Will the iPhone be IT's Achilles Heel?

Apple's iPhone wasn't intended to be an enterprise device, but there is no doubt that employees will start bringing WiFi-enabled smartphones into the corporate setting, using them for work-related pursuits. This has the potential of putting the iPhone squarely in the middle of the dilemma that CIOs face today--how to keep their networks and data secure with so many wireless devices infiltrating the organization. Because smartphones provide many of the same functions of a PC, they are a significant security threat to the enterprise. The iPhone ups the ante, because employees will want to connect these phones directly to the corporate network. Instead of implementing a ban, which has little chance of success, it makes more sense to buy more company-provided smartphones to make it easier to manage and secure the wireless devices. Another option is providing limited network access for some or all employee-provided devices while using "best efforts" to provide network and device support. Most IT organizations will likely do both. But no matter how much you try, it's impossible to control and manage every device connecting to the corporate network. It's also critical to tighten network control by automating the configuration and audit processes with a sophisticated network management tool. Other important steps include maintaining device visibility and making sure that your device inventory is accurate.

Read more about smartphones in the enterprise:
- read the article at MacNewsWorld

ALSO:
- read this on choosing the right device for mobile workers
- this on how wireless connectivity can breed wireless insecurity
- this on managing the chaos of mobility
- this on protecting Bluetooth-enabled devices
- and this on protecting remote devices with remote filtering