Centennial offers portable data security solution

Companies need to know which devices are connecting to the network, and which files are transferred by which users

IT security company Centennial Software has released an application that provides managers with an audit trail of all corporate data copied between portable devices and the company network. 

The technology allows companies to see which devices, such as USB Flash drives, iPods, laptops and PDAs, are connecting to the network, and which files are transferred by which users.

Centennial's DeviceWall 4.5 is aimed at preventing internal security breaches, such as the recent high-profile data losses at the US Department of Veterans. 

"The majority of internal security breaches are accidental, borne out of ignorance rather than deliberate," Centennial chief executive Andy Burton told vnunet.com.

"But companies should not leave their staff in a position where they can make these mistakes, and should have procedures in place to prevent them."

The software allows companies to manage the proliferating number of portable devices which employees use to download company data for working on at home, while travelling or for meetings with external business partners.

DeviceWall 4.5 enables managers to register specific users and devices and grant them privileges, block unauthorised users and devices, audit the files which are transferred and enforce encryption of transferred files.

It also provides the ability to grant temporary access rights to selected users and devices, for example to cope with one-off requirements or to facilitate contractors working on a project over a set period of time.

Burton explained that the software is part of Centennial's IT governance strategy to help companies sensibly manage the way employees use the corporate network as much as to control applications and devices.

DeviceWall 4.5 provides greater protection than issuing unenforceable access policies which users routinely ignore, but without resorting to total lock-downs such as "blocking all USB ports with super-glue".

"It is vital that companies can balance the need for security without limiting legitimate business activity," said Burton.

Centennial warned against the risks of U3 USB devices last week.