PDA Security : Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise [Paperback]

David Melnick (Author), Inc. Asynchrony Solutions (Author), Mark Dinman (Author), Alexander Muratov (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071424903 | ISBN-13: 978-0071424905 | Publication Date: July 25, 2003 | Edition: 1

Because of their small, portable nature, PDAs present a unique security dilemma. This is the essential reference for PSA technicians and IT professionals who need to understand and solve this challenge. Written by a security expert, the book explores PDA security issues and details what must be done to establish privacy in the hand-held medium. It: covers the vast variety of devices available, including Palm, PocketPC, and RIM devices; includes foreword by Rebecca Bace, internationally recognized intrusion detection and network security specialist; includes a case study guide - "PDA Defense - Palm's Choice for Enterprise"; explains why handheld security is largely about OS (Operating Systems); explores hacking problems; answers the questions - when does a handheld become an IT problem and what is a measured IT response?

Editorial Reviews

Review

By Tony Bradley

This book provides a wealth of information for network and security administrators struggling to address the security risks posed by PDA's within their networks. It stands out as pretty much the only book addressing the security concerns of these convenient and valuable tools. The book opens with a fairly comprehensive overview of PDA technology and the security features available. It then moves on to talk about other ways to secure the PDA such as encryption. Most importantly though, the book provides a wide range strategies and advice to help managers deploy and manage PDA's in their networks securely.

As the subtitle "Incorporating Handhelds Into The Enterprise" implies, the book is aimed at network and security administrators and not at the actual PDA users per se. The book serves as a great tool to help administrators begin to tackle the new security issues created by PDA's and to develop and implement structured policies to control PDA security in the enterprise.

PDA's are pretty much here to stay. I recommend that any network or security administrator with users using PDA's take a look at this book to get a grip on securing them. (NetSecurityAbout.com )

Most security managers wouldn't dream of leaving file servers or laptops filled with proprietary information unprotected. But the protection could be for naught if the same data is transferred to a personal digital assistant (PDA), which often is overlooked when security is considered. PDA Security: Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise trumpets the importance of PDA security and guides system administrators through protective measures.

When PDAs first appeared commercially, their capabilities were limited and their risks minimal. Today's PDAs have scores of megabytes of memory and well-developed networking capabilities, making them as important to protect as PCs and laptops.

PDA Security is valuable for corporate system administrators who need a PDA-protection architecture for their organizations. The book provides tactics on how to deploy, manage, and secure PDAs in the workplace.

Section one of the book offers a comprehensive introduction to PDA technology and security, with sections two and three exploring security mechanisms and strategies such as cryptography in greater detail. The book is not designed for end users; its information is far too technical for the casual PDA user. But administrators who must support and secure many PDAs will find a good resource here.

[Reviewer] Ben Rothke, CISSP (certified information systems security professional), is a New York City-based senior security consultant with ThruPoint, Inc. He is a member of ASIS International. (Security Management )

From the Inside Flap

LOCK IN PDA SECURITY:
* Let an IT security expert help you assess the PDA threat to your business
* Learn what you must do to lock out dangers -- password theft, viruses, electronic eavesdropping, mobile code and wireless vulnerabilities, data corruption, device loss and theft, and other risks
* Maximize and protect the value of increasingly capable personal digital assistants to your organization

DOWNSIZE PDA RISKS. SUPERSIZE PDA REWARDS.

PDAs have moved into the workplace. More than 25 million of them will soon be accessing company networks. Are you prepared? If you’re an information technology or business executive, the time is right to size up the unique security risks these small, portable devices pose. This essential primer for those deploying, managing or using PDAs in the workplace will help you understand and address the challenges presented by this emerging set of technologies. Written by respected IT security experts, PDA Security, shows you how to:
* Assess the level of threat posed by PDAs in your organization
* Develop a measured and enforceable policy response to minimize the risk
* Understand the technical issues and defend against the threats PDAs pose to privacy, theft of sensitive information, system corruption, and other issues of network and data misuse
* Analyze secure solutions for all major handhelds -- Palm, PocketPC, and RIM
* Examine a case study on securing Palm for the work environment
* Learn why solutions almost always involve the operating system
* Discover what White-Hat Hacking reveals about vulnerabilities
* Find profitable ways to integrate PDAs into business plans and networks, while downsizing risks
* Get an insider’s preview of the future of handhelds -- the PCs of the early twenty-first century

With a Foreword by Rebecca Bace, internationally renowned intrusion-detection and network-security specialist and former member of the United States Department of Defense National Security Agency (NSA).

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (July 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071424903
• ISBN-13: 978-0071424905
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,498,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource For Securing PDA's and Mobile Devices, November 7, 2004

By 

Tony Bradley "s3kur3" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: PDA Security : Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise (Paperback)

This book provides a wealth of information for network and security administrators struggling to address the security risks posed by PDA's within their networks. It stands out as pretty much the only book addressing the security concerns of these convenient and valuable tools.

The book opens with a fairly comprehensive overview of PDA technology and the security features available. It then moves on to talk about other ways to secure the PDA such as encryption. Most importantly though, the book provides a wide range strategies and advice to help managers deploy and manage PDA's in their networks securely.

As the subtitle "Incorporating Handhelds Into The Enterprise" implies, the book is aimed at network and security administrators and not at the actual PDA users per se. The book serves as a great tool to help administrators begin to tackle the new security issues created by PDA's and to develop and implement structured policies to control PDA security in the enterprise.

PDA's are pretty much here to stay. I recommend that any network or security administrator with users using PDA's take a look at this book to get a grip on securing them.

(...)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good resources for the ins and outs of PDA security, February 2, 2004

By 

Ben Rothke "Author of 'Computer Security: 20 ... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PDA Security : Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise (Paperback)

Most security managers wouldn't dream of leaving file servers or laptops filled with proprietary information unprotected. But the protection could be for naught if the same data is transferred to a personal digital assistant (PDA), which often is overlooked when security is considered. PDA Security: Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise trumpets the importance of PDA security and guides system administrators through protective measures.

When PDAs first appeared commercially, their capabilities were limited and their risks minimal. Today's PDAs have scores of megabytes of memory and well-developed networking capabilities, making them as important to protect as PCs and laptops.

PDA Security is valuable for corporate system administrators who need a PDA-protection architecture for their organizations. The book provides tactics on how to deploy, manage, and secure PDAs in the workplace.

Section one of the book offers a comprehensive introduction to PDA technology and security, with sections two and three exploring security mechanisms and strategies such as cryptography in greater detail. The book is not designed for end users; its information is far too technical for the casual PDA user. But administrators who must support and secure many PDAs will find a good resource here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good book, September 3, 2003

By 

Eric Kent (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PDA Security : Incorporating Handhelds into the Enterprise (Paperback)

This is a good book about a forgotten subject: PDA Security.

People put loads on confidential information on their PDA's w/o thinking about security.

Hopefully, those types will read this book.