DEVICESHIELD PROTECTS CORPORATE DATA AGAINST SECURITY THREATS FROM WITHIN

Layton Technology, a global developer of IT auditing and helpdesk software solutions, has announced the immediate availability of DeviceShield. It will enable organisations to protect themselves against the growing threat to corporate data that are presented by the increasing use of mobile storage devices such as USB memory sticks, music devices such as iPODs, PDAs, CDs and DVDs, external hard drives and even mobile phones.

These small, removable storage devices are an increasingly popular and convenient way to transport and store large volumes of data. Holding hundreds of gigabytes of information, they can bypass current firewalls and connect undetected to networked PCs via USB, infrared, firewire, serial ports and memory card slots. In use, they enable important and sensitive corporate data and intellectual property to be quickly and unobtrusively downloaded in seconds.

DeviceShield is an out of the box solution from Layton Technology that protects IT networks against threats from within an organisation which, according to Gartner, is where 80% of all IT related crime is committed. It provides comprehensive levels of management over the use of removable storage devices by controlling exactly who is authorised to connect which devices to their PCs, and therefore the corporate network, and which files can be downloaded to or uploaded from portable storage devices. Alerts are generated in the event of an unauthorised device being used.

According to Phil Davis, Vice President of Layton Technology: For the first time, organisations can manage ALL removable media devices and therefore control exactly what and how devices are accessing their corporate networks. DeviceShield will enable organisations to protect valuable corporate data, manage security and defend the business against malicious and unintentional security breaches.

DeviceShield has a simple to use interface, flexible security options and a unique file management system, which is deployed as a service across any network. It is managed centrally from a workstation or server and does not have to be individually loaded onto every PC or laptop.

Security policies set at company level, department, user group or individual user, determine what device each user or group has access to and how it can be used. Every user has unique security settings, which are applied on log in regardless of location. The policies also determine the individual files or file types that can be accessed including media files, executables, spreadsheets, databases, etc.

DeviceShield also protects against illegal software, malicious coding, destructive viruses, adware, spyware and other inappropriate and illegal content from being uploaded onto a network whether deliberate or accidental. It enables organisations to carry our regular audits to show who is using removable media and the type of devices being used. DeviceShield will track and maintain an audit trail of information of what devices and files that have been accessed. Any attempted misuse of removable media devices is highlighted giving management the ability to see who is trying to bypass the security policies.