IT managers are getting twitchy about the Xmasgadgetsexpected to be brought into
work by employees.
Such devices can potentially spread viruses, crash networks and
cause data breaches.
Network security firm SafeBoot questioned 1,000 IT managers
about their attitudes to personal gadgets, such as MP3 players,
digital cameras and PDAs, and 46% are dreading the New Year as
these digital devices look set to cause IT havoc.
Although 56% of respondents
ban all non-authorised external devices from the network,
including USB sticks, most IT managers said the ban was often
ignored by employees.
SafeBoot offered the following tips to help protect the
corporate network from gadgets:
• Set out clear guidelines to staff on the use of mobile
devices, and ensure these are communicated effectively
• Use access control and encryption on all external and mobile
devices to prevent lost hardware turning into lost data
• Leaving security to employees is not sensible - they are not
security experts. Implement transparent security measures to
mitigate the "human factor"
• Ensure that device control software is deployed.
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