Zenprise offers iPad app for secure SharePoint access

Positioned as a data loss prevention tool, the app and server software focus on enforcing SharePoint content policies on iOS devices

Zenprise on Wednesday announced that the new version of its MobileManager mobile device management (MDM) suite will include a component that lets iPad and iPhone users access Microsoft SharePoint project files and transfer them from their iOS device into a secure container. The module will honor the access policies set in SharePoint, both the on-premise and Office 365 versions; thus, files can be set as read-only or uncopyable via email or transfer to other iOS apps. An Android version is planned for early 2012.

The company calls this module a data loss prevention (DLP) capability. However, unlike traditional DLP tools, it does not scan outgoing information from the corporate network to see if the sender and recipient have permission to access that data. Instead, it extends the existing SharePoint controls to iOS.

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Microsoft does not support iOS or other mobile operating systems except its own Windows Phone, causing many SharePoint users working on mobile devices to copy project files outside the SharePoint environment so that they can be used when traveling. Zenprise spokesman Ahmed Datoo says the DLP module is meant to address that gap in SharePoint's reach outside Microsoft enviroments.

Zenprise expects the updated MobileManager product to be available by December; pricing has not been set.