Warning issued over mobile working risks

A letter to the editor:

Dear editor,

Mobile working might well be the key to driving down costs, improving access to information and, perhaps, dealing with the threat of a flu pandemic. However, as organizations increasingly deliver a raft of new mobile applications, such as laptops, PDA devices, Blackberries and iPhones, serious security loopholes are opening up.

Whilst it is critically important to provide remote access to information, it is also essential that all sensitive financial and individual data is safeguarded. Failure to extend real time monitoring to the key systems and applications these remote devices are accessing and to ensure that workers operate within the corporate policy, represents a serious loss of centralised control.

Without the ability to undertake constant real-time monitoring - irrespective of employee location or infrastructure design - organisations cannot cost effectively deliver the flexibility required within a secure and stable environment.

The result is an IT infrastructure at serious risk of security loopholes and non compliance. Organizations may be delivering greater productivity and meeting objectives for flexible working and improved access to information at the edge of the network, but they are risking the financial loss, reputation damage and potential public outcry associated with key data being accessed – intentionally or inadvertently – by the wrong people.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Heather
General Manager, EMEA
Tripwire
www.tripwire.com

•Date: 25th Nov 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: ISM news
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