iAnywhere Solutions, the mobile products and solutions subsidiary of enterprise infrastructure software company Sybase, has introduced XcelleNet Afaria Security Manager.
The product enables the security and device management of Windows Smartphone, handheld devices, laptop computers, point-of-sale (POS) systems, remote desktops, and tablet PCs from a single console.
Windows mobile-based Smartphone deployments continue to grow as organisations seek to empower frontline employees with access to critical information, says Caroline Scofield, Sybase SA mobile product manager. Consolidation of critical business data and communication tools such as voice and e-mail represents a significant advantage for frontline workers, but unprotected mobile devices present a huge risk to the business if not correctly managed and secured.
"XcelleNet Afaria Security Manager protects frontline data stored on handheld devices without needing users to operate any security solutions," Scofield says. "With this solution, security policies are centrally defined, deployed and enforced on frontline devices, with users merely authenticating themselves with passwords."
XcelleNet Afaria's frontline security management capabilities enable IT administrators to proactively manage all the organisation's mobile devices, applications, data and communications. The product is scalable and operates from a Microsoft .NET-based console.
This latest release provides organisations with centrally managed, policy-based security capabilities that can be customised according to individual business requirements.
Using the same administrative console that delivers management capabilities, organisations can define, deploy and enforce security policies that control user authentication through enforced power-on passwords; data encryption on the device and on removable storage cards; and device and data lockdown and data wipe in the event of loss or theft.
Security and management policies can be targeted at user groups or groups of devices allowing appropriate levels of security to be set for different user populations where necessary.
"Smartphones can hold substantial amounts of critical and proprietary business data," Scofield says. "However, their small size makes them particularly susceptible to loss or theft. Organisations need to leverage the benefits of smartphones and mobile devices, but they also need to counter the threats they introduce."
Sybase acquired XcelleNet from investment company Francisco Partners in May 2004, integrating XcelleNet's product and solution suite into its mobile division, iAnywhere.
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Sybase SA is the sole African representative of Sybase Inc (USA), one of the largest global independent software companies, and has offices across the continent. Sybase's open architecture solutions provide the data management and mobility necessary to create the unwired enterprise.
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