* Users can back up messaging archives onto small USB flash memory devices
The vast majority of organizations back up their messaging servers once a day – but, more often than many IT managers might realize, individual users back up their own messaging and other data for a variety of reasons, including preserving records for self-protection or having access to messaging and other data while at home.
Facilitating these individual backups are the growing array of small USB flash memory devices of increasing capacity and shrinking price. For less than $100, one can download 256M bytes of e-mail, attachments and other data onto a device that clips onto a keychain or is built into a pen – plenty of room for one’s entire message store and then some.
While these devices are extremely useful, they pose two significant dangers to corporate messaging systems. First, there is the potential for large amounts of sensitive corporate data to leave the organization every day in someone’s pocket. This includes not only correspondence, but also attachments and all sorts of information. Second, employees who take work home can introduce viruses and other malware back into the corporate network from a home PC that is not as well defended as the typical enterprise PC.
To address these concerns, GFI has introduced its LANguard Portable Storage Control device. This tool consists of a small agent that can be remotely loaded onto users’ PCs.
The agent communicates with the corporate directory to access permission information related to removable storage. An administrator can grant or deny access to removable storage devices that are connected to a particular user’s PC, thereby preventing data from being uploaded or downloaded onto USB devices or other storage. GFI is offering a freeware version of this tool for up to five PCs.
GFI’s new tool plugs an important security hole that exists in many networks, making messaging data and other content just a bit more secure.
