Sybase adds policy security to mobile suite

Sybase subsidiary, iAnywhere, has upgraded the security on its Information Anywhere mobile management platform to block rogue mobile devices remotely tapping into email or other business applications.

'Rogue' in this context means any one of a range of mobile devices that might have gained access to the target applications, including unauthorized devices used by employees. A simpler application would be to refuse access to devices that were not properly secured in other ways, such as not meeting corporate security policies.

So devices can be allowed email synchronization by the Security Manager software based upon a whitelist, denied using the same absolute principle, or any simply queried according to security policy.

The platform as whole - which used to be a stand-alone application called Afaria - supports Exchange and Lotus Notes Domino, though the new feature is Exchange server-only across a range of client devices such as Windows Mobile, RIM's Blackberry, Palm, Symbian, or ordinary laptops.

"IT managers are faced with the daunting task of securing the influx of multiple types of mobile devices that may be obtained outside of corporate purchasing and provisioning processes," said Symbian iAnywhere's Joe Owen.

"Now organizations can take advantage of Information Anywhere to easily block email access from devices that might compromise enterprise security policies," he said.

Security parameters set by the suite include enforcing encryption on client data, password management, enforcing anti-virus policies, or wiping data from lost devices.

Sybase announced the iAnywhere suite a year ago after uniting the Afaria and Onebridge applications.