Trellia Networks: Making Mobility Safe

Company: Trellia Networks

Headquarters: Montreal

Technology Sector: Networking

Key Product: Trellia MPME

Year Founded: 2003

Number of Channel Partners: Eight in North America

Ideal Channel Partner: Enterprise-focused solution providers

Why You Should Care: With the number of mobile users on the rise, IT departments are facing massive headaches when it comes to managing security and costs for users on the go. Trellia MPME manages, automates and enforces mobile policy, regardless of what type of network users connect from.

The Lowdown: Trellia Networks has been making a splash in the carrier space for roughly half a decade. Now, the Canadian company is looking to broaden and deepen its channel focus by building out its stable of VARs and solution providers.

Trellia's MPME (Mobile Policy Management & Enforcement) software gives companies the ability to unleash their mobile workforces without fear that the network connection isn't secure.

The vendor's aim is to "dramatically cut the costs of deploying mobility to the enterprise and boost security with policy enforcement," said Rami Karam, Trellia's director of marketing.

As users access corporate assets through varying networks, more and more companies want to ensure those connections are secure, but also flexible. Trellia MPME lets IT departments manage, automate and enforce mobility policies based on a set of rules that can be applied to specific users, groups or networks.

Trellia MPME

For example, if a user wants to access Wi-Fi from the airport, but the 3G network is deemed more secure and less costly to use, Trellia MPME will establish that connection behind the scenes. If the 3G network isn't available, it will work down the list of available networks and find the safest, most cost-effective option. And if policy dictates that a VPN and antivirus software must be running when that user is connected to a wireless network, those systems will automatically launch.

For customers concerned about mobile security, Trellia's functionality helps them leverage networks they may have feared before and enables them to get the most out of their laptop investments, Karam said.

"Obviously, it's about getting users connected and allowing them to work easily without having to call IT," Karam said, adding that all policies are enforced without the user having to do anything.

For solution providers, Trellia's product opens the door to new services options around mobile management and policy enforcement, or the addition of a software license to the sale of a 3G wireless card or Wi-Fi-enabled laptop. Trellia currently supports most major laptop brands, including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Lenovo, as well as cards and chips from GSM/CDMA carriers and devices.

"It will enable VARs to sell more wireless and mobility products," Karam said.