Online security specialist Symantec and mobile security business Giesecke & Devrient have agreed a partnership that’ll see them working together on protected security applications for smartphones and tablets.
This collaboration centres on the Trusted Execution Environment: a secure area within the main processor of a mobile device. The TEE can be used for security software and for storing sensitive data but can only be accessed via Trusted Service Managers.
Symantec plans to update its mobile applications to take advantage of G&D’s Trusted Service Manager (TSM) and the TEE, increasing the level of security. Its first ultra-secure application will be a new version of the Symantec Validation and ID Protection Service two-factor authentication, which is currently used by businesses to protect online services.
Stephen Trilling, Symantec senior vice president and chief technology officer, said “This collaboration enables Symantec’s products and services to deliver critical security solutions leveraging highly secure hardware components in mobile devices. We’re pleased that Symantec’s VIP Service will be the first to utilize this secure store to deliver additional value to our customers who use our service to give their mobile users secure access to sensitive applications and data.”