Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry Storm2

Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry Storm2
Author: Eric Everson

BlackBerry handsets are a staple of office culture; from syncing calendars to sharing business-related data, the BlackBerry handsets are seemingly everywhere you look around the office. Most recently BlackBerry introduced the Storm2, a second generation touchscreen handset into the market. As the resident mobile security guru, I wanted to take a deeper look at this handset to gauge its real mobile security profile in the corporate environment.

As mobile handsets have become ubiquitous within the business environment, significant levels of proprietary business data has migrated from the security of the computer-based environment into the vulnerable setting of the mobile handset. Simply put, mobile devices have become the weakest link in enterprise security, which is something that the BlackBerry Storm2 does little to address. In fact, the security specifications detailed at BlackBerry.com for the Storm 2 merely include two features: Password protection and Screen lock.

Like every BlackBerry the Storm2 should come with a barebones version of The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is a platform that can be purchased “with corporate data security in mind.” (BlackBerry.com; 2009) Essentially this is a security software offering that allows businesses to decide how much mobile security they are willing to pay for rather than a one size fits all security platform. There are pros and cons to this model, but it does allow a tailored approach for enterprise mobile security which many IT professionals enjoy.

If you are looking for a hacker-proof handset, the Storm 2 is built on the BlackBerry OS 5.0 MOPS (Mobile Operating System), which introduces the vulnerability that JavaScript has been enabled by default in the Internet browser. While no direct threat has been identified that exploits this feature, it is a prospective area of concern. From the standpoint of a standard (non-enterprise) user the security features of the Storm 2 will likely be sufficient.

If you’re simply looking for a new handset, many of the business/enterprise users of BlackBerry handsets will likely not find the Storm 2 as an adequate replacement for a handset such as the BlackBerry Tour. Some users have already reported less battery life than what is found on the Tour and many new users of the Storm 2 have complained that the audible clicks from using the touchscreen cannot be silenced. For anyone who “multitasks” on the BlackBerry while in meetings is sure to find the audible clicks as a serious annoyance.

Personally, I love the Storm 2 as a personal handset, but compared to the Tour (or other similar BlackBerry models), the Storm 2 is no enterprise handset. In short, Storm 2 is good for home but not so much for the office. On the bright side, the security profile of the Storm 2 can be tailored to fit the needs of the enterprise environment to the same degree as any other BlackBerry model.

Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com

Ref: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrystorm/storm_specifications.jsp