McAfee detail Mobile device security approach

According to Andrea van der Westhuizen, McAfee Product Manager at AxizWorkgroup, IT security operations that were once smooth-running have recently come under intense pressure to adopt new technologies and fully support entirely new platforms, operating systems, and architectures.

McAfee Labs established that new malware targeting Android devices jumped 76 percent in the last quarter. “The need to secure mobile devices from attacks has never been more important,” says Van Der Westhuizen.  “Enterprise needs new technology and comprehensive security policies that will help them to address the challenge of securely incorporating these new mobile platforms into their environment.  I believe that the emerging mobile malware that we are seeing today is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Traditional endpoints relied mostly on email and web for application framework. Mobile has a whole new freedom in custom applications. But each new application – either public or private – introduces new threats and risks to corporate IT.  Today, challenges include the consumerisation of IT, mobile platform diversity that includes Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone to name a few in addition to an explosion of applications.

“We follow a three-pronged approach for protecting mobile devices, mobile data, and mobile applications.  It is designed to help businesses and consumers manage their devices securely, as the threat environment quickly evolves,” says Van Der Westhuizen.