As PDAs become increasingly powerful and the need to access and store larger amounts of data rises, so does the need to secure that data. When deploying mobile devices and granting users remote access to local network resources, be it email, an intranet site, file shares or specific line of business applications, the administrator needs to know that those devices are doing so securely, will automatically lock themselves if left unattended and can be remotely wiped if they are suspected of being lost or stolen.

In this article I shall look at the foremost products available today, in the author's opinion, as well as the features that should be considered when evaluating a device management solution. If you are interested in knowing more, or have any questions relating to any of the information in this article, call Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225.

RIM have released SP2 for BES 5 for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino flavours. Weighing in at 668MB (for Exchange) and 678MB (for Domino), the update is a complete copy of the BES software.

Both updates can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry web site - http://blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads

New features for Microsoft Exchange deployments include:

RIM have published two maintenance releases for the BES 5 software for download on the BlackBerry web site:

• BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5.0 Service Pack 1 Maintenance Release 3 for Microsoft Exchange
  
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5.0 Service Pack 1 Maintenance Release 2 for IBM Lotus Domino

The packages are available for download from http://www.blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads

These updates include bug fixes rather than any new functionality.

RIM have released Maintenance Release 2 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1 Service Pack 7, for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino versions.

The update, as well as release note, can be downloaded from http://www.blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads

This update includes bug fixes only rather than any new functionality.

The Google Apps Connector for BES is a free application that enables you to integrate a BES server with the Premier or Education Google Apps services, enabling push-based bi-directional synchronisation of Email, Contacts and Calendar data between your Google mailbox and a BlackBerry smartphone.

Features

• Push email delivery
• Read / delete synchronisation
• Folder / label synchronisation
• Global Address lookup
• Calendar synchronisation
• Contacts synchronisation
• Hosting support - support multiple Google Apps domains on a single BES

RIM have published two maintenance releases for the BES 5 software for download on the BlackBerry web site:

• BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5.0 Service Pack 1 Maintenance Release 2 for Microsoft Exchange
  
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5.0 Service Pack 1 Maintenance Release 1 for IBM Lotus Domino

The packages are available for download from http://www.blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads

These updates include bug fixes rather than any new functionality.

The BES Express 5.0.1 product includes the same BlackBerry Web Desktop feature included with the full BES product, enabling users to manage their own handhelds, backup and restore data as well as configure message filters.
So what? Whilst the BES Express product does enable client devices to enjoy push email and PIM data synchronisation functionality on a BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) tariff, unless you have the more expensive BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) tariff, it is not possible to activate devices wirelessly using the Enterprise Activation feature. (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...).

This means that whilst it isn't possible for users to be remotely activated against a BES Express deployment over the air if they are on the cheaper BIS tariff, they can activate their devices remotely via their web browser by connecting their BlackBerry device to their PC via the supplied USB cable.

Ensure that Exchange 2010 Update Rollup 1 is installed on the Exchange 2010 server. This package is available here - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=371add31-d7a0-4...

Create a domain user account called BesAdmin

On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.