Wednesday, 29 September 2004 12:08 EST

Connect Protect prevents malicious use of mobile computing devices to leak corporate data and introduce viruses

BeCrypt, the leading UK encryption security company, today announced the availability of Connect Protect, the first comprehensive security solution to give organisations protection against the threat of unauthorised connection of 'plug and play' devices to laptops and desktop computers therefore protecting key corporate data.

Connect Protect has been designed to protect organisations from the malicious use of USB connected devices including USB memory drive keys, mass storage drives, printers, music players such as the iPod and smart mobile phones. These mobile devices are increasingly being used to steal private or classified data from the corporate network or introduce harmful computer viruses onto the network.

According to research by BeCrypt also released today, the majority of UK companies have left themselves exposed to the growth in use of USB connected mobile devices, with most having no security policies in place or defined for controlling their use in the enterprise. Further information can be found in a management report on the study results at http://www.becrypt.com/management_report.cfm.

"Employers are starting to wake up to the need to police the use of USB enabled portable storage devices, but they are struggling to find a simple way to administer security policies," said Peter Jaco, chief executive officer of BeCrypt. "Connect Protect gives enterprises the power to enforce secure polices that will restrict the connection of non-approved devices to any corporate PC or laptop protecting the firms key data assets."

Simple to administer and with centralised auditing and management support, Connect Protect allows security administrators to control which devices can be connected to a protected machine. Used in conjunction with BeCrypt's full disk encryption product DISK ProtectTM the solution gives users full protection while either on the move or at their desk. Policies can be configured to allow connection of specific device USB enabled devices to a computer while restricting any non-approved devices.

The management interface of Connect Protect enables flexible security policies to be defined for user or machine groups, describing permissible and prohibited device types. These can range from portable storage devices and high capacity removable storage devices to conventional printer or imaging devices.

Analyst firm Gartner has warned of the risk of the iPod being used to download sensitive corporate data and there are several recent examples where enterprises have tried to issue a blanket ban on non-approved USB devices. Connect Protect can ensure that devices are not connected and used outside of the published company security policy.

Connect Protect be used as a standalone product with manually registered devices or it can exist within a centrally managed environment. When used with BeCrypt's DISK Protect for laptop and desktop full disk encryption, and PDA ProtectTM for access control and encryption of PDA devices, it provides a complete data security strategy for the enterprise.

About BeCrypt

BeCrypt Limited was formed in 2001 to meet the growing demand for high-level computer encryption products in the international government and corporate marketplace. The company is a leading provider of enterprise encryption and security products designed to fully protect all corporate data. BeCrypt products protect customers in a number of key UK government areas including: central and local government, the military and defence sector, law enforcement and transportation. The company also services the commercial sector with key customers in financial services, pharmaceutical, insurance and banking sectors.

BeCrypt's DISK Protect and PDA Protect products have been designed to meet stringent government security standards and have been approved by the UK Government's Information Assurance group, the Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG) within GCHQ. This approval ensures BeCrypt products have met the needs of Government level security policy and standards without compromising usability.

BeCrypt has won an award from the Department of Trade and Industry for innovative technology and has patents pending on a number of unique encryption technologies.

Further information at http://www.becrypt.com

For additional product information or For press queries please contact:
sales please contact:

BeCrypt Limited Rainier PR
Wyvols Court Alia Ilyas / Craig Brophy
Swallowfield
Berkshire RG7 1WY

Tel: +44 (0) 1189-880277 +44 (0) 20 7494 6570
Fax: +44 (0) 1189-880377