WinMagic SecureDoc for Mac End of Life (EOL) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are you discontinuing support for SecureDoc for Mac?
We are discontinuing our support for our SecureDoc for Mac product because of Apple’s very strict policies regarding what independent software vendors (ISVs) can do with the operating system.
We do a lot of work in the pre-boot environment to enable strong security, but it is becoming harder for us to continue to do this. Apple has requested that we not modify or work within the pre-boot environment and they will not support any development we do in this area. Apple has also requested that we leverage the management features that FileVault 2 allows us to control via our SecureDoc Enterprise Server (SES).
As a result, we’re recommending customers migrate to FileVault 2 especially now that it has become more robust and secure and we have implemented removable media container encryption support.
Additionally, FileVault 2 will reduce complexity for customers as they will be able to upgrade without issue as new versions of OS X are released.
What will WinMagic continue to support through the last 12 months of SecureDoc for Mac?
SecureDoc for Mac will continue to be supported for the next 12 months. However, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) will be the last major release supported by SecureDoc for Mac. WinMagic will introduce support for 10.8.5 and will make a best effort to support future updates (such as 10.8.6).
Will OS X Mavericks (10.9) be supported?
OS X Mavericks (10.9) will be supported via the SES FileVault 2 management solution in SecureDoc estimated to be available in mid November 2013. SecureDoc for Mac (standalone and enterprise managed via SES) will not be compatible with OS X Mavericks (10.9) and customers should migrate to SES managed FileVault 2 solution if they wish to upgrade to that version of OS X.
What solution should I use to encrypt my Mac OSX devices?
For standalone customers, we recommend that they use the native encryption within Mac OS X that is provided via FileVault 2.
For enterprise customers, we recommend that they migrate to our managed FileVault 2 solution that will maintain continued reporting and management of devices via SecureDoc Enterprise Server.
What if I have a current support plan that lasts longer than the current EOL date?
If you have a current support plan that runs past the EOL date of the SecureDoc version you are using, you will be supported throughout the life of that support plan to the best of our abilities. Once that current support plan expires, you will be required to upgrade your software to a currently supported version and purchase a new support plan if you wish to continue to receive technical support from WinMagic.
How much notification will you provide when a product version is reaching EOL?
As a product version reaches its EOL stage, we will provide 4 notifications leading up to its end of support:
- 12 month notification prior to end of support date
- 6 month notification prior to end of support date
- 3 month notification prior to end of support date
- 1 month notification prior to end of support date