PDA Defense Enterprise released

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?xid=36975&amp;PN=1&amp;SP=10023&amp;V1=378087&amp;DSP=&amp;CUR=840&amp;PGRP=0&amp;CACHE_ID=0">http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?xid=36975&amp;PN=1&amp;SP=10023&amp;V1=378087&amp;DSP=&amp;CUR=840&amp;PGRP=0&amp;CACHE_ID=0</a><br /><br />The security software PDA Defense was recently released and is now available for evaluation. Features include: MD5 hash password, select bit-wipe, Card encryption support, Enterprise-wide policy settings.<br /><br />"PDA Defense Enterprise utilizes a feature set to completely lock-down handheld devices. Administrators can mandate password control including minimum length, alpha and numeric characters, and forced time-based password changes. Once PDA Defense Enterprise is installed on a device, users cannot disable the password protection without intervention by an administrator. In addition, PDA Defense Enterprise provides a comprehensive system of security and usability features including strong encryption, "brute-force" countermeasures, and hardware button password entry options. Administrators may make specific features mandatory or set them as user options."<br /><br />I have posted a number of times about security software, and have spent quite some time learning about and even using a few security applications. PDA Defense Enterprise certainly looks quite potent. I wonder though, given the context... what's a Palm doing on a Pocket PC package!?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/pdadefence_01.jpg" />

[pt]

so i'm not that smart...how does this compare / better than the built in security with pocket pc 2002 security?

cheers,
pt

[Andy Sjostrom]

Here's a list of features that improve the builit in security features in Pocket PC 2002:

http://www.pdadefense.com/features.asp

Some highlights relevant to the Pocket PC version:

"128-bit or 512-bit Blowfish encryption protects any information stored on a device."
"PDA Defense prevents "brute force" attacks by limiting the number of attempts to unlock the device. When the user exceeds the maximum number of attempts, PDA Defense's "Bomb" feature bit-wipes all RAM databases without a user prompt. Of course, the user can restore the data from his or her PC if the device is recovered or replaced with a new unit. On the Pocket PC version, any password information is also wiped."

But in my opinion packages like this add a critical aspect to security: central administration. By making absolutetly sure that Pocket PCs connected to central infrastructure is protected at a defined level, IT departments need not worry about users turning off the non-mandatory built-in Pocket PC 2002 features. So PDA Defense adds:

"Administrator can set individual policies for users."
"Administrator can set both default and mandatory policy settings for the enterprise."
"Administrator can specify password minimum length, whether or not it requires both letters and digits, and intervals in which the password much be changed."

... and pt! If you are not smart, then I am not a Swede. Duh! :lol:

[peterawest]

Having a picture of a Palm OS device on the box doesn't build my confidence that they are really serious about supporting the Pocket PC.

[Jeff Rutledge]

Having a picture of a Palm OS device on the box doesn't build my confidence that they are really serious about supporting the Pocket PC.

My thoughts exactly. Still, the idea is great. Much needed in the Enterprise. We've implemented something similar for the Blackberry devices on our network.