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New Sybase feature fights unsecured email access

Sybase Inc. has launched new security functionality within its Information iAnywhere suite to protect corporate data from rogue mobile device access.

The new technology expands on the broad iAnywhere set of mobile security offerings by preventing unsecured mobile devices from receiving sensitive or confidential Microsoft Exchange email and personal information manager (PIM) data.

"It's really oriented at IT managers," said Joe Owen, vice president of engineering for frontline solutions at Sybase.

"It provides a way to link the security mechanism that Microsoft Exchange email has with the security mechanism that the Afaria product provides," he said.

The Information Anywhere suite is a secure, scalable mobile software portfolio of products such as Afaria, a mobile enterprise business intelligence software that features data encryption for Windows-based laptops.

Combined with new security features, the technology enables organizations to easily block email access from devices that might compromise enterprise security policies.

"What this product does is make sure the device encryption is in use and that the security policy is being actively managed," Mr. Owen said. "The result is that only devices that meet the enterprise's security policy are allowed to access its mobile email accounts."

This solution makes sure that only devices that adhere to an enterprise's IT policy can have access to sensitive information, such as corporate email or email-based workflow applications running on Microsoft Exchange.

"If you lose your device or a bad guy steals your device, they can't get your data," Mr. Owen said.

Sybase already offers data encryption and power on password services that enable only the intended person to access the mobile device. Microsoft Exchange protects email at the server via user authentication. But safety features take the offering one step further.

"This [new feature] brings those two things together to make sure they're working collaboratively," Mr. Owen said. "It makes sure that IT can enforce that security policy by making sure the device meets all requirements before it can access Exchange."

"With converging enterprise requirements for mobile email, messaging, security, device management and enterprise applications, iAnywhere is a way for enterprises that want to be compliant with the increasingly strict security policies aimed at preventing identity theft and accidental disclosure," he said.