MDM), an enterprise-class solution for managing BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM). By providing corporate IT organizations with expanded management capabilities and device-user self-service functionality, CA MDM substantially mitigates security and compliance risks associated with these devices-while also reducing total cost of ownership.

CA MDM simplifies the provisioning and ongoing management of mobile devices via existing over-the-air connections without placing agents on any devices. It features a configurable self-service portal for end users that empowers them to rapidly register their devices, manage their passwords, and address common problems without the assistance of corporate help-desk personnel. It also provides a Web-based console that unifies all core management tasks-including security management, asset inventory, configuration management, policy compliance, and reporting-for all devices across the enterprise.

"During our evaluation of CA MDM, we saw how it can reduce administrative overhead and time-to-resolution for a wide range of end-user issues," said Juan Santiago, wireless telephony specialist at CDW Corporation, a leading provider of technology products and services to business, government and education. "We also saw how end users can activate their devices through CA MDM in about ten minutes-which, in addition to saving users time and money, can also increase their satisfaction with IT service levels."

Other key features of CA MDM include:

1. Leverages BlackBerry Enterprise Server IT policies to deliver over-the-air (OTA) management from a web-based interface, including device lock/unlock and data wipe to prevent access to data on lost or stolen devices
2. Automated role-based device security and configuration enforcement and lifecycle management leveraging Active Directory data
3. Automatic disabling of devices upon employee termination
4. Customizable workflow for approvals, escalations, event management, and support processes
5. A Bulk Addition feature that enables administrators to quickly roll out large numbers of devices

Highly scalable, CA MDM can auto-discover thousands of devices in just a few hours.

According to IDC research, the mobile device management market is expected to grow from $205.7 million in 2006, to $345.0 million by 2011.* This growth is driven by the increase in the mobile workforce and the need to manage the complexity that mobile devices add to the IT environment.

"The introduction of large numbers of mobile devices into the corporate IT environment represents one of today's most critical technology governance, risk and compliance challenges," said Stacy Sudan, research analyst with IDC's Mobile Enterprise Software program. "By ensuring 'asset awareness' and automating device lifecycle management, a product such as CA MDM offers a compelling solution for meeting this challenge."

CA MDM can integrate with other CA solutions, including CA Asset Management, CA Identity Manager and CA Security Command Center, to help ensure that BlackBerry smartphones are easily incorporated into the broader set of enterprise IT governance best practices. Integration with Active Directory enables ongoing synchronization, monitoring and automated reconfiguration to ensure device configuration and security policy compliance.

"As BlackBerry smartphones and other mobile devices play an increasingly central role as a primary end-user computing device-of-choice, IT organizations will have to subject those devices to the same set of policies and controls that are currently applied to desktops and laptops," said Jacob Lamm, executive vice president and general manager at CA. "CA MDM is an optimal solution for fulfilling this essential enterprise IT management requirement."

"Workforce mobility is a key strategic consideration for business managers today and the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is renowned for helping millions of mobile professionals become more productive and effective. As enterprises roll out mobile devices to increasingly large groups of users, management, security and compliance become even more important," said Jeff McDowell, vice president, Global Alliances, Research In Motion. "CA MDM provides a heterogeneous solution that leverages the IT policies built into the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to help IT organizations manage BlackBerry smartphone deployments more effectively and maximize return on investment."

CA is showcasing CA MDM this week at the TM Forum Management World Americas Expo in Dallas.

Pricing and Availability

CA Mobile Device Management is available for US$65 per device.

* IDC, "Worldwide Mobile Device Management Enterprise 2007-2011 Forecast and 2006 Vendor Shares," Doc # 208771, Stacy Sudan, Stephen D. Drake, October 2007.