and/or devices that may
be affected by the policy change. In some instances, before
providing this information to affected applications and/or devices,
the enterprise application store may identify what applications
and/or devices are affected by the policy change based on download
history information for various applications and users, update
and/or version history information for various applications and
users, on-device monitoring information for various applications
and users, and policy information for various applications and
users (which may, e.g., specify for particular applications and/or
particular users what policies are currently in place, what
policies have been previously applied, etc.).
[0590] In some embodiments, after validating the authentication
credentials of the administrative user, a new application may be
received at the application store from the administrative user. For
example, after validating the authentication credentials of the
administrative user, the enterprise application store may receive a
new application that is being uploaded to (and/or has just been
uploaded to) the enterprise application store by the administrative
user (and/or by one or more computing devices being used by the
administrative user).
[0591] After receiving such a new application from the
administrative user (and/or responsive to receiving the new
application from the administrative user), the application store
may prompt the administrative user to define one or more policies
to be applied to the new application. For example, in prompting the
administrative user to define such policies, the enterprise
application store may identify one or more relevant policies for
the new application. The relevant policies may, for instance,
include policies that can be and/or should be applied to the new
application (e.g., based on the nature of the policies, based on
the nature of the application, based on one or more default
policies used by the enterprise and/or other organization that is
deploying and/or otherwise providing the enterprise application
store, based on recommendation information provided by other
administrative users, etc.). Then, after identifying one or more
relevant policies for the new application, the enterprise
application store may, for instance, update the application store
interface to include at least one control configured to allow the
administrative user to manage the one or more identified policies.
For example, the enterprise application store may update the
application store interface to include one or more controls that
enable the administrative user to enable and/or disable the one or
more policies that were identified as being relevant, as well as
set and/or modify various properties and/or settings that may be
used in defining and/or enforcing these policies on various
devices.
[0592] After prompting the administrative user to define one or
more policies to be applied to the new application (and/or based on
receiving input and/or other information from the administrative
user in response to the prompt), the application store may receive
at least one policy to be applied to the new application from the
administrative user. For example, the enterprise application store
may receive one or more selections and/or other input provided by
the administrative user via the updated application store interface
discussed in the example above. In this way, the administrative
user may, for example, be able to define one or more policies that
are to be applied to a new application that the administrative user
has added to the application store. In addition, the one or more
policies that are defined by the administrative user may, for
example, be applied to the new application if and/or when the
application is provided to and/or executed by one or more recipient
devices (e.g., one or more mobile devices used by
non-administrative users).
[0593] FIG. 47 depicts a flowchart that illustrates a method of
providing policy updates to managed applications using an
enterprise application store in accordance with one or more
illustrative aspects discussed herein. In one or more embodiments,
the method illustrated in FIG. 47 and/or one or more steps thereof
may be performed by a computing device (e.g., any device described
herein). In other embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 47
and/or one or more steps thereof may be embodied in
computer-executable instructions that are stored in a
computer-readable medium, such as a non-transitory
computer-readable memory.
[0594] As seen in FIG. 47, the method may begin at step 4705 in
which a request for updated policy information for at least one
application may be received at an enterprise application store from
a policy agent. For example, in step 4705, an enterprise
application store, similar to the enterprise application store
discussed in the examples above, may receive a request for updated
policy information. The request may be made in connection with
policies that may be applied to (or may be configured to be applied
to) a particular application and may, for instance, be received
from a policy agent that is resident on, being executed on, and/or
is otherwise provided by a user computing device (e.g., a mobile
device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.).
[0595] In some instances, the request for updated policy
information may be received (e.g., by the enterprise application
store in step 805) upon execution of a wrapped application. For
example, the enterprise application store may receive the request
for updated policy information after a user computing device begins
executing a wrapped application. Such a wrapped application may,
for instance, include an enterprise application, as well as an
application wrapper, that may be configured to enforce one or more
policies with respect to the enterprise application and/or the
device upon which the wrapped application is being executed. In
addition, such an application wrapper may, for instance, implement
one or more aspects of the application management framework 414
discussed above.
[0596] In some instances, the policy agent (e.g., from which the
request for updated policy information is received in step 4705)
may be a EMM policy enforcement agent (e.g., on a user computing
device). Such a mobile device management policy enforcement agent
may, for instance, be a separate program, process, or service that
is executed on (or configured to be executed on) a user computing
device and is further configured to monitor and enforce various
policies with respect to various applications and the device
itself.
[0597] In other instances, the policy agent (e.g., from which the
request for updated policy information is received in step 4705)
may be an application wrapper for a particular application. For
example, the policy agent may be an application wrapper for the
particular application for which the request for updated policy
information is received in step 4705. As discussed above, such an
application wrapper may be configured to enforce one or more
policies with respect to the application and, in some instances,
may implement one or more aspects of the application management
framework 414 discussed above.
[0598] Based on receiving the request for updated policy
information (e.g., in step 4705), it may be determined, in step
4710, whether one or more policies for the at least one application
have been updated. For example, in step 4710, the enterprise
application store may determine one or more policies for the one or
more applications (e.g., the one or more applications that are the
subject of the request received in step 4705) have been updated.
The one or more policies for a particular application may, for
instance, be updated although the application itself has not been
updated (e.g., the policies can be modified independently of the
application itself and/or an application wrapper that may be used
to wrap the application). In one or more arrangements, the
enterprise application store may determine whether policies for an
application have been updated based on policy information that is
stored by, maintained by, and/or accessible to the enterprise
application store. In some instances, such policy information may
be created, accessed, modified, and/or stored by the enterprise
application store based on user input and/or other information
received from an administrative user of the enterprise application
store, such as information received from an administrative user of
the enterprise application store via a application store interface,
as discussed above.
[0599] Continuing to refer to FIG. 47, if it is determined, in step
4710, that one or more policies for the at least one application
have not been updated, then in step 4715, the policy agent may be
notified that updates are not available. For example, in step 4715,
the enterprise application store may notify the policy agent that
updates are not available. For instance, in step 4715, the
enterprise application store may send one or more messages to the
user computing device (which may, e.g., have sent the request
received in step 4705) to inform the user computing device and/or
the policy agent being executed thereon that policy updates are not
available and/or that the user computing device should continue to
use and/or enforce one or more policies that the policy agent has
previously obtained from the enterprise application store.
[0600] Alternatively, if it is determined, in step 4710, that one
or more policies for the at least one application have been
updated, then in step 4720, at least one policy update may be
provided to the policy agent. For example, in step 4720, the
enterprise application store may send one or more messages to the
user computing device (which may, e.g., have sent the request
received in step 4705) to inform the user computing device and/or
the policy agent being executed thereon that one or more policy
updates and/or available. In addition, the one or more messages
sent by the enterprise application store to the policy agent may,
for instance, include information about the new and/or modified
policies, where such information is configured to cause the policy
agent to implement and/or enforce the new and/or modified policies
(e.g., with respect to the particular applications for which policy
changes have occurred and/or with respect to the device itself). As
in the examples discussed above, the one or more policies may be
configured to enable and/or disable certain features of the one or
more applications, enable and/or disable certain features of the
device, enable and/or disable access to certain resources, and/or
provide other functionalities and/or limitations, and the
information provided (e.g., as a policy update to the policy agent
in step 4720) may reflect any and/or all changes made to these
and/or other types of policies.
[0601] FIG. 48 depicts another flowchart that illustrates a method
of providing policy updates to managed applications using an
enterprise application store in accordance with one or more
illustrative aspects discussed herein. In one or more embodiments,
the method illustrated in FIG. 48 and/or one or more steps thereof
may be performed by a computing device as described herein. In
other embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 48 and/or one or
more steps thereof may be embodied in computer-executable
instructions that are stored in a computer-readable medium, such as
a non-transitory computer-readable memory. Additionally or
alternatively, the method illustrated in FIG. 48 may, in some
instances, be combined with the method illustrated in FIG. 47. For
example, the method illustrated in FIG. 48 may be performed by an
enterprise application store before and/or after performing the
method illustrated in FIG. 47.
[0602] As seen in FIG. 48, the method may begin in step 4805, in
which a policy change for an application may be received at the
enterprise application store. For example, in step 4805, the
enterprise application store may receive a policy change for a
particular application from an administrative user of the
enterprise application store. Such a policy change may, for
instance, be received via a application store interface, as
discussed above.
[0603] Continuing to refer to FIG. 48, in instances in which a
policy change for an application is received by the enterprise
application store, but a request for updated policy information has
not yet been received, at least with respect to the particular
application from certain devices, the enterprise application store
may determine to proactively provide the policy update to the
affected devices. Thus, based on receiving a policy change (e.g.,
in step 4805), it may be determined, in step 4810, that the
application (i.e., the application for which a policy change was
received in step 4805) is present on one or more devices. For
example, in step 4810, the enterprise application store may
determine that the application has been installed on, has been
downloaded by, and/or is otherwise present on one or more
particular devices. In some instances, the application store may
determine that the application has been installed on, has been
downloaded by, and/or is otherwise present on one or more
particular devices based on download history information for
various applications and users, update and/or version history
information for various applications and users, and/or on-device
monitoring information for various applications and users. In one
or more arrangements, the download history information for various
applications and users may include user-keyed application download
records that indicate, for each user, the versions and names of any
and/or all applications that have been downloaded by the particular
user from the enterprise application store, as well as identifying
information for the particular devices onto which such applications
were downloaded.
[0604] Based on determining that the application is present on one
or more devices (e.g., in step 4810), information associated with
the policy change may be provided to the one or more devices in
step 4815. For example, in step 4815, the enterprise application
store may provide information about the policy change to one or
more affected devices (e.g., the one or more devices on which the
application was determined to be present in step 4810). For
instance, in step 4815, the enterprise application store may
formulate and send one or more messages to the devices identified
in step 4810, where the one or more messages include information
about the new and/or modified policies, similar to how a policy
update may be provided in step 4720.
[0605] Using one or more of the above enterprise application store
features, a system may be configured to provide an enterprise
application app store information about a mobile client device and
usable by the enterprise application app store to present one or
more applications downloadable by the mobile client device, or
permissible for download by that device based on the policy
information. For example, the policy files might identify the
mobile client device as capable of executing managed applications
according to corresponding policy files. In response, the app store
might expose for download a list of available policy-manageable
applications. The client device can then download an application,
as needed.
[0606] In another example, the set of policy files might identify
the electronic mobile device as being capable of executing
applications executable in multiple execution modes (e.g.,
unmanaged, managed mode 1, managed mode 2, etc.). In response the
app store might expose for download a list of available managed
applications each executable in multiple execution modes. The
mobile client can then download any of those applications, as
needed.
[0607] In yet another example, the set of policy files might
identify the electronic mobile device as being enrolled in an
enterprise mobility management (EMM) infrastructure. In response,
the app store might expose for download a list of available
enterprise applications. The mobile client can then download any of
those applications, as needed.
12. MOBILE FEATURE INTEROPERABILITY
[0608] Any of the above features, whether described alone or as
part of another feature, may be used with any one or more of the
other features described herein.
[0609] For example, policy managed applications can be adapted to
provide a secure cut & paste data sharing feature, restricted
data sharing features, and/or policy based data sharing features.
Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with EMM and MRM
services and infrastructures, either with our without any one or
more of the aforementioned data sharing features. In one
illustrative example, a policy managed app may restrict access to a
secure clipboard based on whether or not the managed app is
enrolled in a MRM system. If the managed app is enrolled in the MRM
system, the managed app may have access to a first secure
clipboard. However, if the managed app is not enrolled in the MRM
system, then the managed app may have access to a different second
secure clipboard, or only to a general clipboard.
[0610] Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with
application specific policies, e.g., secure Internet applications,
secure PIM applications, secure client agent applications, etc.,
either with or without any one or more of the aforementioned data
sharing and/or EMM/MRM services. In one illustrative example, a
policy managed secure browser app may restrict execution of HTML5
or other browser-based execution environments based on whether or
not the device is enrolled in the MRM, based on a geographic
location of the device, a time of day, or the like. In another
example, the policy managed secure browser app may be restricted
from accessing a secure clipboard while executing another program
in HTML5, FLASH, or other execution environment.
[0611] Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with any
one or more network and data access features such as micro VPNs,
tunnels, secure containers, single-sign on techniques, and/or
identity management techniques, either with or without any one or
more of the aforementioned data sharing features, EMM/MRM features,
and/or application specific policy features. In one illustrative
example, a policy managed app may be restricted from accessing an
enterprise secure storage area except through a secure micro VPN or
tunnel. In another example, a policy managed app may be restricted
from using single-sign on except when the mobile device on which
the managed app is executing is enrolled in the MRM system, and
when the managed app is a predefined specific type of app.
[0612] Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with any
one or more dynamic device cloud features, either with or without
any one or more of the aforementioned data sharing features,
EMM/MRM features, application specific policy features, and/or
network and data access features. In one illustrative example, a
policy managed app may be restricted from transferring a process to
another device unless both devices are enrolled in the MRM system,
and both devices are communicating through a secure channel, e.g.,
micro VPN, tunnel, etc.
[0613] Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with one
or more features operable with applications capable of execution in
multiple operation modes, either with or without any one or more of
the aforementioned data sharing features, EMM/MRM features,
application specific policy features, network and data access
features, and/or dynamic device cloud features. In one illustrative
example, a policy managed app may be restricted from accessing an
enterprise secure storage area except through a secure micro VPN or
tunnel, and only when the managed app is operating in a predefined
operating mode from multiple possible operating modes (e.g., in a
managed mode). In another example, a policy managed app may be
restricted from using single-sign on except when the mobile device
on which the managed app is executing is enrolled in the MRM system
and when the managed app is operating in a predefined mode.
[0614] Similarly, policy managed applications are usable with one
or more enterprise application app store features, either with or
without any one or more of the aforementioned data sharing
features, EMM/MRM features, application specific policy features,
network and data access features, dynamic device cloud features,
and/or multiple operation mode features.
[0615] It is intended that any feature described herein may be
combined and/or used with any other feature described herein. The
above recited combinations are not meant to be limiting, but rather
are illustrative of what can be accomplished using the individual
tools recited above. Any combination of features will inherently
provide one or more specific advantages not otherwise capable,
whether two, three, four, five, or more features are combined
together. The above features should therefore be regarded as
individual tools that may be selectively combined in any desired
manner to complete a desired task or operational design, where one
or more tools in and of themselves are unique, yet combinations of
tools yield even further unexpected results and advantages.
13. CONCLUSION
[0616] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is
to be understood that the subject matter herein is not necessarily
limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather,
the specific features and acts described above are described as
illustrative implementations, embodiments, and aspects of the
appended claims.
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