Dropbox for Business preps enterprise mobile management ecosystem
Dropbox is working harder to get into more workplaces with the upcoming arrival of enterprise mobile management (EMM) support.
As demonstrated by competitors like Box as well as mobile devices makers themselves (i.e. Samsung Knox), EMM is fast becoming a way of life (or work) for many corporations as users want to bring their own devices and apps into corporate networks.
Thus, EMM is supposed to facilitate the way by giving employees what they want while still giving IT some control by determining and designating which partner apps and platforms to choose.
Dropbox plans to deliver EMM through its Dropbox for Business API, which promises to easily integrate the business-minded services of the consumer cloud storage service into core IT processes.
The San Francisco-based company counts more than 100,000 companies as customers for Dropbox for Business. The API debuted last December with links to an initial 20 partner companies, including CloudLock, Nuix, DocuSign, Splunk, Microsoft, Windows Azure, Dell, Cisco, and SkySync.
Dropbox touted it is now working with a number of EMM partners and embracing open standards to get this done.
AirWatch and MobileIron have already confirmed partner integrations that are scheduled to become available for customers in the coming months.
Already sketching an even bigger picture, Dropbox said it plans to build out an EMM ecosystem with some familiar players -- including Okta and Centrify as well as Knox -- with the intention of securing personal and work profiles on Apple iOS and Google Android for Work.
However, specific launch dates haven't been revealed yet.