Tuesday, May 2, 2017

New iOS enterprise security features now available, including corporate contacts

A recent Gartner surveyfound that more than two thirds of employees are using personal devices at work, and we're seeing similar stats with our customers: enterprises are embracing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) devices. That's why we're giving more control to G Suite admins with enhancements to Google Mobile Management, adding several new iOS featuresfor enterprise security, including the popular feature request for managed corporate contacts.



Manage iOS Settings in Google Mobile Management
About Managed Corporate Contacts
G Suite admins will now be able to sync managed corporate contacts to their users' devices. This will improve iOS device compliance in the following ways:
  • Easy setup of contacts during MDM setup. The user’s corporate contacts are synced automatically when an iOS device is compliant, and no longer available when device goes out of compliance.
  • Searching and calling contacts from the global address list (GAL) is possible from the native iOS phone app. Additionally, native email, calendar, contacts iOS apps can look up your GAL contacts.
  • Caller ID is supported when receiving a call from a user's corporate contact.
  • If your organization requires your users to use 2-step verification or you use a 3rd-party SSO provider, your users will no longer need to use an App password when accessing their corporate contacts on the iOS device
  • If the admin blocks or wipes the account, the user's corporate contacts are no longer available and they no longer have access to the GAL.
In addition to these changes, we're also adding or updating the following device restriction policies:
  • Managed apps: Manage app author, settings and storage
  • Account configuration: Automatically configure Google account on iOS to sync contacts, calendar
  • Safari: Manage Safari browser settings
  • Photos: Manage photo sharing on iOS
  • Advanced security: Allow screenshots and screen recording, Siri, Apple Watch, and more



We hope this makes it easier for G Suite admins to manage iOS users in their domain. Look out for more exciting MDM updates in the future.
Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
Availability: All iOS devices managed using advanced management are applicable to have the new features applied

Action:
Admin action suggested/FYI
More Information
Help Center: Apply settings for iOS mobile devices