Palo Alto Networks and VMware have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to provide mobile security.
The two organisations will integrate their enterprise security and mobile management technologies to provide mobile device management (MDM) combined with advanced threat protection. Next-Generation Firewall, WildFire and GlobalProtect by Palo Alto Networks will be combined with VMware’s AirWatch.
Capabilities include malware detection, which uses Palo Alto Networks’s WildFIre security subscription service to identify malware. Users can identify infected applications and act to contain the threat by, for example, blacklisting the application.
In addition, GlobalProtect Host Information Profile by Palo Alto Networks provides a direct tie between information about the mobile device, its configuration and the data and applications it can access.
GlobalProtect also provides a secure connection between AirWatch-managed mobile devices and the Next-Generation Firewall at the device or application level, using a per-app VPN. This allows monitoring of traffic and enforcement of network security policy.
The Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect iOS VPN app deployed by AirWatch is available today and taps into the requirements of the growing enterprise mobility market, providing advanced support for BYOD programmes. The rise in users accessing information at any time and on any device has increased the security requirements for organisations.
"In a world of rising mobile threats Palo Alto Networks and VMware are building upon the comprehensive AirWatch mobility platform to provide another layer of security, automation and ease of management for customers around the globe," says Noah Wasmer, vice president, End-User Computing, VMware.
Lee Klarich, senior vice president of Product Management, Palo Alto Networks, commented: "Employees love the flexibility that using their mobile devices for business provides them, but IT teams often struggle to enforce security policies without compromising usability."
Klarich added: "Integrating our Next-Generation Firewall, WildFire and GlobalProtect technologies with the AirWatch platform addresses the concerns of both parties, giving users a positive mobile experience while existing security policies are enforced."
