News
Cryptshare 4.0: More convenience and security, less shadow IT
March 2018 by Marc Jacob
The success of smartphones has led to changes
in companies’ expectations of convenience. Smartphones have become the backbone of
daily communications for many users enabling them to do business on the go -but with
the unwanted side effect of serving as a cybercriminal gateway to enterprise
networks. The danger is more acute than you may think as smartphones are often
closely linked to solutions that we are familiar with from our personal lives. The
use of unauthorized software that is not in IT administrators’ control, also known
as "shadow IT", poses an even a greater risk for enterprises. That’s why data
protection on mobile devices must be high priority. German software provider Befine
Solutions has comprehensively reengineered its communication solution Cryptshare to
help solve this. It now seamlessly combines both security and ease-of-use on mobile
devices. The fundamental redesign of the web application user-interface is a great
enhancement which enables app-like use on mobile devices without having to install
any software or sign into an on-line store. This makes it easy for users to securely
exchange information while on the go. Version 4.0 the new version, is available now
and it includes a 64-bit upgrade enhancing product performance.
The focus was on ease-of-use for mobile devices during development. Users can now
send and receive confidential information including large files to or from their
smartphone: This means that an architect can conveniently send pictures from the
construction site to the office - enabling an improved workflow. A tax consultant
can receive a salary statement at short notice, a healthcare worker can send private
patient records to the hospital directly from a home visit. The Cryptshare Web
application can be used on smartphones with Android or iOS operating systems and it
adapts to the resolution of the respective end device; whether on a tablet, phablet,
notebook or desktop computer. Sending secure Emails on the go has become even
simpler and much faster.
Users simply place a Cryptshare icon in their app selection on their mobile device
and access the Web application using a standard browser. The newly designed user
interface can be navigated using a mouse or with a touch of a fingertip. The use of
symbols also ensures intuitive use without the need for training. Cryptshare version
4.0 offers the convenience of an app and it even looks and feels like an app - but
it isn’t. Neither the sender nor receiver need to install any software, which means
that the solution does not occupy any smartphone storage space, nor does the user
have to log into an online store to download software. In the end, this provides
more security. The second key aspect of the new version is that data is only
exchanged via the company’s server, avoiding third-party apps and unknown cloud
storage.
Large amounts of data that cannot be sent by e-mail can tempt employees into using
tools that they are familiar with from their personal lives - sensitive data tends
to be handled more carelessly on the go than from an office PC. The danger of
"shadow IT" can be reduced by using Cryptshare, in the office and now on the go.
Connect 4: Version 4.0 enables app-like use without installing additional software
A 64-bit upgrade of the Linux distribution is now available for Cryptshare
appliances. Accordingly, the 32-bit version will no longer be supported. The
advantage: Virtual appliances can be upscaled even further to provide far greater
capacity when needed. IT managers can allocate more memory and increase performance
as users demand it. In addition, the distribution upgrade can now be started using
the Cryptshare server administration interface. This is simpler and faster than the
previous method and there will be additional options for the operating system
administrator in future versions.
Other significant improvements to the new version include the "Web Application
Designer" (formerly known as the "UI-Designer"), which allows administrators to
create a User Interface design based on their own corporate design from within the
Cryptshare server admin interface. The web application is now based on
‘bootstrap’, which simplifies customization across all end point devices. If a
previously installed version of the Cryptshare Web application UI Designer is in use
it will automatically be converted to the new default version. A new design can be
created in two ways, the faster option where the admin selects two color values,
uploads the logo, a header image and a background image or a background colour and
perhaps additionally uploads graphic files and stores their own CSS. The second
option is to completely customize the web application to match the company’s
corporate design; In both cases whilst each may take a little time it creates a
strong image that this company really cares about security.
