RIM launches first BES IT Policies for PlayBook

The CrackBerry team has been doing a great job with unveiling PlayBook features and getting started tips and tricks but the big question for the targeted business customers, specifically the militant IT departments, is what controls will be in place for the BES Admin?

The first IT policies have now been released by RIM for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server versions 4.0 & 5.0 and apply to Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes & Novell GroupWise.  Currently there are no release notes regarding the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express (BESX).  I'm sure that in time it will come, but the BESx is designed to be a scaled back version of the BES specifically in the area of IT policies.

This is very good news and not a moment too soon.  In my travels speaking with corporate customers over the last couple of weeks they seem to be holding a 'wait-and-see' attitude to the PlayBook because RIM has not been very forthcoming with their IT control plans.  Remember the PlayBook at launch will not have its own PIN therefore you can't put it on the BES out of the box.

Enable BlackBerry Bridge

This policy can be found under the BlackBerry Bridge category when configuring an IT Policy after the file below has been applied to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Description: Specify whether a BlackBerry device can run BlackBerry Bridge. If you set this rule to Yes, a user can run BlackBerry Bridge and use it to connect a companion device (for example, the BlackBerry PlayBook) to the BlackBerry device. If you set this rule to No, a user cannot run BlackBerry Bridge and cannot use it to connect a companion device to the BlackBerry device. If you do not set this rule, a default value of Yes will be used.

BlackBerry PlayBook Log Submission

This policy can be found under the Companion Devices category when configuring an IT Policy after the file below has been applied to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Description: Specify whether a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet can generate and send log files to the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center. The default value for this rule is Enable Logging. If you set this rule to Enable Logging, the tablet can generate and send log files to the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center. If you set this rule to Disable Logging, the tablet cannot generate and send log files to the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center.

Until there is a maintenance release or a service pack to the BES these IT policies will have to be applied to the BES manually.

Update the IT policy rule definition using BlackBerry Administration Service:

This procedure is appropriate for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.  Complete the following steps:

1. Download the ITPolicyPackPlayBook.zip file attachment and unzip it to a temporary folder on the local computer hosting the BlackBerry Manager.
2. Open BlackBerry Administration Service.
3. From the BlackBerry Solution Management panel, expand Policy.
4. Click Manage IT Policy Rules.
5. Click Import IT Policy Definitions.
6. Browse to the temporary folder where the ITPolicyPackPlayBook.zip file was unzipped.
7. Select the ITPolicyPackPlayBook.xml file.
8. Click Save.
9. When the import process is complete, the following message appears:
   The IT policy definitions have been updated.

The PlayBook launch on April 19th is going to be a very exciting day in the BlackBerry world and now that RIM is officially releasing BES specific information I'm hoping it spreads the anticipation throughout the CrackBerry Nation!

Full RIM KB article and download for manual IT policy

Source: BESAdmin