KPMG plugs into Bluesocket for security

Management consultancy KPMG Consulting has secured its wireless Lan (WLan) using Bluesocket's WG-1000 wireless gateway in reaction to WLan vunerability fears.

Recent reports of the growing trend of 'drive-by hacking', where hackers using a laptop, Wi-Fi card and sniffer technology can gain virtually anonymous access to wireless networks, have increased concerns over the security of wireless networks.

Simon Thomason, chief technical architect at KPMG, said that security is a concern for many companies, and ensuring that people are not eavesdropping in your link is a key issue facing wireless rollouts.

Martin Cassidy, VP marketing at Bluesocket, said: "We have taken the accepted VPN technology and added mobility and bandwidth management features because you need all these things to make wireless work."

The product gives mobile devices a VPN-style link to the gateway with authentication built in at that point.

"IT departments are holding back adoption of wireless because of security fears. This product offers unhackable security with mobility and bandwidth management as well," said Cassidy.

KPMG tested the product as part of a pilot for its clients, and it said that during testing the WG-1000 demonstrated important elements of security and management.

"Some of our clients have workforces that are constantly on the move between locations. Wireless networking allows access to data wherever people are," said Thomason.

Following the tests, the consultancy firm decided to install three devices of its own at its test centre. The management team can now access business-critical information from mobile devices anywhere in the offices.