MDX encryption end of life is fast approaching, and all devices must move to platform encryption before September 1. Citrix mobile productivity apps will start enforcing platform encryption with the July 2020 app versions (i.e. 20.7.x). You’ll need to have tested and planned for migration off MDX encryption by July 2020 using our encryption management feature, which we’ll get into below.
Back in October we announced a new Mobile Application Management (MAM) SDK to replace areas of MDX functionality that aren’t covered by iOS or Android platforms. This new SDK will enable app developers to use cross-platform development frameworks like Xamarin.Forms and Cordova, as well as native languages like Objective-C/Swift and Java, to integrate their apps with the MAM SDK.
So What’s New?
The SDK’s design is inspired by the new platform MAM features coming to the mobile landscape such as Android Enterprise and iOS User Enrollment and provides customers with freedom of choice.
We want to fill the gaps where the platform cannot. In instances where there isn’t comparable functionality in the platform, the MAM SDK will offer additional options for your corporate applications, delivering with MAM the level of security you’re already used to with Citrix Endpoint Management.
The MAM SDK was developed with a simplified modular approach. Corporate apps can be paired with the library of choice listed below. This gives customers freedom to choose what’s needed for their corporate applications.
What’s Changing? Encryption.
iOS and Android each have their own device-level encryption, providing users with strong protection of their data. We recommend this for our customers. For more information about device encryption, refer to Apple’s and Google’s security guides.
To help customers transition to platform encryption, we released the encryption management feature. The MDX policy will enable customers to transition to the platform-based encryption and add new compliance checking before every app launch.
Check out our demo video:
As the video shows, if the compliance checks are good, the app is allowed to run and will be protected by platform encryption, allowing for better performance, greater stability, and enhanced battery life without the need to double encrypt.
Applications that move to platform encryption can be transitioned without requiring a reinstall. This option is available for Secure Mail and Secure Web as of version 19.10.0 and MDX Toolkit (for third-party apps) as of version 19.6.5.
What Should I Do?
With end of life coming for the MDX wrapping technology, moving to MAM SDK should be top of mind for your enterprise applications. To continue managing your enterprise applications, you must incorporate the MAM SDK using the libraries and language of your choice.
We expect to release the beta versions of the MAM SDKs beta during Q2 for iOS and Android. We recommend that organizations and developers start trying them as soon as possible to ensure the best migration experience.
For more information about platform releases please check the release table below, and to learn more about EOM/EOL, go to https://www.citrix.com/support/product-lifecycle/.
With the release of the new MAM SDK, we’ll provide developers code samples, test apps, documentation, help forums, and more to ensure a successful transition. Our own Citrix mobile productivity apps will also leverage the same SDK so all your Citrix MAM-managed apps will have the same experience.
Flexibility for Citrix Productivity Apps
Until legacy MDX is retired, both options (MDX Toolkit and MAM SDK) will coexist in Citrix apps like Secure Mail and Secure Web. Admins will be able to choose which policies to use for mobile productivity apps in Citrix Endpoint Management. This will give admins the chance to move to our MAM SDK policies at their own pace.
And one last thing! Our MAM SDK Public Tech Preview is available now for iOS and Android! Click here to download and get started integrating them into your apps. The download will include documentation and SDKs for the following platforms.
iOS
- MAM SDK for Objective C and Swift
Android
- MAM SDK for Java
- MAM SDK for Cordova
- MAM SDK for Xamarin
Got questions, issues to report, or feedback? Contact our engineering team!
