November 2002

As concerns rumble on about the security of mobile data, a product said to do nothing less than revolutionise the way people use secure PDAs has been launched by Swedish-based Pointsec. The company says its Pointsec for Pocket PC 2.0 allows users "for the first time to enjoy automatic, real-time encryption of all data on their PDAs."

One of its key features is that unlike other security products for Pocket PC devices, the system only decrypts the information users need as they need it, optimising performance, security and battery life.

Pointsec for Pocket PC is designed to provide enforceable mandatory access control and full mobile data encryption using 128-bit key length encryption techniques. It allows central administration of remote PDAs, including variable lockout arrangements following failed user login. Specific support is provided for remote management via the XTNDConnect server from Extended Systems. Pointsec has also incorporated its PicturePIN and QuickPIN authentication as an alternative to traditional alphanumeric login passwords.

The system handles most typical peripheral data storage devices include MicroDrives, MultiMedia cards, Secure Digital cards, and Compact Flash cards. All data stored is encrypted automatically without user intervention.

 

The product is being pitched primarily at users of mainstream Pocket PC applications from Microsoft (Outlook, Pocket Word and so on), although it also has capabilities beyond these, and is aimed at any organisation storing sensitive, mission-critical data on handheld devices.