News
Kaspersky Lab enhances security for smartphones
June 2011 by Marc Jacob
The consumerisation of IT in business brings new security challenges. With over half (56 per cent) of IT managers now feeling under pressure to support personal mobile devices in the workplace, Kaspersky Lab has updated its Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Smartphone to protect even more mobile devices from loss, theft, unauthorised access and mobile malware.
The new Maintenance Pack introduces support for the Android platform – now the world’s leading smartphone operating system and projected to own 50 per cent of the market by 2012 – as well as the latest versions of other mobile operating systems. The launch of this product update further strengthens Kaspersky Lab’s portfolio for the corporate business segment.
The growing use of smartphones in business reflects the steep rise in IT consumerisation over the past year. Traditionally, the devices that employees used most frequently were laptops and PCs, but the list now includes many brands of smartphones. According to IDC data, over 21 million smartphones were shipped in Western Europe in the first quarter of 2011 which is a 76 per cent year-on-year increase . 35.7 per cent of all smartphones shipped in this period were equipped with Android.
This increase in the number of people bringing a personal device into work means that both business-owned and consumer devices are now being used to access corporate data, and companies have a hard task on their hands to account for the vast range of devices chosen by employees.
As the uptake of mobile devices in the workplace increases, it is vital that IT departments protect the corporate and personal data that is being accessed. This is one of the most significant challenges for businesses as they need to strike a balance between the potential cost savings of the consumerisation of IT and securing this new endpoint frontline.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Smartphone has been developed to provide businesses with a powerful and reliable solution to protect mobile workers when devices are lost or stolen. The software provides various anti-theft functions allowing businesses to locate the device using GPS, remotely block and wipe data, and encrypt data. The solution also allows users to protect their devices from malicious programs, SMS spam and internet attacks.
This updated software from Kaspersky Lab is flexible and easy to deploy and provides businesses with full control over their mobile workforce, managing all platforms from one console, the Kaspersky Administration Kit. It also allows privacy protection for devices that are used in both a corporate and personal capacity, and has all the features of a traditional anti-virus program.
