Android, iPhones and iPads get new mobile security platform from Sophos

BANGALORE, INDIA: IT security and data protection firm, Sophos, today announced the availability of Sophos Mobile Control the company's extension to its data protection and endpoint security product lines.

A steady surge in smartphone adoption poses a new set of challenges for businesses as the workforce wants constant connectivity from their individual devices, going beyond what is company-issued. With this new offering, Sophos addresses a major pain-point for businesses by safeguarding data on a broad range of popular smartphone's and handheld devices, including Apple iPhones and iPads, Google Android, and Windows Mobile devices.

Sophos Mobile Control provides comprehensive mobile device management, enabling the ability to simply and quickly secure, monitor, and control the configuration of these devices connecting to the corporate network, allowing similar levels of control and protection with company laptops and desktops.

Closing the Security Gap by Extending Enterprise-Grade Security and Data Protection to Consumer Devices

Smartphone security is the leading concern among IT executives according to recent Forrester research. Of those IT executives polled, 75% said that they were either concerned or very concerned about the security risks associated with the adoption of these devices and up to 40 percent allow or support Windows Mobile, the iPhones, and Pads. Further, approximately 150 million people in the US will be using smartphone's by the middle of this year to perform social and personal functions, according to the Nielsen Company.

New mobile operating systems are being accepted at a rapid rate; for example IDC expects Android's Smartphone market share to increase from 16.3 percent to 24.6 percent between 2010 and 2014.

Companies are faced, at a rapid-fire rate, with an unprecedented challenge of allowing consumer devices that they may not own, to access company data, while still giving employees control and use of their devices. The very notion of what defines a company endpoint has become redefined. Sophos' mission is to provide businesses the most comprehensive threat and data protection and to do so while reducing complexity and burden to IT administrators and end users, and to do regardless of the device type or whether it is in or out of the network.

Sophos Mobile Control addresses the consumerization gap by extending device protection to a broad range of popular mobile platforms. Designed for IT administrators to simply and quickly secure, monitor, and control the configuration for Smartphone's running iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile operating systems, Sophos Mobile Control web-based console-

* Secures mobile devices by centrally configuring security settings, enabling lockdown of unwanted features and remote over-the-air lock or wipe if device is lost or stolen.
* Enables consistent security policy enforcement, strong password policy and lock period, control and installation of applications, blocking use of cameras, browsers, and the likes of YouTube.
* Eliminates administrative burden with a self-service portal that allows end users to register new devices and lock or wipe lost phones.
* Controls the access to corporate email via a secure gate allowing only properly secured and registered devices to access email.

Matthias Pankert, head of Data Protection Product Management at Sophos, said: "The definition of a company endpoint is shifting rapidly and security solutions must quickly adapt to provide companies and users the protection they need without causing undue burden on IT staff and users. The introduction of the Sophos Mobile Control is the foundation for providing device and data protection and security controls in the context they need it."

Sophos Mobile Control will be available starting April-June 2011.