Document Security | Feature

A WatchDox Never Bolts: Document Security for a Mobile World

A new Saas application allows users to share documents among colleagues and partners, while also restricting their ability to copy, forward, or print them.

• By Toni Fuhrman
• 09/08/11

As mobile devices increase, so does concern about security. According to Global Industry Analysts, as reported by PRWeb, "the global market for mobile security is projected to reach $14.4 billion by 2017, primarily driven by rapid proliferation of feature phones and intelligent mobile computing devices."

WatchDox, which provides document control, tracking, and protection, hopes to snare a piece of that pie. Delivered as SaaS (software as a service), the application allows users to view files remotely via computer or mobile device, while also restricting both access to and use of protected files.

"With mobile devices, it's easier than ever to have documents leaked," said Adi Ruppin, vice president of business development and marketing for WatchDox, which is headquartered in Mountain View, CA. "Many existing solutions, which are mainly concerned with protecting documents within the confines of the enterprise, are not built for this new world."

Using cloud technology, WatchDox allows mobile users to easily view secure files in PDF or Microsoft Office formats. "On an Outlook system, for instance," said Ruppin, "a university can export information to our services, together with policies and permissions. Documents are accessible only to the group of people indicated. There is also an expiration date on the permissions--perhaps the end of the term. It also restricts those documents from being copied, printed, or forwarded. And it can wipe out documents remotely in the event relationships or permissions change."

And once uploaded to WatchDox, the documents are optimized for different devices. "We make sure it's 100 percent optimized for format," said Ruppin. "There's a 'wrapper' for each format. It's encrypted, and it can't be forwarded." In the next few months, according to Ruppin, the company will be also coming out with a way for users to annotate secured documents.

WatchDox recently announced support for BlackBerry smartphones, as well as a major update to its Apple iOS application that allows iPhone and iPad users to securely sync their online documents so they are up-to-date. The update also features passcode protection, as well as faster access to documents.

"The sweet spot for us is document protection," Ruppin concluded.