The tightest firewall and administration system is all for naught if an employee walks away from their PC without locking it up.
Data integrity is crucial to any business. Whether you're a two-person business or a multinational operation with a thousand or more seats, security is paramount. Unfortunately, you could have the tightest firewall and administration system ever devised, but it's all for naught if an employee walks away from their PC without locking it up.
Sitecom has come to the rescue with a product designed to take this kind of forgetfulness out of security. Rather than users having to remember to lock their machine whenever they walk away, it acts as a proximity sensor, activating whenever the tiny transmitter travels more than four metres away from the system. When you're back within the four-meter radius, your PC will unlock, allowing you to continue working without typing in or remembering passwords.
The kit includes a USB receiver, keyring transmitter, USB extension cable and CD with the security software. It isn't an extension of the Windows lock function, rather it is a layered flash type interface. As you're not actually locked out of Windows you can still use the three fingered CTRL ALT DEL movement, but running the task manager or run commands won't get you anywhere.
The fact that you're still within Windows rather than logged or locked out makes it easier to get back to work, but harder to secure. When users are within proximity of the receiver, if they haven't manually locked with a press of the button or double clicked the software icon, would be data thieves can sneak in, right click the tray and change the password without the software prompting for the old pass phrase.
A great product for those who move away from their desk frequently, but we'd have preferred to see a better integration with the standard Windows lock.
Issue: 107 | December, 2009