The use of the Apple smartphone multiplies in the workplace. But the terminal is it well suited to the needs of SMEs, particularly in terms of data security?

The success of the iPhone is dazzling. Estimates of telephone operators, Apple sold in 2009, over 2 million handsets in France. Result: more and more executives and entrepreneurs are using this smartphone. But what about the security aspect? The data being effectively protected? The auditing firm Mazars has published a study in early February on the impact of the iPhone in the enterprise. And conclusions are mixed. First, thanks to its ergonomic interface, the Apple phone is often used for personal and professional. This causes “a likelihood of voluntary disclosure or not, [data],” says the firm.

In fact, e-mail, address books and calendars may find themselves embroiled in personal data, then saved or copied to the employee’s home computer. However, this terminal is rarely effective protection against computer intrusions.

Attention to “jailbreak”

Moreover, the risk of information leakage are increased by the same user behavior. It is possible to modify their iPhone to install applications not approved by Apple. This is called “jailbreak”.

This technique can be exploited by an attacker. Also according to the firm Mazars, a “jailbreak” contributes to “increase the risk of disclosure of information by the use of uncontrolled applications, and limit” the effectiveness of the locking system and protect the phone . The “jailbreak” also facilitates the spread of viruses and worms. Only solution: try to empower users. (more…)