Mobile Security Featured Article

ForeScout Technologies Unveils ForeScout Mobile Plug-In Modules

Many information workers access business applications through portable devices. Approximately, 40.7 percent of devices used are ones owned by them and it includes home PCs, smartphones and tablets. In addition, organizations underestimate the number of information workers using consumer devices for work by 50 percent, according to a survey by IDC1. Consequently, security of the information on the network is a major concern.

To address this issue and provide unified visibility as well as control for managed and unmanaged mobile devices and PCs, ForeScout Technologies, Inc. – a provider of automated security control solutions – has unveiled a new set of plug-in modules called ForeScout Mobile.

ForeScout Mobile allows for Android (News - Alert) and iOS security management. It also provides a plug-in module for Mobile Device Management (MDM) integration. When combined with ForeScout CounterACT - the company’s Network Access Control (NAC) platform - security professionals are able to employ one console to gain visibility and uniform control over managed and unmanaged mobile and PC devices.

One of the key features of ForeScout Mobile is that it delivering the industry’s first unified approach for NAC, BYOD and MDM. It put complete mobile security at the operator’s fingertips. Consequently, it helps IT organizations to gain flexibility to accelerate Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) adoption and can better manage mobile security risks.

The ForeScout CounterACT is delivered as a physical or virtual appliance that can control everything connected to the network no matter the device or user. It identifies mobile devices; forces unknown users to register; and can automatically allow, deny or restrict access to specified network resources and wireless access points – all through a single appliance.

The ForeScout Mobile Module for Android and iOS are in beta test and will be available in April.

The ForeScout Mobile Security Module, available in June, provides extensive information about the device, its user, its configuration, its apps and its security posture. It facilitates organizations to leverage their existing MDM solution within the broader context of unified security control that CounterACT provides. It facilitates security staff to monitor and report on policy adherence, enforce mobile employee and guest compliance, and remediate devices across major mobile platforms such as iOS, Blackberry, Android and Windows.

Gord Boyce, CEO at ForeScout, said in a press release, “The ForeScout Mobile/CounterACT combination offers a smart, flexible and cost-effective means for organizations to implement and extend mobile security across different phases of BYOD adoption and maturity.”

In recent news, ForeScout Technologies was awarded with 2012 Global Technology (News - Alert) Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan for network access control (NAC).