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Will Android be ACCEPTED at Work?

T

tephonis

Lurker
I currently have an old LG vx5400 flip phone (it was the free phone from Verizon about 3 years ago) and I am tired of not having internet capabilities on my phone.

I've been shopping around for a new phone for a while and have decided I like the Android platform the best. The only problem is that my company will not allow the Android phone to sync with its servers. According to our tech department the reason is that the early version of Android had a security flaw. They have since patched that flaw, but the phone will not identify if it is running the flawed or the fixed version of Android. Since my company cannot detect which version is being used, they simply will not allow Android devices on their system.

Even though I like Android better, one of the main benefits of upgrading to a smartphone would be the ability to access my work email on the go.

I'm just looking for a little guidance. The ideal situation would be that they update the software to allow my company to detect which version is running on the devices. Any idea if that will ever happen?
 
Def would not be allowed to do that. We deal with sensitive client information and our industry is highly regulated. All my email and internet activity are monitored, so that would be shut down in no time.

I like the way you're thinking though...
 
A little more info would be helpful. Are you talking email? WiFi or VPN or any combination? What is the security flaw specifically? What is the server technology that your company uses? I would assume they require encryption for all communications.
 
If you have access via a OWA server for your email you can get "Touchdown" from the market to access your email. My employer does not allow us to access work email from non-iphones because of security issues however we can access using the OWA server with android or blackberry phones.
 
lunatic59 said:
A little more info would be helpful. Are you talking email? WiFi or VPN or any combination? What is the security flaw specifically? What is the server technology that your company uses? I would assume they require encryption for all communications.
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Before I answer those questions (of the ones I can) I just want to be clear that I am not looking for advice on how to subvert my company's technology restrictions. I'm simply looking for advice on those of you who use Android devices as to whether it would still be worth it to go with Android (which cannot access work email and contacts) vs. iPhone (which can). Also, I was hoping someone might have some news about the program authenticating which version of Android is running in the future.

Now the questions:
Ideally, I would like my smartphone to have the ability to access my emails, contacts, calendar, etc. from my office computer.

I believe this would be a VPN connection as we do not have WiFi available at the office.

I'm not sure of the security flaw specifically, just that one existed. That's not even the issue though...the real issue is that the company cannot tell if someone is attempting to access the network with a secure Android device.

I have no idea what server technology is used by our company, but I can't see how that would be relevant as I'm really just looking for your opinion on whether I should get a Droid despite the blocked access to work communications.

The company requires encryption for all activities, yes.

Thanks for all the help so far! :)
 
Yeahha said:
If you have access via a OWA server for your email you can get "Touchdown" from the market to access your email. My employer does not allow us to access work email from non-iphones because of security issues however we can access using the OWA server with android or blackberry phones.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I retract my previous "why does it matter what server setup my company uses..." comment.

Thanks for the info. I will check on this option, however I would be surprised if it will fly. Previously, I would have been able to access my emails through webmail, but they have since changed that...
 
Okay, so if you know that your company is not willing to allow Android devices, yet you're not looking to circumvent this authority and hack your way in. Why exactly are asking if you should get an Android device?

I guess this one flew over my head.

I work for a Broker Dealer and we have the same tight restrictions, monitoring (FINRA blah bla blah etc) and we can sync any OS with the server. I guess this is something your IT dept has to patch up.
 
shawn1224 said:
Okay, so if you know that your company is not willing to allow Android devices, yet you're not looking to circumvent this authority and hack your way in. Why exactly are asking if you should get an Android device?

I guess this one flew over my head.

I work for a Broker Dealer and we have the same tight restrictions, monitoring (FINRA blah bla blah etc) and we can sync any OS with the server. I guess this is something your IT dept has to patch up.
Click to expand...

No problem. I will slow it down for you.

I also work for a Broker/Dealer - apparently a more restrictive one. They will not allow Android to sync with their servers because they cannot verify that the device is secure.

I have never owned a smartphone. I still have a flip phone that came to market slightly before the Razar. I was looking for opinions as to whether or not I should still get an Android and forego the work connectivity.

Maybe I should phrase the question like this: Are Android phones really that much better than the iPhone or a Blackberry?
 
Hmm, I work as an information analyst for a company that operates 24 hospitals, not to mention countless outpatient surgery centers, doctor offices, etc, and we are allowed to access our servers using Android, Blackberry, or I*hone. I have access to confidential patient medical records, hospital finance records, etc, and I can access this info and reports through my email on my Android phone.

It honestly sounds like its more that your IT dept isnt up to par. You say that you have had an old LG flip phone, and that you prefer the Android phones over the competition. Since you havent had the ability to access work email/contacts through your phone to begin with do you really want to pick a phone you dont prefer just to have this access now?

And yes, for those of us here, Android and its openess is much better than the Blackberry or Iphone. My wife uses a Blackberry Storm 2 and honestly its ridiculously slow. I can admit that the Iphone is a great device for those that prefer them, I just like being able to use my phone how I want to and not how Steve Jobs thinks I should.
 
I work for one of the major banks and they dont allow it for Android. Most banks and brokerages are slowly coming around to the iPhone. I know Bank of America is test piloting work email for that. I doubt it will ever come to Android. I have friends who work in less regulated industries and they can use their androids with microsoft exchange email setups though. Most banks/brokerages are slowly transitioning their Blackberries to the iPhone.
 
tephonis said:
No problem. I will slow it down for you.

I also work for a Broker/Dealer - apparently a more restrictive one. They will not allow Android to sync with their servers because they cannot verify that the device is secure.

I have never owned a smartphone. I still have a flip phone that came to market slightly before the Razar. I was looking for opinions as to whether or not I should still get an Android and forego the work connectivity.

Maybe I should phrase the question like this: Are Android phones really that much better than the iPhone or a Blackberry?
Click to expand...


Okay thanks for clarifying and no I wouldn't say there's any advantage when it comes to exchange sync & stuff. Matter of fact I would say RIM is more in-tune with this, even the iphone has a leg up in this dept. I believe. If you definitely need smartphone capability for work I would look elsewhere but if it's not a requisite and you can get by with your current setup, an Android device has a lot to offer outside the work place.

It really depends on what you deem a priority.
 
BiggestManEver said:
I don't get why they allow iPhones but not Androids... Android browser is harder to hack than iPhones.
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1) exchange
2) cisco VPN
3) remote wipe
4) centralized provisioning tools for the enterprise
5) ability to lock out side loading.
6) ability to lock certain apps that require certain permissions. E.g apps that read contacts, SMS, email.

This is just a small list
 
Sybase Afaria is for android but the Samsung version seems more in-depth, probably because they were able to incorporate their technology into Android (open source that doesn't require proprietary changes to be made public)
 
Can't you get your work email forwarded to somewhere else? All my email accounts are linked to my gmail so I can get it easily on the go.
 
tephonis said:
Any idea if that will ever happen?
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You're asking the wrong people. You need to ask your IT dept. Our speculation is completely irrelevant. Whether or not any given company will accept Android is up to that particular company. My shop is BB only, for example.

tephonis said:
Ideally, I would like my smartphone to have the ability to access my emails, contacts, calendar, etc. from my office computer.

I believe this would be a VPN connection as we do not have WiFi available at the office.
Click to expand...
If you want to sync them you don't need VPN. If you intend to remote to your desktop you'll need some sort of connectivity. VPN is one possibility.

tephonis said:
I have no idea what server technology is used by our company, but I can't see how that would be relevant as I'm really just looking for your opinion on whether I should get a Droid despite the blocked access to work communications.
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How is it not relevant? How do you expect to get an answer if no one knows anything about the details of your particular setup?

tephonis said:
Maybe I should phrase the question like this: Are Android phones really that much better than the iPhone or a Blackberry?
Click to expand...
Better is always highly subjective and smartphones are no different. In your case, whatever works with your company's setup is better, given that you've said that you want to be able to sync with work.

shawn1224 said:
Matter of fact I would say RIM is more in-tune with this, even the iphone has a leg up in this dept. I believe.
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How is RIM better at Exchange sync exactly? Are you aware that email even on BES is push and reconcile? It's not true sync as it is with ActiveSync.

Where they do have a leg up is in the built-in device management and security features (that, of course, require BES).

nklenchik said:
Can't you get your work email forwarded to somewhere else? All my email accounts are linked to my gmail so I can get it easily on the go.
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Read posts 2 & 3.
 
takeshi said:
Blah, blah, blah...
Click to expand...

Marginally helpful (and that's being generous), but thanks for trying.

So I have an idea, but I'm a little nervous about it...
I would feel much more comfortable with buying an Android if I didn't have to re-up on a 2 year contract with Verizon. One option that didn't even occur to me was that I could purchase a used Android phone. However, just the thought of spending $200+ on a used phone sends shivers down my back.

Does anyone have experience with buying used phones?


My main concerns are:
  1. The phone being in acceptable condition once I receive it.
  2. Any malicious software previously installed that will either hurt my device or track what I am doing (I know I'm paranoid).
  3. Basically, that I would really be missing out on something or putting myself at risk by not buying a new phone.
I would really appreciate your thoughts on that idea...
 
tephonis said:
My main concerns are:
  1. The phone being in acceptable condition once I receive it.
  2. Any malicious software previously installed that will either hurt my device or track what I am doing (I know I'm paranoid).
  3. Basically, that I would really be missing out on something or putting myself at risk by not buying a new phone.
I would really appreciate your thoughts on that idea...
Click to expand...

1. If you are buying eBay or Craigslist, or some other semi-private sale, then you do run the risk of being sent a brick, but the probability is low. As with buying anything from an unknown source, use a little common sense and you should be okay.

2. Assuming that the seller provides you with phone they have not wiped clean, the first thing you do is reformat the SD card and then perform a factory reset, which varies by make and model. Then the software is as if you purchased the phone new.

3. Depends on what you buy. Many of the 2nd hand phones are reaching the end of their useful life, especially as far as OS updates go. But they still work, and probably very well. And the whole purpose here is not to tie you to a contract for 2-years so if you determine that Android will suite your needs, you can easily upgrade tot he latest and the greatest.
 
FWIW, I have my Droid hooked to my company mail through EAS. In my webmail interface, I can see a report of my mobile devices including the device ID, User Agent (Android/0.3 is how that's listed) and will allow me to initiate a remote wipe.
 
tephonis said:
Marginally helpful (and that's being generous), but thanks for trying.

So I have an idea, but I'm a little nervous about it...
I would feel much more comfortable with buying an Android if I didn't have to re-up on a 2 year contract with Verizon. One option that didn't even occur to me was that I could purchase a used Android phone. However, just the thought of spending $200+ on a used phone sends shivers down my back.

Does anyone have experience with buying used phones?


My main concerns are:
  1. The phone being in acceptable condition once I receive it.
  2. Any malicious software previously installed that will either hurt my device or track what I am doing (I know I'm paranoid).
  3. Basically, that I would really be missing out on something or putting myself at risk by not buying a new phone.
I would really appreciate your thoughts on that idea...
Click to expand...

Another thing to watch for with the used-phone route: Make sure the ESN is clean, or else no carrier will activate it.
 
Android 2.2 includes a greatly improved Exchange/Activesync client that support requiring a pin unlock, remote wipe, and other such Exchange features. If your IT group doesn't support Android activesync connections then OW (either in browser or with Touchdown) are your best options.

Ideally, I would like my smartphone to have the ability to access my emails, contacts, calendar, etc. from my office computer.
Click to expand...

Android isn't designed to sync with your desktop/Outlook the way a Windows phone would, or an iPhone would sync with iTunes. They are designed to sync online. So both your desktop and the phone sync directly with the server (be it gmail.com, an Exchange server, or a Google Apps domain account) with neither requiring the existence of the other to access the common data.
 
If you look at the correlation between smartphone policy and degree of sensitive emails, you'll find that there really isn't much of a correlation at all. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

What this means is: I've seen companies with super-secret-sensitive info support Android for email, and I've seen companies with who-gives-a-damn emails reject Android.

In the biomed/pharmaceutical field, a lot of computer systems have to go under government audit before they can be approved. Because the audit process is so long and painful, you often see software written for DOS, Windows 98, etc. So sometimes, it's not the technical capabilities of the new software/hardware in question; it's simply a matter of it being untested, and the PIA associated with getting it approved.
 
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