Google LLC is enhancing the security and management features of the Android operating system in order to make it more useful and secure for businesses.

In a blog post today, the company unveiled a number of “Android for business” updates, delivering what it says is “enterprise-grade” security and management capabilities to every Android device. It’s part of Google’s plan to position Android as the most practical platform for organizations with distributed workforces.

Although recent trends have seen many technology companies urge their employees to return to the office, the fact is that hybrid work, at least, is here to stay. These days, millions of employees all over the world work remotely, at least part of the time, and they need to stay connected at all times.

Business executives have shown a preference for Apple’s iOS devices, which are well-known for their enhanced security measures, but buying hundreds of iPhones isn’t practical for many organizations that might need to equip numerous employees lower down the corporate ladder. Instead, many companies prefer to equip their workers with more budget-friendly Android devices.

It’s those organizations that are being targeted with today’s updates. Android for business is not a separate product, unlike the Android Automotive or Android TV editions. Rather, it simply refers to a set of features integrated with every Android device.

Stronger security

These features are now being enhanced in a number of ways. In terms of security, Google is introducing “Android Theft Protection,” a suite of proactive security tools on devices running Android 10 and above. It has capabilities such as Theft Detection Lock, which uses machine learning to detect when a device has been stolen and automatically lock it down, so it can no longer be accessed by the thief.

Another feature within the suite is Offline Device Lock, which can secure the device when it has been disconnected from the network for a predetermined period of time. There’s also a Remote Lock capability, which enables employees to simply type in their number on the Android.com website and lock their device when they realize it has been lost or stolen.

Another new feature enables business employees to create a private space, or separate folder on their device that requires a password or biometrics to unlock, so they can protect their personal data and apps on their work-supplied device.

In addition, Google said it’s making it easier for system administrators to review the security logs of any company issued Android device. It explained that events have been migrated from Logcat to SecurityLog, which is a portal that allows security teams to remotely identify any vulnerabilities on their worker’s corporate devices.

Simpler management

In terms of management, Google said it’s making life easier for administrators who need to set up capabilities such as eSIM management, manage the security configurations for specific apps, and tinker with corporate devices in other ways.

Among the changes, it’s introducing the ability to provide and remove eSIMs on managed devices programmatically, which can help streamline the onboarding and onboarding processes for employees. On personal devices, employees will remain in control of which SIM is active on their phone, and they can choose to activate or remove an enterprise eSIM at any time.

Admins will also be able to apply corporate security restrictions and policies to any app hosted within the user’s private space on a company-owned device, the company said, as well as enforce the default apps available on the device’s personal profile.

Finally, Google said, it’s giving IT admins a way to control aspects like the screen’s brightness and the display’s timeout settings. In this way, organizations can optimize energy consumption and squeeze more battery life out of company-owned devices.

Featured image: SiliconANGLE/Microsoft Designer; Google