Pharos Secure Release Mobile App Release Notes - September 2024

This release represents the latest version of the Pharos Secure Release Mobile App. 

SSO Support for the Secure Release Mobile App

The Pharos Secure Release mobile app now supports Single Sign-On (SSO). For sites using OpenID authentication, Print Scouts are no longer necessary for registering user’s mobile devices with Secure Release. This allows users to log in to the mobile app using their existing SSO credentials, providing a more convenient and secure experience.

However, for sites using Email Authentication or Active Directory, Print Scouts are still required to be installed on user workstations. Users will need to scan a QR code to sign in and register their mobile devices for Secure Release.

Key benefits

• Increased security: SSO improves mobile app security by centralizing login and access. Moreover, combining SSO with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) strengthens security. 
• Improved user experience: SSO simplifies the login process for users significantly reducing the time and effort required to log in to the Secure Release mobile app.

Important Notes: 

• This feature is available only for sites using OpenID authentication. If your site uses Email Authentication or Active Directory, use the QR Code method to register your mobile device.
• User accounts must already exist in the Pharos Cloud, whether through user registration, user import, or SCIM import.  
• Logging out of the mobile app will require users to re-register their device with Pharos Secure Release. 

SSO Workflow: Registering a Mobile Device for Secure Release

To use the Secure Release mobile app for releasing documents, users must first register their device. Here is the workflow for registering a mobile device for Secure Release using SSO, assuming the mobile app is already downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

1. The user opens the Secure Release mobile app and is prompted to enter their email address.
2. After entering their email address and clicking Sign In, the user is redirected to their organization’s login page.

After a successful authentication, the user will be redirected to the mobile app and should now have access to the app’s features and functions. 

Changes to the Mobile Device Registration Process using a QR Code

If your organization uses Email Authentication or Active Directory Authentication, you can use the existing QR Code registration. The old method of registering a mobile device via QR Code has been updated to include the "I have a QR Code" option on the user interface, replacing the Scan option in the older version as shown in the images below. 

Note: This workflow requires the installation of Print Scouts on users’ workstations.

Updated Mobile Submission

The Mobile Submission feature of the Secure Release mobile app has been updated to enhance security. App codes are now encoded (not in cleartext). Users will receive an email with their app code when it is initially created or reset.

Component Release Versions

Note: *This version is coming soon and is not yet available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store