Blackberry hits out at Samsung's Android security tech

Blackberry has reiterated its enterprise security credentials, in the wake of Samsung's announcement about its Knox software.

As reported by IT Pro earlier today, the Knox software has been developed by the National Security Agency, and provides users with a more secure version of the Android operating system, which can be used to separate business and personal information on smartphones.

Smartphone maker Blackberry offers similar functionality via its Balance system, which made its debut on the firm's Z10 device.

In a statement sent to IT Pro, Blackberry dismissed attempts by Samsung and its competitors to win over the enterprise by talking up their security features.

"[It's] not surprising that competitors are scrambling to get into the enterprise, but whatever they announce, one thing won't change: the most secure mobile computing solution is a Blackberry device running on a Blackberry platform," said a Blackberry spokesperson.

"Security is deeply embedded into the core of the BlackBerry 10 operating system. Only BlackBerry Balance can effectively keep sensitive corporate information secure while keeping an individual's personal information private."

As proof, the company said that over 3,500 North American enterprises and government agencies are in the process of evaluating BlackBerry 10, which it claims is more than double the number that were a month ago.

Blackberry's attempts to flag the supposed shortcomings of its rivals in the security space is hardly surprising, given that the delay in the launch of its Blackberry 10 handsets is thought to have resulted in the firm's devices falling out of favour with several government organisations.

Caroline Donnelly is the news and analysis editor of IT Pro and its sister site Cloud Pro, and covers general news, as well as the storage, security, public sector, cloud and Microsoft beats. Caroline has been a member of the IT Pro/Cloud Pro team since March 2012, and has previously worked as a reporter at several B2B publications, including UK channel magazine CRN, and as features writer for local weekly newspaper, The Slough and Windsor Observer. She studied Medical Biochemistry at the University of Leicester and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism at PMA Training in 2006.