Remotely update SureLock configuration on mobile devices in the field
SureLock recently introduced the ability to export its settings to a file. This settings file could later be imported on any number of devices. What this means is an administrator can now configure and test his SureLock configuration on one device. Once he is satisfied with the device lockdown achieved and feels the configuration is ready for final field deployment, he can export this setting to a file and copy this settings file to his other devices and import it from within SureLock. Entire lockdown configuration gets cloned on new devices, within seconds.
Now we have taken SureLock Import/Export settings to another level by enabling Administrator to remotely change SureLock configuration on devices in field without requiring any user intervention.
SureLock can now be configured to periodically look for new configurations from a path. This path can be
- a local path on device. In this case, administrator can push new configuration files to the device remotely using some MDM solution (like SureMDM) and SureLock will pick up the new configuration from this file automatically.
- a remote http url. In this case, administrator can just upload the new settings to his web server and SureLock will download the new configuration directly from the website.
In both methods, there is no user intervention required from the end-user. All surelock devices, will detect the presence of a new configuration and apply it.
Following steps are required to configure SureLock to periodically look for new configurations:
- Goto SureLock Settings -> Import/Export Settings
- Under Automatic Import section, make sure "Enable Automatic Import" is checked.
- Tap on "Automatic Import File". Enter the full URL of the settings file on your server e.g. http://www.42gears.com/surelock/mysettings.settings. Alternatively, you can also specify a local file path e.g. /sdcard/surelock/mysettings.settings.
- Tap on "Periodic Check". Enter the periodicity in minutes, with which you want SureLock to poll for new settings.
- Thats it. SureLock is all set to automatically update itself from your server whenever you put new settings there.
In order to obtain the settings file from a Gold device follow the steps below:
- Goto SureLock settings -> Import/Export Settings
- Under "Export Settings" section, tap on Export to File. Enter the local file path where you want to save the settings (Note: this path should be a LOCAL file path.)
- SureLock should successfully export its current settings to this path.
We completely understand the Enterprise Mobility requirement where IT administrator can feel the need to modify the security lockdown configuration of the device whereby some rogue application needs to be blocked or some important application needs to allowed. Bringing back devices from field to do these modifications has huge costs involved, reduces mobile workforce productivity and most importantly, halts your business. This is why we feel, this new feature in SureLock will bring huge benefits to Enterprises and reinforces our commitment to make our customer's business more successful.
42Gears Mobility Systems is the leading vendor of mobility managament tools helping companies manage and secure their fleet of mobile devices such as Smartphones and Tablets. Learn more about our products.
How to exit Single Application Mode in SureLock?
Single Application Mode is a powerful feature in SureLock (Android version). In this mode SureLock allows one and only one application to remain in the foreground all the time. Any attempt by the user to access any other application or functionality is blocked. Actually the user cannot even access anything other than the allowed application. Single Application Mode strictly locks down the Android tablet or Smartphone. Side-effect of this feature is that it does not leave an easy way for the administrator to quit SureLock or to modify its settings. But there is a solution.
Steps to quit SureLock Single Application Mode:
1. Power Off the device and turn it ON again.
2. After power up, SureLock will start automatically
3. If 'Single Application Mode' is set, SureLock will wait for 10 seconds before launching the allowed application.
4. Quickly tap on the back button 5 times
5. SureLock Password dialog is displayed. Enter the password to go to SureLock Settings screen. SureLock Settings screen has an option to quit.
To learn more about SureLock, please visit http://www.42gears.com/surelock/
SureLock: The Ultimate Lockdown for Androids
Android Smartphones and Tablets provide everything your business needs and more importantly, much more than you need-multimedia capabilities your employees would love to misuse. Practically it would be really difficult to keep an eye on every enterprise-owned device. The safest bet is to lock down your Android tablets and phones using SureLock. With plenty of security options for your devices, it lets you provide the perfectly secure access to the devices at any point of time. Regressively tested on the most commonly used Android devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab & HTC to name a few, SureLock provides a highly secure yet smooth UI to create the best lockdown for your device.
SureLock for Android Tablets and Smartphones
Prominent features of SureLock for Android are:
1. Runs only what is allowed, no trespassers allowed
2. Control access to WiFi, Bluetooth, Audio, Orientation settings and more
3. Single Application Mode- Ensures one application is running all the time, even after system reboot
4. Automatically launch applications at startup
5. Password protected access for administrators
Whatever be your device, wherever be your device, you can have complete peace of mind using SureLock. No more worries about device being used for unproductive purposes.
SureLock can be downloaded from Android Market or directly from the website. For trial and purchase related queries, visit us at www.42gears.com/surelock
SureMDM Product Handouts
Software product handouts work and here is the one we created for SureMDM. Note: These are not high resolution images.
SureMDM Product handout (Front)
SureMDM Handout (Back)
Windows Mobile 6.1 Kiosk Mode
If you want to convert a Windows Mobile 6.1 handheld into kiosk mode, you can try out SureLock Studio. You can download and evaluate the fully functional version for 30 days.
With SureLock, you can easily lock down Windows Mobile devices into kiosk mode. This ensures the users can only use certain applications and features of the mobile device as allowed by the administrator. Access to device functions such as browser, games, Activesync, camera, keypad, today screen etc can be easily blocked using SureLock Studio (deskotp tool). Then it's just a matter of installing a CAB file and voila! your companies mobile devices goes into kiosk mode.
Check out SureLock Studio product page.
How much time to get up and running with SureLock?
Well..just did a quick test. I was able lock down a "fresh" Windows Mobile device in less than a minute, 54 seconds to be precise. Following steps were taken (Note: SureLock Studio was already installed on the desktop):
- Launched SureLock Studio
- Clicked New button on the toolbar to create a new project
- Added Internet Explorer as allowed application
- Clicked Build button to generate the CAB file
- Clicked Install button on the toolbar to transfer CAB file to the mobile device (connected with the desktop over ActiveSync) and installation was started automatically
- Once CAB installation was completed, SureLock started on the device locking it down to just Internet Explorer
Project creation and CAB building took 15 secs whereas installation took remaining 39 seconds.
Once the CAB has been built, we just have to install it on other handhelds as long as there is no change in the kiosk configuration which will require building the CAB file again.
New SureLock Studio features
Latest SureLock Studio release consists on the following new features:
1. Option to display WiFi Signal Strength icon on the kiosk launcher screen
2. Option to display IP address on the toolbox screen
3. Display current date and time on the kiosk launcher screen
If you don't know already what SureLock does, here is an intro. SureLock is a complete lock down tool for Windows Mobile based handheld devices. It controls what users of your devices can access on the handhelds. SureLock blocks unwanted programs, internet access, games, camera, phone calls, activesync, autorun etc on the device. For more information please visit SureLock page on our website.
Locking down WM 6.5 devices with SureLock
Latest WM 6.5 user interface is remarkably different than the earlier versions. Especially the location of Start menu button and the Start menu (Honeycomb look) itself. Latest version of SureLock Studio handles these differences nicely. SureLock now fully supports WM 6.5 devices. Check out the latest release.
Feature Checklist of Mobile Device Management tools
Mobile Device Management (MDM) refers to the approaches or solutions used by companies to remotely manage their mobile devices (PDAs, Smartphones, Laptops, Netbooks). Variety of devices involved pose a big challenge for anyone who intends to implement a Mobile Device Management Solution. In fact, a single solution may never fully satisfy the all the requirements. Hybrid solutions (multiple solutions from different vendors doing complimentary tasks) is a common approach that is used to solve this problem.
Here is a checklist of features that a typical Mobile Device Management solution should have:
* Remotely initiated Software Installation
* Remotely initiated Software Un-installation
* Device Inventory tracking (Including Firmware versions and information about various hardware components)
* Software Inventory tracking (Including OS versions and versions of installed third-party applications)
* Backup and Restore of critical business data
* Control user access to certain approved applications and features only
* Physical Device Tracking with GPS (View the device location on a map)
* Remote locking in case of attempts for unauthorized access
* Remote Wipe in case of attempts for unauthorized access
* Remote Control for administrative purposes (Remotely view device screen and perform user actions like mouse clicks or stylus taps).
* Device Health Check (Alerts and manual detection of issues)
* Gather Device Data for Audit purposes (e.g. Call Log Information, Information regarding SMS and Network usage etc.)
* Capability to send Alerts and Messages to mobile users
* Generate Reports
All of the above features can be further classified into various sub-features. That makes it really hard for any one solution to solve the Mobile Device Management problem. 42Gears is also attempting to solve this problem by developing multiple tools such as SureLock Studio, AirLink and WipeMyDevice.
42Gears develops mobile device management tools for enterprises. Read more information about our products here.
Programmatically modifying SureLock Settings
One of the common requests we received from some of our customers was for a solution to make it possible for a third party application to programmatically change the SureLock Security password on the device.
We have implemented a generic solution to update SureLock settings on the device without having to reinstall the SureLock CAB files. Solution includes a new module, Supervisory Update (supupd.exe) which takes new SureLock settings (like security password) as command line parameters. For e.g. an application can change the password by launching supupd.exe with the following parameters:
\Program Files\SureLock\supupd.exe /changepwd
Here is a sample code (.NET C#):
Process proc1 = new Process();
string oldPassword = "0123";
string newPassword = "9876";
proc1.StartInfo.FileName = "\\Program Files\\SureLock\\supupd.exe";
proc1.StartInfo.Arguments = "/changepwd " + oldPassword + " "+ newPassword ;
proc1 .Start();
In future we will add more options to let applications change other SureLock settings, like adding and removing "approved" applications.