There are many theories linked to the meaning behind the Apple® bitten apple logo. Amongst a myriad of hypotheses, which range from the abstract idea that it represents the consumption of knowledge to a historical parallel with Isaac Newton, the creator clarified that the real reason there is a bite in the apple is to avoid it being confused with any other stemmed, round fruits.
Though this mystery has now been solved, there is another question that arises when it comes to Apple® – how can Apple® Messages be captured by firms to meet compliance obligations?
Text messages are increasingly being used by individuals for business purposes. Employees use texts to quickly communicate with colleagues and clients, and as recordkeeping enforcement action from regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continue to illustrate, the risks that text messages pose to compliance look set to persist.
Where individuals are using Apple® Messages for business purposes, firms are therefore obliged to capture such communication to meet recordkeeping rules. However, until recently, methods to capture and retain Apple® Messages have eluded the compliance community. Considering that Apple® accounts for more than half of the mobile devices used in countries like the U.S. and U.K., and given that Apple® Messages are increasingly referenced in off-channel comms enforcement action, technological solutions are becoming a necessity.
A captured Apple® Message a day keeps the regulator away
In the absence of clear capture solutions for Apple® Messages, most firms have struggled to establish compliant solutions. In most cases, compliance teams have disabled Apple® Messages from corporate phones, or have implemented prohibitive policies banning employees from using the channel. Channel bans often prove unsuccessful, as seen in a 2023 fine issued by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
As well as being unsuccessful, bans induce a prohibitive approach that often makes instant wrongdoers of personnel who may be using more modern channels to simply communicate with clients and coworkers about normal business matters. This being so, firms would place themselves in a more favorable position by enabling popular communication platforms like Apple® Messages and capturing them accordingly. Thankfully, capture solutions do now exist.
Global Relay’s Data Insights for 2024 report reveals that, over the course of 2024, Apple® Message capture increased 1563%.
How does Global Relay capture Apple® Messages?
Global Relay is one such provider of communication capture solutions for Apple® Messages. Due to its restricted network, Global Relay retains communications by syncing with a user’s corporate Apple® ID to regularly obtain a complete thread of conversations. By capturing this information, firms can be sure that business conversations happening over bring-you-own-device (BYOD) or corporate devices are being captured, and undergo end-to-end encryption when being transmitted and stored in their archive.
In their entirety, Apple® Messages consist of the iMessage® secure messaging service and text messages, which are both captured by Global Relay’s Connector solution. Global Relay for Apple® Messages Connector is established in-house, and seamlessly links with a user’s corporate iCloud profile to synchronize messages with the Global Relay network. Upon retrieving these messages, Global Relay’s network processes this data and securely sends it to a firm’s archive.
Once a user permits Global Relay access to their iCloud by authorizing Global Relay for Apple® Messages archiving, that account is then integrated to the Connector network through an Apple® capture device. Once messaging data is in the network, a complete file of communications is then produced. This includes all details sent over iMessage®, such as emojis, gifs, and documents, as well as any edited or deleted messages.
Global Relay can connect to a user’s iCloud account independently from the device carrier, so users do not need to download any separate applications to ensure complete capture. Additionally, the Apple® Messages Connector can sync with devices in any location of the world as long as the device owner ensures their iMessage® communications are set to back up to the iCloud.
What are the challenges to capturing Apple® Messages?
A challenge that compliance teams face when handling Apple® Messages is the ability to access the Apple® restricted network to collect communications data. If vendors do not abide by Apple® permissions and install unauthorized software to impermissibly capture information, this poses a legal and compliance violation that will inevitably be shut down.
This being so, a solution that conforms to the Apple® native ecosystem means that all communications capture is in line with the company’s permissions. Global Relay utilizes the Apple® iOS system to act as a bridge between a user’s Apple® devices and our data network, and therefore, abides by Apple® policies.
As Apple® is often updating, it is necessary to keep pace with the latest iOS systems to effectively retain conversations and maintain compliance. To combat any issues that can arise if connection across devices disengages due to an update, Global Relay Connectors scrutinize areas that could be affected by faulty syncs and makes inquires to iCloud to confirm that complete records are consistently retained.
On top of this, solely relying on the Apple® iCloud storage system is often not comprehensive in meeting the recordkeeping standards outlined by financial regulators. Financial data is particularly sensitive, meaning that organizations are required to maintain the highest level of protection when storing any related information. If storage systems are not built with this security standard in mind, it could lead to lost data that violates regulatory guidelines.
Stay compliant with Global Relay’s Apple® Messages Connector
When managing Apple® capture to stay in line with native synchronization, adaptability and malleability are key components. Apple® has a detailed system for data access, and as such, firms must enlist the assistance of a third-party solution that can ensure it is working with these margins to transmit data end-to-end from the source to a firm’s archive.
As the industry evolves, staying ahead of the curve in enabling desired channels offers firms not only a compliance advantage, but a competitive boost by allowing personnel and clients to communicate in the way that works best for them. By employing an Apple® Messages data Connector, firms don’t need to worry about upsetting the compliance apple cart, as every aspect of data is securely capture and stored – ensuring compliance to the core.
Apple and iMessage are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
