Sophos simplifies cloud encryption

IT security and data protection company, Sophos, has announced the latest version of its data protection solution, SafeGuard Enterprise. It offers enterprise cloud encryption capabilities, an industry first according to the company, and protects critical data in public, private and hybrid cloud environments.

“Many of today’s businesses use cloud services to get to their files from anywhere and on any device. However, many companies feel that there is still considerable risk with cloud services and are hesitant to embrace these capabilities,” says Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.

According to the Ernst & Young Global Information Security Survey, 61 percent of respondents will be using or evaluating cloud services within the next year. This will be a mix of public, private and hybrid cloud environments. However, 52 percent of organisations said they haven’t implemented controls to mitigate data risk in the cloud.

SafeGuard Encryption for Cloud Storage automatically encrypts files uploaded to the cloud from any managed endpoint, reinforcing “protection everywhere” peace of mind. “This process requires little more than choosing a password, which allows secure file access from anywhere – thereby improving collaboration and increasing productivity,” says Myroff.

Data protection is about more than preventing sensitive files from being leaked by unauthorised users. IT staff, for example, typically have access to every file on the network. SafeGuard Encryption for File Share ensures that only privileged users have access to sensitive data. More importantly, SafeGuard ensures that all files remain encrypted regardless of whether they are copied or moved to another drive, network or device.

According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2011 to 2016, there will be approximately eight billion mobile devices by 2016, which will exceed the world’s population.

“As the roaming workforce increases, so does the need to access data on the go. However, sensitive data that is available via mobile devices is not always encrypted. Safeguard Enterprise changes that with seamless integration between the cloud and mobile devices,” Myroff says.

The Sophos Mobile Encryption App works in conjunction with SafeGuard Encryption for Cloud Storage, allowing users to encrypt their data. This data is then available via smart phones and tablets to authorised users irrespective of their location.

“Users are everywhere, and data protection needs to be everywhere too. SafeGuard Enterprise provides a new level of complete protection in a business world where it’s more important than ever to secure your data. Businesses can now use the cloud to store and share data without the inherent security risks, while accessing data on the go from any device or location,” Myroff adds.