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Forrester says Apple’s iOS devices are ‘ready for the enterprise’, though RIM more secure

Forrester says Apple’s iOS devices are ‘ready for the enterprise’, though RIM more secure

The latest Forrester research data suggests Apple’s iOS devices are already secure enough for deployment by enterprise users, as businesses grow ever more intrigued at the possibilities of Apple’s mobile devices.

Forrester does note that Research In Motion’s BlackBerry platform remains the most secure mobile OS, noting however that iPhones and iPads now “satisfy the basic security needs of most enterprises,” according to Andrew Jaquith, senior analyst with Forrester.

Computerworld offers a list of seven key areas in which Apple now offers basic security, including such things as email encryption, passcode locks, remote wipe, auto-erase after a specified number of unlock attempts and signed user configuration profiles.

These attempts mean, “The decision to support the iPhone and iPad in your enterprise is an easy call,” wrote Jaquith.

“Your rank-and-file employees want it, and your executives have likely already made many special requests to your IT team.”

While the iPad is seeing increased use in the enterprise, Forrester also warns that employers need to ensure workers stick to agreed security protocols, though that’s good advice for users of any device.

“With the right policies and technical controls, you can operate Apple mobile devices at least as securely as the typical corporate laptop, without malware and with an insurance policy (remote wipe) against theft or loss,” the analyst said.

These considerations have certainly driven councillors at UK’s Leicester City Council, who intend spending £40,000 on iPads to replace councillor’s laptops, with a projected saving of £90,000 on printing costs.

The iPad, which sold in excess of 3 million units worldwide in just 80 days, is also begining to take a slice across the UK public sector, where organizations including the British Army and BBC are exploring ways to use the device.

[Thanks: http://www.9to5mac.com]

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