Google aiming for enterprise with Android for Work initiative

After saturating the consumer market, Google is taking aim at enterprise with their Android for Work initiative.

Google is actively working with device makers, application developers and management solutions to provide CIOs with a secure, flexible, economical and consistent mobility platform. Some of the partners include Blackberry, Samsung, Citrix and more. Hit jump for more details.

Using consumer devices that Canadians are already familiar with, Android for Work tailors these devices for business, creating new ways to work securely and easily. This new work environment enables companies to use a wide array of devices, providing businesses with more opportunities to find the right combination of hardware, software and services they need. 

The program features four key components:

Work profiles – Built on the default encryption, enhanced SELinux security enforcement and multi-user support in Lollipop to create a dedicated work profile that isolates and protects work data. People can use approved work apps right alongside their personal apps knowing their employer only manages work data and won’t erase or view their personal content.

Android for Work app – For devices that don’t run work profiles natively, the Android for Work app, which delivers secure mail, calendar, contacts, documents, browsing and access to approved work apps and can be completely managed by IT.

Google Play for Work – Google Play for Work helps businesses securely deploy and manage business apps, which allows any app in the Play catalogue to be deployed to the Work profile. Play for Work simplifies the process of distributing apps to employees and ensures that IT approves every deployed app.

Built-in productivity tools – For everyday business tasks, the suite of business apps for email, contacts and calendar supports Exchange and Notes and provides document editing capabilities via Google's Docs, Sheets and Slides apps.

More information is available on the Google for Work blog.