IT security and control firm Sophos has announced that the application control feature of Sophos Endpoint Security and Control has been extended to give businesses the option to block remote connection tools, such as RealVNC and Radmin, that enable employees to access remote-based PCs or laptops from any other computer via the Internet.
Remote connection tools represent a loophole in many businesses' computer usage policies. Enabling office-based staff to remotely access home computers while at work allows them to visit any Web site - including those that are banned by the company.
Similarly, connecting to work PCs from remote locations raises security concerns for IT departments, which cannot verify whether it is an employee who has connected to the network or if a hacker has taken over the machine and is trying to access confidential corporate data.
They also present a security risk as they allow the easy transfer of data or files between corporate and non-corporate computers and provide a backdoor for hackers to gain access to company resources. In a recent Sophos poll, 80% of systems administrators indicated they considered remote connection tools a threat to corporate security.
With some users installing illegal software or games on home PCs, administrators need to avoid unwanted applications finding their way onto the business network.
"While remote connection tools can make life easier for employees who need to work from the office, from home and on the road, their use can be a security risk for systems administrators," says Brett Myroff, CEO of master Sophos distributor, NetXactics.
"If home PCs aren't properly protected, they can help malware and hackers break into the corporate network."
More and more firms are also banning productivity-sapping sites like Facebook and eBay, but the use of these tools means that staff can easily circumnavigate corporate rules. "With Sophos' latest application control features, employees no longer call the tune, and systems administrators can recapture control of the corporate network," Myroff says.
Sophos' application control functionality has proven very popular since its launch in September 2006, and is regularly updated in order to meet concerns resulting from uncontrolled and unauthorised use of applications in the enterprise. It is fully integrated into Sophos Endpoint Security and Control, requiring no further roll-out of new software. It now gives companies the power to selectively block remote connection tools, games, VOIP, peer-to-peer (P2P), Instant Messaging (IM) and distributed computing applications. It is available free-of-charge to all customers.
To see a full list of remote connection tools now blocked by Sophos, please visit: www.sophos.com/security/analyses/index_st_controlled_application.html
To read more about Application Control: www.sophos.com/security/topic/application-control.html
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NetXactics is a South African-based company, focused on the provision of security solutions. It is the Master Distributor for UK-based Sophos, one of the leaders in the provision of anti-virus and anti-spam software for the corporate environment. For more information, visit NetXactics at www.netxactics.co.za.
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