Integrated Security

Maintaining the security of an organization's laptops and desktops is never an easy task, with many a sleepless night worrying if all devices that come into contact with the enterprise are secured against theft and compromised data. Managing all this can be an overwhelming task.
GlobalAdmin is a management application that is used in conjunction with GTGI's other products, CryptCard and CompuSec. Our review kit came ready prepared on a Dell Optiplex GX400 PC running Windows 2000. We just had to plug in the relevant devices for reading smartcards.

Security begins before you even look inside your operating system with simple things like locks and portable memory. By Jayne Parkhouse

Dekart Security Suite comprises four separate applications that support all 32-bit versions of Windows and share the same two-factor authentication feature, which uses a PIN code and a USB token or smart card. You can use most third-party tokens and smart cards. Additionally, most types of Bio API and HA API compatible biometric verification devices are supported.

Transporting a laptop in a vehicle, it is often too easy to become careless and leave it in full view, inviting a smashed window, loss of expensive equipment and possibly months of work. There is no guarantee that thieves will not break into your car, so a mobile safe is a good investment.

It is not always practical or even necessary to take a laptop on a trip, so a little more steel is needed to be sure of its safety while it is unguarded. That is a job for CompuClamp. This aptly named solution provides a secure fixing for a laptop rendering it immobile. And it isn't a permanent feature; the clamp can be moved to any office desk, hotel room or wherever it is needed.

Cables for laptop security are a good visual deterrent to the opportunist thief, but tests have proven that, with just a little effort and a cutting implement, they are a removable feature.

The fact remains, like them or loathe them, security cables do serve a purpose, even if only as a deterrent. Of course, any determined thief will make light work of most cables if they are armed with stealth, surprise and a pair of bolt cutters but, without them, hardware is a target for the snatch-and-grab variety.

The tough Notebook Guardian certainly appears sturdy on initial visual contact - from lock to cable. It is made of steel with a strong looking keyed lock function, although PC Guardian does manufacture other locking choices such as the combination version illustrated. The cable is black vinyl coated and blends into the surroundings. We are still waiting for a manufacturer to use Day-Glo colors, which would certainly say "hands off."

The ability to carry large amounts of data in your pocket could mean the end of the obligatory laptop haul. But as much as it can transform a daily commute without the worry of laptop theft, it can compound other problems.

ABSPlus is probably better know in the backup and recovery market and so it will be little surprise that what we are now looking at is exactly that - and more. It is an ideal storage unit to regularly back up all laptop data. With the software supplied the device becomes the complete backup and restore, disaster recovery solution.

Chrison takes security seriously with three specific portable devices available, all using different technology and design methodology. The BioPico, as its name suggests, is a 128MB biometric USB storage device, small enough to look unimpressive, but big enough to be used safely without being too small.

The smallest Group Test product was the MSX-256 Memory Stick PRO. It comes in a small, neat, case. The documentation was not very helpful and, had we not used this type of hardware before, we may have become stuck, because the case itself was not that easy to open. Apart from this minor setback Memory Stick compatible hardware is also required, whether using a laptop, PC, digital mobile phone or digital camera. That said, a PC card adapter or a USB reader/writer is all that is needed for laptop use and, given the protection that is afforded, it's a small price to pay.

As with the BioPico, PicoDisk TECH 2 requires no driver installation for Windows 2000, Me or XP and it is only when using Windows 98/SE or Mac operating systems that drivers must be installed from the CD provided.
The TECH 2 is a small USB token similar to the iKey design many people are familiar with and a USB extension cable for those hard to get at USB ports on many PCs.