Aussie spooks give BlackBerry PlayBook thumbs up
- 01 August, 2011 16:06
- Comments 2
RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook tablet
The Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) has certified the BlackBerry PlayBook for use by the government. The DSD stamp of approval now means government agencies can use the device for accessing data classified as 'protected' or 'restricted.'
The DSD is the Australian intelligence agency tasked with information security and foreign signals intelligence (SIGINT).
The assessment process covered secure communication with BlackBerry smartphones and handling of classified data.
The DSD's cyber and information security consumer guide for the PlayBook states that the agency "was able to confirm the implementation of encryption for data in transit and data at rest.
It was noted that data transmitted between a BlackBerry PlayBook and a BlackBerry device is encrypted using AES."
The DSD also assessed the security of the tablet's 'BlackBerry Bridge' apps, including its email client, calendar, browser, notepad and task list.
RIM's BlackBerry Bridge apps allow the PlayBook to access information on a BlackBerry handset using Bluetooth.
Last month the DSD released a hardening guide for the iOS operating system used by Apple's iPad and iPhone.
That guide states that "At this time, DSD does not recommend iOS for use at the PROTECTED/RESTRICTED level. This guide is intended for use at UNCLASSIFIED and UNCLASSIFIED INCONFIDENCE."
The DSD is working with Apple to evaluate iOS, with the evaluation expected to be completed by September 2011.
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Comments
Dean
This goes againt the BYOD devices strategy which some CIOs have adopted. BYOD is fraught with all kinds of risks and security holes.
I firmly believe that enterpise gradde devices are strating to find their place in the market. Devices such as Cius, Avaya Falre and others to follow will fill the growing need for CIOs to provide devices specific to thier environment and existing UC investments.
John
Dean, they won't have BYOD in a government agency using Restricted or Classified or higher, so not sure why you mention this?
Blackberry is one of the only handsets allowed to transmit email currently. So it makes sense the use of Blackberry's security passed onto the Playbook will let the DSD approve it. No doubt though they failed to mention certain requirements, such as disabling cameras, web browsers, which may be passed on if similar restraints are passed on from Blackberry to the Playbook.
I know this as I personally set up up the infrastructure in some Top Secret agencies where multiple firewalls between BES and Exchange had to exist between ext aux and int on certain firewalls between RIM and the particular agencies external facing firewalls
Blackberry also had to show a complete technical document on how everything is configured, and when first implemented the main concern was RIM unencrypting a part of the message process and re-encrypting within the main mail relay centre in Canada.
This is why Restricted and Classified is allowed but nothing higher. I even went to evaluate the place myself :-P
IOS devices can use such apps as GoodforEnterprise, which funnily enough creates the encryption algorithms and licenses them to RIM. Yet DSD won't support an IOS device currently.
But what would I know, just a random Computerworld reader ;-)
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