CeBIT: BlackBerry unveils secure tablet

At the CeBIT conference currently underway in Germany, BlackBerry in partnership with IBM and Samsung has unveiled the SecuTABLET – a high-security device that integrates voice and data encryption designed for agencies that need secure mobile access to the Internet.

At the CeBIT technology trade show in Hannover this week, BlackBerry and IBM unveiled the SecuTABLET, a high-security tablet based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5.

With the new secure tablet for national and international public sector markets and enterprises, data that is subject to special security requirements can be used on the move. Personal applications or those that are not additionally secured, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and WhatsApp, can also be used.

The solution is undergoing certification at the German Federal Office for Information Security for the German VS-NfD (classified – for official use only) security rating.

The SecuTABLET is a new, secure tablet that supplements the SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 portfolio and can be seamlessly integrated into existing SecuSUITE infrastructures.

“Security is ingrained in every part of BlackBerry’s portfolio, which includes voice and data encryption solutions,” said Dr. Hans-Christoph Quelle, CEO of Secusmart GmbH, a BlackBerry company. “National and international government customers have entrusted their voice and data communications with the Secusmart Security Card for years. This same technology is what secures the new SecuTABLET. Working alongside IBM and Samsung, we have added the last link in the chain of the Federal Security Network. Subject to certification of the SecuTABLET, German government agencies will have a new way to access BlackBerry’s most secure and complete communications network in the world.

The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) study on Mobility Impact notes that 63 percent of public sector respondents would appreciate mobile access to their specialized applications like budget and controlling. These data are subject to special security requirements. Access via conventional mobile devices is ruled out.

“The SecuTABLET closes a supply gap and opens up for government and administrations an opportunity to derive greater benefit from digitization and the mobile Internet, with system integration as a fundamental success factor,” said Stefan Hefter, Senior Management Consultant with IBM. “We have contributed our longstanding expertise as a system integrator for mobile solutions. The technology used to make mobile apps secure by means of so-called wrapping has already proven its worth in the United States.

IBM has provided the secure app wrapping technology for the SecuTABLET, and assists in implementing the high security solutions by Secusmart within the infrastructures of the various clients inside the governmental sector.

As a BlackBerry company, Secusmart enhances the company’s commitment to remaining the leading provider in enterprise mobile security. BlackBerry is the only mobile device management (MDM) vendor that has achieved the “Full Operational Capability” level of certification for operation on U.S. Department of Defense Networks. Furthermore, BlackBerry 10 smartphones were the first to be approved by NATO for classified communications up to “Restricted” level.

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