BlackBerry Acquires WatchDox To Boost File Security

BlackBerry is to purchase enterprise file-sync-and-share (EFSS) security specialist Watchdox and will open a new security-focused research and development (R&D) centre in Israel.

WatchDox’s technology allows companies to secure and manage the dispersion of files. Admins can control how files are edited, copied or printed and can remotely revoke access or delete files. Management takes place in the cloud and files can be locked in the event of a data breach.

The company has customers in the government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, law and media and its technology will be built into BlackBerry’s enterprise mobile management (EMM) products, including BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) 12.

BlackBerry WatchDox acquisition

No financial terms have been disclosed, but BlackBerry John Chen says the takeover builds on recently announced partnerships and acquisitions that strengthen the security credentials of the BlackBerry platform.

“BlackBerry is constantly expanding the potential of data security so that it enables more collaboration and sharing rather than creating limitations,” he said. “This acquisition represents another key step forward as we transition BlackBerry into the premier platform for secure mobile communications software and applications, supporting all devices and operating systems.

“Together with last year’s Secusmart acquisition, Samsung partnership, our own internal development efforts, and now the acquisition of WatchDox, we now have capabilities to secure communications end-to-end from voice, text, messaging, data and now enterprise file-sync-and share.”

WatchDox’s Israel development centre will form the basis of a new BlackBerry R&D facility, which will focus on creating new technology to help businesses communicate and collaborate.

“The combination of BlackBerry’s security leadership and EMM portfolio with WatchDox technology will bring the most productive and collaborative mobility solution to organizations that need innovative ways to conduct business securely and efficiently,” said Moti Rafalin, WatchDox CEO and Founder.

BlackBerry has made a number of security announcements this week, including the formation of a new research centre and a new public key infrastructure (PKI) for the Internet of Things (IoT).

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