There are different ways to activate a Device:
- Managed Accounts
- Google Domains
My example and sceenshots are based on ‘Managed Accounts’, which is the easiest way. If you’re using Google Domains then it’s much more complex and for each User you need a dedicated Work Google Play Account. The newest BlackBerry UEM 12.6 supports ‘Managed Accounts’.
To activate a Android device for work (‘Managed Account’), you’ll receive an eMail from the Admin (email address, password)
BlackBerry UEM Client
Please download the BlackBerry UEM Client APP from Google Play
Open the UEM Client and enter email address and password.
Configure your profile.
Device will be activated:
Play Store for Work
Automatically some work apps will be added. Here you see the Play Store for Work (left) and the usual private Play Store:
Please open the Play Store for Work. If you don’t have used a Google Mail address (different from your personal Goofle Mail address) for activation, it can happen that you get an error:
try to switch off / on the airplane-mode or restart the device to see your work apps.
Your Work APPs
in this case there’s one app available – the app you sent to the admin:
Two APPs (Work, Private)
Install the APP as usual and you’ll get 2 APPs: one as private, one as work app:
we only need this app as work APP, so you can delete the private one.
Now as your APP exists as a work APP you can deploy updates from Qt Creator and use the work profile.
Android for Work Statusbar
Open your work APP and take a look at Android statusbar:
you’ll always see if the current APP is a work app and you’ll also see if currently there’s a secure connection to server (VPN)
Secure Connection
All your Work APPs will use the secure connection. There’s also a second Browser: Chrome for Work. Opening sites from Chrome for Work or accessing URLs from your Work APP always goes thru the secure connection – this means those URLs will be opened behind the firewall same way as if you’re sitting in your office using the Intranet. Data used by Work APPs is encrypted and secure out of the box on transport and also on your device.
Secure Boot
Using BlackBerry Android Devices there’s some extra security built into the hardware. Those devices cannot be rooted.
BlackBerry and Android Devices ? You have read that there will be no more Devices built by BlackBerry ?
Yes – BlackBerry finished transition from hardware to software. BlackBerry licensed Devices to partners, but verifies security. First new device was presented by TCL at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: keyONE with Android Nougat 7.1 – three more new devices will follow. BlackBerry Android Devices always get the monthly security updates for Android – per ex. Security Patches from march 2017.
It’s up to you or your customers how many levels of security they need. Android for Work is the first step, using devices with secure boot the next one.
Samsung does something similar with Samsung KNOX and Samsung devices, but fails with monthly security updates.
