BlackBerry has launched WatchDox by BlackBerry Email Protector, a new product designed to give businesses greater control over file security. This is achieved by incorporating digital rights management (DRM) at the file level for emails, ensuring protection beyond the company’s firewall.

WatchDox by BlackBerry is a comprehensive file management platform that facilitates file syncing and sharing across multiple operating systems. By integrating DRM security into individual files, the solution reduces the risks of data breaches. This ensures content remains secure and manageable by IT, even after being downloaded or shared outside the organization. Users can conveniently access, synchronize, modify, share, and manage their files from any device. Additionally, it provides unified access to content stored in various locations such as SharePoint, file shares, cloud storage, and Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems.

Billy Ho, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Product and Value Added Solutions at BlackBerry, highlights the changing security needs in the age of cloud services. He emphasizes that WatchDox protects the modern, interconnected enterprise by providing a highly secure EFSS (Enterprise File Sync and Share) solution, along with enhanced integrations with platforms like Salesforce.com. The risk of data loss is minimized by encrypting and enforcing DRM protection at the file level, ensuring document security during viewing, editing, and annotation, regardless of their location.

Email Protector, powered by WatchDox, automatically applies DRM protection to email attachments routed through an organization’s email gateway. This is based on customizable policies that consider factors like the recipient or file type. Administrators have the flexibility to apply or exempt protection for specific file types, users, or entire domains. Furthermore, Email Protector securely stores attached files in an IT-controlled WatchDox repository, replacing the original attachment with a download link within the email. Integrating with email Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions, Email Protector strengthens file-level security by enforcing DLP policies. If sensitive business information is detected by the DLP system within an email, WatchDox automatically applies DRM security to the attachment before it leaves the organization’s network.

Salesforce, a widely used Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, often houses a significant amount of sensitive business data, including leads, contacts, sales opportunities, and other operational insights. WatchDox provides companies using Salesforce with robust storage, sharing, collaboration, and customizable document security features that can be accessed directly within Salesforce.com. By utilizing WatchDox for storing and sharing files linked to Salesforce records, organizations can implement policies to mitigate the risk of costly data leaks. Access controls are fully customizable, allowing for intuitive control, file expiry settings, and the ability to revoke access at any time.

Here are some additional updates for WatchDox by BlackBerry:

Edit documents in the browser

WatchDox for Web now integrates with Office Online, enabling secure document viewing, editing, and version control within a web browser, eliminating the need for downloads or software installations. Saved changes are automatically synced back to WatchDox and stored as a new version.

Upgrades to WatchDox for Microsoft Outlook

WatchDox enhances productivity by offering a centralized view of all sent and received files. Users can easily create, manage versions, protect, and share files up to 10 GB in size.

Custom application workspaces

Third-party developers can leverage a secure, private storage space that’s not accessible through the standard WatchDox interface. This, combined with an SDK and APIs, empowers web and application developers to integrate WatchDox’s robust security, mobility, sharing, and synchronization features directly into their custom applications.

New online viewer

Rebuilt using HTML5, the online viewer for WatchDox maintains the same level of security as its predecessor while offering a modernized user experience. Users can create, review, and share annotations, enabling seamless collaboration across various devices.

Role builder

WatchDox administrators can define customized permission profiles for specific user workflows, which are then readily available to end-users when sharing files.

Authentication enhancements

System administrators now have the flexibility to customize timeout periods for individual users, user groups, or applications. This allows for tailored security measures based on user roles and sensitivity of data.

WatchDox for Microsoft Windows, now with easy upload

Users on Windows 7, 8, and 10 can directly upload any file from internal or external storage to a WatchDox workspace or subfolder. This feature also supports resuming interrupted uploads, making it convenient for transferring large files.

Furthermore, WatchDox File Sync and Share integration will be available for Salesforce.com and Microsoft Office Online.

Interested?

WatchDox by BlackBerry Email Protector and WatchDox for Salesforce are available immediately, with the enhanced Outlook plugin launching in the coming weeks. WatchDox is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows PCs, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry 10 devices.