Category: News

Secure central management of mobile communications on BYOD devices, without the need for Mobile Device Management (MDM).

The new Configuration Management System (CMS) is now available for Armour Mobile. This latest upgrade includes a whole host of powerful features to enable the central management of data held within Armour Mobile on remote devices, significantly reducing the data security risk from the use of BYOD smartphones and tablets.

Stay in control of sensitive data, even on remote unmanaged devices

Armour Mobile CMS provides authorised administrators with complete control over data held within the Armour ecosystem on remote devices. This means that the end user can continue to use their phone as they would normally, while all sensitive communications are safely stored within the application’s ‘container’. Data held in the Armour container can only be accessed by the end user via the Armour Mobile app (i.e. it is not accessible to other applications, such as the device’s photo gallery).

Configurations set centrally can be made visible to end-users, i.e. they can see the settings, or, invisible, where end-users are not specifically aware of settings and limitations made.  Some limits may optionally be editable by the end user, but only where the user chooses to further increase the security limits.  Armour Mobile CMS can remove the need for a Mobile Device Management solution (which users are often reluctant to agree to for their own personal devices), because CMS performs some of the functions of a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution such as being able to wipe data remotely from the device.  All information shared via Armour Mobile is kept within the Armour ecosystem which guards against data leakage whether accidental, or otherwise.

In addition, new enhanced security controls include:

Message Retention Limit

This sets a time limit for messages being retained on a device. Once the time limit is reached messages, and any attachments relating to a message, are automatically deleted. This integrates with Armour Mobile’s feature, and is a further aid to secure data management. The limit can be set centrally by an administrator, or by the end-user. If the limit is set centrally, the user may set a shorter time limit, but may not override with a longer time limit. In addition, the time limit may be adjusted dynamically should the device move into a higher threat area, for example, leaving the corporate network environment, working on an unknown and/or untrusted network/wifi, or visiting an unfriendly or hostile regime.

Remote Wipe

An administrator can remotely wipe all data held in the Armour app without needing to physically access a device.  This protects against sensitive data being accessed should a device be lost or  stolen, or when an employee leaves the organisation, and provides a more proactive way to ensure data is wiped, even if a device is deliberated kept offline.

Central Copy and Paste Control Policy

Copy and Paste policy for the Armour Mobile app can be controlled centrally.  The administrator can set copy and paste to be enabled or disabled, and as mentioned earlier, this policy can either be visible or invisible to end-users, and/or editable, but only to make the data handling more secure, not less so.   Depending on the setting selected this prevents information from a secure message potentially being copied into an app outside of the Armour Mobile platform, and therefore, into a less secure environment. This feature helps to ensure the integrity and security of data, to help avoid data leakage.

These new central management features enable organisations to take tighter control of secure communications and the sensitive information that they may contain.  It helps CISOs and compliance departments  to automate security with a series of centrally managed features without having to rely on the weakest link in the security chain – the end-user.  Meanwhile, the end-user can continue to use their devices, either BYOD or company-issued, as they would normally, with no interference to their usability or requirement to change working practices.

For more information contact us today: https://www.armourcomms.com/contact/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Armour Mobile, the NATO-approved WhatsApp replacement, available for large scale users with Kubernetes deployment options

London, UK, 4 October 2022 – Armour Comms is now shipping Armour Core v5, which includes Kubernetes capabilities for enterprise-wide deployments. Already in use by strategic Government departments and large organisations, Armour Mobile can now be installed across broad groups of disparate users remotely and at scale.  Software updates, patches and the application lifecycle can be managed more easily and quickly, transparently to the end-user.

Armour Core v5 supports the latest requirement from Apple for APNS push notifications, and also push notifications for Bittium Tough Mobile™ 2 series of ruggedised and secure smartphones (subject to Bittium Secure Suite being installed).  In addition, Armour Core now utilises NginX, to provide an extra layer of security at Transport Layer Security (TLS) level and simplify interfaces accessing the service; and uses Prometheus to provide extra monitoring options for SIP and XMPP.

David Holman, Director at Armour Comms, stated: “When secure products are easy to use and quick to deploy, people are far more likely to use them, meaning that the security is more effective. With this in mind, Armour Core v5 brings enterprise grade scaling for our larger customers, and for those organisations that wish to use Kubernetes.

“Armour Core also supports our new Configuration Management System which enables organisations to manage Armour on BYOD devices without the need for a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. The IT/Security department are able to manage data, apply updates and wipe Armour data remotely (useful for when someone leaves or a device is lost/stolen), transparently, quickly and with minimal resource overhead.”

Armour Mobile Configuration Management (CMS) provides authorised administrators with complete control over data held within the Armour ecosystem on the device. The end user is able to continue using their phone as they would normally, while all sensitive communications are safely stored within the Armour ‘container’, without the need for a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system. Data held in the Armour container can only be accessed by the end user via the Armour Mobile app (i.e. it is not accessible to other applications, such as the device’s photo gallery).

Advanced features of Armour Mobile CMS include message retention limits where messages and any attachments are deleted automatically when the retention limit is reached – which minimises risk of loss of organisational data and aids internal audit and compliance. This integrates fully with Armour Mobile’s existing ‘Message Burn’ feature, providing additional security and flexibility.  CMS also provides remote wipe, whereby Armour data is wiped from a user’s device without the need to physically access the device – critical for when people leave the organisation or lose their device.

New Configuration Management System safeguards sensitive conversations and messages and reduces the risk associated with BYOD or locally purchased devices

International Cyber Expo: 27-28 September, Olympia, London

Stand: C20 TechUK & ADS Pavilion

London, UK, 20 September 2022 – Armour Comms is launching its new Configuration Management System at the International Cyber Expo, being held at London Olympia, on 27 and 28 September. The new solution is part of Armour’s award-winning secure communications flagship platform, Armour Mobile, and will enable organisations to securely manage risk associated with communications data transmitted over Armour Mobile, even on an unmanaged Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) or locally purchased devices.

David Holman, Director at Armour Comms, stated: “The use of BYOD devices has long been an issue for many organisations, and is particularly pertinent in sectors that require data protection, such as defence, government, finance, legal and healthcare. However, people do not like their personal devices to be subjected to corporate Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions and organisations are concerned about the legal issues of controlling data on devices not owned by them. The Armour Mobile Configuration Management System successfully addresses this conundrum.”

Armour Mobile Configuration Management (CMS) provides authorised administrators with complete control over data held within the Armour ecosystem on the device. This means that the end user can continue to use their phone as they would normally, while all sensitive communications are safely stored within the application’s ‘container’, without the need for a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system. Data held in the Armour container can only be accessed by the end user via the Armour Mobile app (i.e. it is not accessible to other applications, such as the device’s photo gallery).

Advanced features of Armour Mobile CMS include message retention limits where messages and any attachments are deleted automatically when the retention limit is reached– which minimises risk of loss of organisational data and aids internal audit and compliance. This integrates fully with Armour Mobile’s existing ‘Message Burn’ feature, providing additional security and flexibility. CMS also provides remote wipe, whereby Armour data is wiped from a user’s device without the need to physically access the device – critical for when people leave the organisation or lose their device.

Latest release of Armour’s WhatsApp replacement product extends user management capabilities for easier enterprise deployments and a raft of features for greater user adoption

London, UK, 25 April 2022 – Armour Comms has announced the latest version of SigNet by Armour®, its enterprise-grade WhatsApp replacement platform. SigNet v3.3 includes enhancements to streamline the administration of enrolling new users, license management and managing groups, saving time for IT and security. The new version also includes many end-user improvements designed to boost user-adoption which in turn increases security around communication of sensitive information. SigNet now supports up to 8 participants on a group secure video call.

David Holman, Director at Armour Comms said; “SigNet by Armour was developed for enterprises looking to increase security around the use of informal messaging and communications apps, and to provide a replacement solution for consumer-grade apps, that staff will be highly motivated to use. The extension of secure video capabilities for up to eight people that can be used from a mobile device or desktop is a significant enhancement that will enable enterprises to mandate the use of SigNet for all business conversations.”

“Every organisation has sensitive commercial information to protect, and this can now be shared securely, and conveniently, with colleagues using SigNet without ever using an email service or consumer app. Users love the ease of use and anonymity of SigNet, where there is no requirement to provide their mobile phone number as their unique identifier.”

Group Management:

Chat groups within SigNet v3.3 have admin account capabilities for configuring and managing the group by adding and removing users, permission control, and appointing new admins.

Licensing

SigNet v3.3 strengthens enterprise licensing, with license expiry messaging and multiple licence support and management. If an employee leaves or is no longer required to use SigNet the license can be redeployed to a new user, similarly if a device is lost or stolen, the license is rescinded and can be re-used. This new feature enables enterprises to more tightly control licenses and the associated costs, particularly for an on-premises implementation.

A new ‘last seen’ facility indicates if a contact is currently online or displays the last time the contact used the application. This is helpful for end-users and enables administrators to identify where licenses are not being used, and therefore not required.

Group Calling

Group audio and video calls are now supported for up to 8 people to be involved in the same call/video at any one time. When first using the feature users are prompted to grant camera and microphone permissions. With three or more participants, users have the option of a grid layout or a view that focuses on the active speaker by simply swiping up or down whilst in a group call.

@Mentions

The @Mentions feature is now supported, simply typing “@” and selecting the name from the picker allows the user to get someone’s attention. People mentioned in this way can quickly jump to the message at the click of a button. Users can set their notifications if they wish to receive an alert when they are mentioned.

Enterprise Benefits of SigNet by Armour

SigNet provides secure comms for voice, text, messaging, video and attachments, with Disappearing Messages (timed deletion of messages sent). All communications including attachments are encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption.

Increasing Security Awareness – Using SigNet encourages a culture of heightened security awareness amongst employees while also protecting user anonymity and privacy.

One-step provisioning – end-users simply download the app, and they can start using it straight away once provisioned by IT using a one-time use QR code.

Strong user adoption rates – the app is so easy and intuitive to use, people like it and are happy to use it.

Anonymity and protection of privacy – users do not need to reveal their mobile number, email address or even full name in order to use the app.

Use across multiple linked devices – the same instance of the app can be installed on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile, so that information can be shared across devices securely, without the need to use email.

Desktop instance – the app can be used by desk-based employees on PCs and laptops, which is often more convenient than using a mobile device.

Note to Self facility – voice-to-text notes and reminders are held within the app, and can be shared with linked devices.

Ultra secure sharing of information – documents for signature, instructions or commercial details can be shared via SigNet, meaning that the use of email systems or printed sensitive documents can be avoided. Users receive a timestamp when a screenshot is taken of a message they have sent, ensuring they retain full visibility of exactly where information and data has gone.

SigNet by Armour supports IPv6, the latest network communications protocol, enabling calls to seamlessly transition between modern networks.

SigNet is available as a Software as a Service (SaaS) product hosted on Armour’s secure cloud, or as an on-premises installation, and uses a peer-to-peer key management system.

Revenues up 25% year on year as both government and enterprise organisations look to secure mobile comms  

London, UK, 11 February 2022 – Armour Comms saw strong growth during 2021 with revenues up 25% year on year. Increased sales have been made up of additional orders from existing customers as well as a significant number of new named customers. Channel business has also increased strongly with several new resellers signed during 2021, and relationships strengthened with existing partners such as Samsung, Bittium, Qinetiq, and AmioSec. During the year Armour® achieved ISO27001 certification and a Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2021. At DSEI in September Armour received much interest in the technical preview for its latest innovation, Unity for Armour, a conferencing solution that has many more security features than free-to-use consumer products such as Zoom and Teams, and is easier to use.

David Holman, Director at Armour Comms said; “In 2021 we’ve seen the maturing of the work-from-anywhere (WFX), hybrid working economy. Organisations know that they have cobbled together consumer-grade technology and processes to enable people to work somewhat securely from home.  We are now seeing a groundswell of demand for more permanent, truly secure communications apps that enable people to collaborate securely from any location, including via unknown and untrusted networks.”

In 2021, the company continued to develop its flagship product line Armour Mobile with several new innovations including Unity by Armour, which works in conjunction with Armour Mobile extending its capabilities with secure video conferencing calls. Unity introduces new security features to combat the issues of ‘zoom-bombing’ and ghost (ie. uninvited) callers that may eavesdrop on sensitive conversations. For example, it highlights to all users whether a participant has joined the call via an app, or via a browser – the browser option being far easier to hack/spoof and therefore considerably less secure.

2021 also saw a significant upgrade to Armour Core which now includes support for IPv6, enabling calls to seamlessly transition between modern networks. Many of the enhancements have been incorporated as a result of customer feedback, to make the app easier for users including; migrating to a new device, searching for contacts across all communities within the app, identifying whether the call is video or audio (enhancing security) and the option to mute chat pings when on a call or conference. Armour Core v4 also provides simplified access to call logs for auditors.

Most recently Armour has launched Recall by Armour, which provides an archive and audit function for enterprises in regulated industries such as financial services, legal and healthcare.

SigNet by Armour®, the company’s WhatsApp replacement solution has seen enthusiastic adoption, and has been upgraded to include new features designed specifically for enterprises such as support for QR codes and deep links for one-click provisioning, streamlining the on-boarding of new users, saving time and resource for IT departments.   Based on the well-respected Signal app, SigNet by Armour provides additional security features such as an on-premises option for total privacy and no auditability (as well as the choice of cloud installation), secure groups and allow listing features, and a much improved, highly intuitive user interface.

David Holman concluded; “Despite concerns about the impact of the global pandemic, 2021 has been another strong year for Armour Comms and we expect implementations to ramp up again in 2022 as we fulfil some large government orders. Our channel operations are also going from strength to strength with several partners that operate in specific industry sectors bringing Armour into some interesting and lucrative sectors such as shipping and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) families.”

‘Private Cloud’ audit and archive solution provides regulatory compliance for secure calls while preserving confidentiality and privacy of sensitive information  

 

London, UK, 18 January 2022 – Armour Comms has announced the availability of Recall By Armour, an archiving and auditing solution for its secure communications products.  Delivered as a secure service hosted on a private cloud, Recall by Armour solves the compliance conundrum of keeping sensitive calls secure, and still making the content available for audit purposes should the need arise. Communications that take place via Armour Mobile including messages, attachments and audio, are captured in their entirety within a centralised audit log, which can then be reviewed by authenticated auditors subject to strict security parameters. Recall, a proven service already used by several government departments, is designed specifically for organisations and enterprises in regulated industries such as financial services, legal and healthcare.

 

Recall by Armour directly addresses the issues of unofficial channels (such as consumer-grade apps like WhatsApp) being used for business or ministerial communications by providing an equally usable app, that has enterprise features such as:

• Centralised audit log
• All transmitted media (text, attachments and audio) are archived
• Tightly managed authorisation for audit access
• Individual encryption key for each user (limits auditor access according to investigative need)
• All access to audit files is itself audited

 

David Holman, Director at Armour Comms said; “One of the key reasons that many organisations use Armour Mobile is to maintain complete privacy and security of communications. However, in regulated industries, audit and archive capabilities are required to preserve evidence, and in the case of government, to respond to Freedom of Information requests. Providing the option for an auditor to access sensitive calls is in itself a security management conundrum for competitors, but is directly addressed with Recall by Armour.”

 

This latest development from Armour Comms comes hot on the heels of the technology preview of Unity by Armour, which was showcased at DSEI 2021.  Unity works in conjunction with Armour Mobile extending its capabilities with secure video conferencing calls including new security features to combat the issues of ‘zoom-bombing’ and ghost (i.e. uninvited) callers who may eavesdrop on sensitive conversations.

Armour’s secure mobile communications solution now available as part of GEM-TELCO’s flagship International Traffic Audit Platform (IAP)

London, UK, 7 October 2021: Armour Comms, the leading provider of secure communications solutions, has announced a new partnership with GEM-TELCO, specialists in telecommunications projects globally. GEM-TELCO is using Armour Mobile within the organisation to secure its internal communications and sensitive business information on projects with its executive management team and its global agents. Having used Armour Mobile successfully within the business, GEM-TELCO has now incorporated the solution within its flagship service International Traffic Audit Platform (IAP), which offers a telecom data and voice traffic monitoring system for governments and regulators.

GEM-TELCO selected Armour Mobile for its true end-to-end encryption capability, certified by NATO and for its ability to be installed on a user’s existing phone, removing the need for a special encrypted device. Armour Mobile’s user interface is easy to use for texts, voice, video and conference calls, encouraging user adoption. The solution can be hosted on local premises, providing a closed community that offers complete control of all activity, data and calls.

João Inácio, Chief Technical Officer at GEM-TELCO commented; “Armour Mobile provides us with an excellent secure communications solution that is device agnostic, easy to use and to manage. We work with many government clients offering our secure communications monitoring service and datacentres, all within one managed platform. Armour Mobile provides an extra layer of confidence in both our own internal operations and our service offerings to ensure that sensitive information exchanges have additional security to protect against external threats.”

GEM-TELCO’s IAP is a telecommunication transit platform, a single point of audit, that collects all international voice, data and signalling traffic combined and is equipped with a switching, billing, auditing and controlling platform. It covers all international telecom services via satellite, cable and/or optic fibre.

The IAP platform detects and provides statistics for both TDM and/or digital telecommunication services as well as international electronic exchange traffic. The platform also has the ability to provide all the necessary information regarding the country’s intelligence services for cyber security.

Dave Holman, Director at Armour Comms said; “This new partnership with GEM-TELCO aligns our complementary secure communications solutions for customers whose sensitive information needs to be protected. Armour Mobile provides transparent communication within a secure, private environment, while GEM-TELCO’s platform monitors and manages sensitive traffic and audit information for governments and telecommunications regulators at the highest levels. By offering Armour Mobile as part of its technology platform, and using it themselves for internal communications, GEM-TELCO ensures that it offers a secure and robust framework for all customer communications.”

For more information on Armour Mobile, please visit: www.armourcomms.com

New collaboration brings secure communications to enterprises to seamlessly support remote working with enhanced user experience

 

London, 30 September 2021: Armour Comms, the leading provider of specialist, secure communications solutions, has announced a partnership with Samsung Electronics and Targus to enable enterprises to harness the power of smartphones for extended business use. The combined offering will provide enterprises with a solution to support secure home working, on enterprise-level Samsung Galaxy Android smartphones, utilising the power of Armour Mobile and a Targus DeX USB-C phone dock – as an alternative to laptops. Designed with the end-user in mind employees will be able work remotely with a desktop feel, with Armour Mobile providing fully integrated secure communications for voice, video, messaging, conferencing and associated data files.

The Targus DeX USB-C phone dock allows users to power their phone and connect to an external HDMI display, peripherals such as mice and keyboards, an ethernet cable and an SD card, and work on their Galaxy smartphone as though on a laptop. Armour Mobile provides secure handling of mobile communications ensuring that business information within the app is kept securely, and data privacy regulations such as GDPR are maintained.

David Holman, Director, Armour said, “The last year has seen a seismic shift in how and where employees work. As organisations plan what the working environment of the future will look like, Armour is committed to working with our partners such as Samsung and Targus to provide a flexible answer to enable employees and teams to collaborate securely, how and where they want.”

Armour Mobile has been optimised to provide a seamless desktop-like user experience on Samsung DeX devices with the Targus USB-C phone dock. Armour Mobile delivers:

• secure communications with a ‘desktop’ feel via the Samsung smartphone removing the need for every employee to be issued with a corporate laptop
• sensitive business information held is protected wherever an employee needs to work
• data is controlled and protected ensuring GDPR compliance

 

A spokesperson from Samsung Electronics, said “The Samsung DeX platform enables people to use their smartphone as a computer, something which has become increasingly important during COVID-driven lockdowns. Our innovations are empowering people to work safely and have enabled organisations to keep vital business operations going wherever their employees have been working. Our collaboration with Armour and Targus brings another innovation to the market ensuring communications are secure and that solutions can be implemented quickly and simply.”

David Brown, Marketing Director, Targus, said, “Targus is global partner of the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Programme and has recently been appointed to support the Samsung Mobile ecosystem of devices as a Global Tier 1 Partner and DeX Accessory Partner. This new partnership with Armour Mobile and Samsung is the next step on this exciting journey as we continue to develop thoughtful products that enable people to work productively from any location.”