Afaria

Sybase Afaria is an enterprise-grade mobile device management and mobile security product. It is used by companies that allow smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices to connect to the enterprise network in an attempt to simplify IT tasks associated with purchasing, deploying, securing and managing such devices.
Features
Management features
* Provides a centralized management portal
* Manages device configurations and set up, including settings for ActiveSynch, connections and synchronization
* Provides over-the-air software updates, including new application installations, software patches, decommissions and rollbacks
* Automates data delivery or data retrieval from devices
* Automates processes and distributes content
* Troubleshoots device malfunctions remotely
* Schedule backups that run without user involvement
* Monitors device status
* Promotes accurate hardware inventory
* Logs connection times and application use by device
Security features
* Enforces power-on password
* Encrypts data on device
* Updates signature files and antivirus
* Enables remote lock and/or remote wipe for lost or stolen devices
* Encrypts removable flash drives and SD cards
* Scans files in real-time
* Blacklist and whitelist filters for data and voice
* Automates logs and reports
Design features
Afaria uses a session-oriented approach when it communicates with mobile devices in the field. This allows it to circumvent issues related to intermittent connections caused by roaming devices that might lose their network connectivity during a data transmission in progress.
Afaria organizes its tasks into worklists and sendlists. These are called channels. When a client connects to the server (called a transmitter), the channels execute their tasks. Administrators manipulate the tasks in the channels using a graphical interface with a tree structure.
Usage
Afaria is appropriate for use in a wide array of corporate settings and vertical industries. It can be used to manage company-owned or employee-owned mobile devices and will keep the data separately managed, including wipe and kill functions.
Perhaps one of the most common business scenarios for use of mobile device management products such as Afaria is at companies that employ a fleet of mobile vehicles for tasks such as delivery, sales or service. However, due to the widespread adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices in the general population, there is pressure on employers of all types to support the use of employees' personal mobile devices in conjunction with corporate email and other applications. Organizations that do so benefit from the increased engagement and productivity of its workforce, as employees are able to more easily respond to work tasks during personal time or when they must be away from the office.
Mobile operators and service providers are other types of companies that frequently employ a mobile device management suite such as Afaria.
Criticism
In its April 2011 evaluation of Mobile Device Management vendors, Gartner issued the following "cautions" about Afaria:
*Afaria can be relatively expensive per user seat (twice that of competitors); but this is also true of other vendors with broad functional platforms. To use features such as e-mail encryption, buyers may need to invest in Mobile Office, in addition to Afaria.
*Feedback to Gartner indicates that buyers find the installation of Afaria to be complex. Companies planning a new/first purchase must plan for a learning curve.
*The Afaria UI has been on the market for some time and needs an update.
However, in its 2011 forecast for the worldwide mobile device management marketplace, IDC noted Afaria's data containment capabilities, calling it a "heavyweight approach."

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