May/June 2005

A new security system designed to prevent data being compromised through careless use of mobile devices has been launched by UK developer Centennial Software, and is being strongly supported in this country by its main UK distributor, Pillar Solutions.

DeviceWall is described as "an intelligent alternative to complete PC lockdown". It allows organisations to manage individual devices according to risk, yet the company says this can be done without disrupting business productivity.

It is said to be able to deal with a wide range of portable media,(including iPods, memory cards, PDAs and smartphones, preventing the transfer of information between corporate PCs and unauthorised devices.

"External security risks are well documented," says Centennial chief executive Andy Burton, "but firms must now consider internal threats, which are potentially even more damaging." He adds: "Deliberate or accidental, the damage caused by the misuse of removable media devices can be disastrous."

Enforcement of security policies is user-based, and flexibility is built in to manage one-off policy exceptions. DeviceWall can be managed and administered centrally to avoid manual intervention at the desktop. If a user does connect an unauthorised device, a customisable warning can be displayed to explain the problem to the user and alleviate helpdesk queries.

DeviceWall supports Windows NT4, Win2000 and Win2003 server/client, as well as Active Directory user groups. The company says it is the only solution to offer offline temporary access.