Road warriors get new security shield - News - Security

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Road warriors get new security shield

By Madeline Bennett, IT Week
October 16, 2001
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Road-warriors-get-new-security-shield/0,130061744,120261179,00.htm

IBM last week launched a wireless security software and services package aimed at firms looking to transfer corporate data from wired networks to mobile devices.

The package extends the functions of Tivoli Risk Manager so it can now monitor wireless networks for security weaknesses and signs of attack. It also monitors firewalls, servers and intrusion-detection systems. All information is sent to a single point for administrators to view.

IBM has also included secure-access management software for mobile transactions in the latest version of its Tivoli Policy Director. This will support single-sign on and authorisation for mobile transactions and applications accessed through WAP and I-mode devices.

The company has extended its security and privacy services operations to analyze risks and business issues in the wireless arena. IBM security and privacy specialists will design, implement and manage secure wireless environments to protect organisations and their customers from threats and attacks, the company said.

The offerings aim to increase confidence in the security of wireless connections. Daniel Keely, an IBM security consultant, said, "There are several weaknesses inherent in these technologies, and additional security controls and initiatives need to be taken to encourage firms to invest in this area."

But Graham Titterington, a senior analyst at research firm Ovum, said security concerns were not the main barrier to remote working. He said connectivity issues and broadband availability are bigger concerns, but security will become significant in the near future.

One area that will become increasingly important is mobile antivirus technology, said Ian Williams, e-security analyst at research firm Datamonitor. He said firms will become wary of employees synchronizing their PDAs with their PCs and "accidentally uploading viruses that lie dormant on the PDA and only reveal their true self when uploaded onto the corporate network".