Vodafone: The security to go mobile

One of the main constraints to businesses exploiting the full potential of the latest mobile technology is the fear of security breaches. The idea of staff walking around with highly commercially sensitive data on smartphones or tablet devices that can easily be stolen or just left behind on trains or in cafes is enough to fill most IT managers and chief executives with very real dread.

And it's not as if these devices aren't in everyday use. According to recent research carried out by Vodafone Ireland 90 per cent of businesses are now using smartphones for work and 52 per cent are using tablets.

Very significantly, 75 per cent of small to medium businesses questioned say they plan within the next two years to invest in security solutions to address the need to keep company information secure.

"Everyone understands that security is a big issue from a desktop point of view and the need for virus protection and measures to prevent data being hacked and so on," says Jonathan Rutherford, head of enterprise marketing at Vodafone Ireland. "But with mobility there is an even greater need for security measures."

Debate has moved on
He believes that acceptance for mobile devices has now reached such a level that the debate has moved on from what they can do for a business to how they do it.

“People understand smartphones and tablets and it’s now about security and getting more out of them. Businesses have moved on from just using email on them to a point where you have healthcare professionals carrying around patient records and board members having really important business critical information on them. This is leading to increased security concerns.”

Vodafone Ireland is responding to these concerns with new tailored mobile device management packages to fit a business's specific security requirements. "Our aim with the new service is to allow smart devices for work to be protected and secure and to make it simple for businesses to manage an employee's remote access to company information and systems," says Rutherford.

Secure device manager
At the heart of the new service is the cloud-based secure device manager which allows a user to choose which functions they need and how they want to use them. "At the basic level a customer can choose lock and wipe for lost or stolen devices. If a device is lost or stolen they can notify us and we will lock it over the air preventing anyone else from using it. And if they don't find it within a pre-determined time period we will wipe all data from the device meaning that no one else can access it."

Customers can also use the service to find a lost device.

“The GPS locator service tracks the device and allows you to find it and retrieve it,” Rutherford explains. “There is also an application management service which allows businesses to restrict or allow access to selected mobile apps.

“This can prevent employees from inadvertently downloading malware or sharing data with untrustworthy parties. You can maintain black and white lists of apps which can be used or not. You can also use this service to control certain device functions such as the camera. For example, in some regulated industries photography is not allowed in the facilities so the cameras on phones and tablets can be disabled where this is an issue.”

And if that isn’t enough customers can also arrange for all data to be wiped from devices in particular circumstances. “For example, we have one customer with a real fear of having data hacked into on stolen or lost mobile devices.

“One of their concerns is someone taking the SIM out and replacing it with another so that they can get access to the data. They have been able to arrange with us for all data on the device to be wiped in the event that the SIM is replaced.”

For those concerned about the security of their email Vodafone is also offering Secure Email Gateway. This integrates with internal mail security systems and encrypts content sent from the device back to the company network.

Secure Content Locker is a solution that allows IT administrators to manage document distribution and mobile access to corporate documents through a web-based console while providing enterprise-grade security. “Access to documentation via mobile devices can be restricted or targeted to specified individuals or groups,” Rutherford points out.

"This provides much better individualised control of each employee's access. It also means that off-site employees can have real-time access to company information."

Changes to profile
The final element of the new suite is the Enterprise Integration Service. "This simplifies employee account administration by ensuring that staff have the same profile on mobile devices as they do when in the office – any changes to their profile in the office are updated on the mobile device automatically. This feature is particularly suitable for larger companies as employees have the same set-up no matter where they connect."

According to Rutherford it is the flexibility of the package makes it so attractive for small- and medium-sized businesses.

“Businesses want to ensure that data is secure and we now have a range of security solutions that can be built to fit different customer needs no matter what type of industry they work in.

“It is not a one-size- fits-all product, businesses can tailor it for their own needs and be confident that data on mobile devices is managed centrally and that shared information is protected.

“It also is a cost-effective solution as it requires minimal up-front investment, costs just a few euro per month per user, and is scalable to flex and grow as a business changes.”