Microsoft and Good Technology have announced Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Good.
Developed on the Good Dynamics Secure Mobility Platform, the product brings Good’s secure container and app-level security to Microsoft’s customer relationship management (CRM) solution. Customer and financial data will be protected within the Good secure mobile app container.
Now available in the Good Marketplace and Apple App Store, the offering will allow sales teams to securely use Dynamics CRM on corporate-owned or personal iPads.
When using the solution, contact email links invoke secure email in Good Work, keeping customer data outside of personal email apps. In addition, web links open into the Good Access secure browser so that connectivity is secured.
Good-secured Independent Software Vendor or custom apps will also maintain the encryption of data shared from Dynamics CRM.
Due to the proprietary and sensitive nature of much customer data, IT departments are hesitant to allow mobile access to CRM systems without stringent app-level security controls. Even with safeguards in place, consumer apps, data-sharing features and personal clouds can still leak enterprise data.
"We are pleased that the Dynamics CRM tablet app can now be securely managed through Good Technology with a solution that provides a secure container for local data, secure data tunnel, and also manages secure email and web links from the Dynamics CRM tablet app," said Bob Stutz, corporate vice president, Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
He added, "This is welcome news for our customers who will now be able to enforce central policy management such as device wipe and password management as well as enable employees to access the rich capabilities of the Dynamics CRM tablet app while enforcing corporate policies for customer data."
Christy Wyatt, chairman and CEO of Good Technology, commented: "Enterprise sales teams need secure access to customer information while on the move.
"Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Good puts key customer relationship tools at their fingertips without sacrificing the security of proprietary information, ensuring sales teams can be just as effective while mobile as they are in the office."
"As organisations move beyond MDM to mobile apps that drive productivity, CRM apps are in demand by sales organisations," said John Jackson, program vice president for mobility research at IDC.
Jackson continued: "However, customer data is often subject to regulation or at the very least is highly sensitive. Priority one for IT is having the requisite security in place to protect data on the device and from leaking to personal accounts or clouds.
"The combination of Microsoft Dynamics CRM with the Good container addresses the needs of both sales and IT, and delivers a high value integration for enterprises wanting to accelerate CRM deployments to mobile devices."
