Policy-based application management

#Aspects described herein generally relate to mobile computing devices. More specifically, aspects described herein relate to techniques for imposing control over managed applications executing on mobile computing devices.

#Some enterprises (e.g., corporations, partnerships, governments, academic institutions, other organizations, etc.) maintain enterprise computer networks that allow enterprise users, such as employees, access to enterprise resources, such as hardware and software applications for email, customer relationship management (CRM), document management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and the like, as well as other data controlled by the enterprise. Enterprises sometimes allow remote access, such as when enterprise users are not in the enterprise network. Also, some enterprises allow users to access the enterprise network via mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, PDAs (personal digital assistant), and the like. Enterprises typically deploy enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions to assist in the management and control of remote access to enterprise resources. EMM solutions have traditionally taken the approach of managing entire mobile devices through what are known as mobile device management (MDM) approaches. In preexisting EMM solutions, enterprises typically issue mobile devices to employees, which are intended exclusively for business use, and the enterprise maintains control over the mobile devices and all of its applications and data. A recent trend is to allow employees to use their own mobile device(s) for work purposes (a scenario known as BYOD—bring your own device). However, BYOD scenarios pose inherent security risks, because there is neither uniform nor universal control over each device.

#The following presents a simplified summary of various aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claims. The following summary merely presents some concepts in a simplified form as an introductory prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

#A more complete understanding of aspects described herein and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative computer system architecture that may be used in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

#FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative cloud-based system architecture that may be used in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

#In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings identified above and which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which aspects described herein may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope described herein. Various aspects are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various different ways.

#As a general introduction to the subject matter described in more detail below, aspects described herein are directed towards controlling remote access to resources at an enterprise computing system using managed mobile applications at mobile computing devices. An access manager may perform a validation process that determines whether a mobile application requesting access to enterprise resources has accurately identified itself and has not been subsequently altered after installation at the mobile computing device. In this way, the access manager may ensure the mobile application requesting access to the enterprise resource can be trusted and is not attempting to circumvent the security mechanisms used to protect those enterprise resources. As a result, individuals associated with the enterprise may advantageously utilize enterprise resources at their personal mobile devices.

#It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be given their broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. The use of the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “coupled,” “positioned,” “engaged” and similar terms, is meant to include both direct and indirect mounting, connecting, coupling, positioning and engaging.