iboss Network Security today announced a unified location-based security solution, iboss Web and Mobile Device Security, featuring expanded technology integration with Smart Wi-Fi from Ruckus Wireless. Incorporated directly within organizations' Web security protocols, the solution allows IT departments to develop dynamic security policies aligned with users' locations, and to understand data flow in and out of the network regardless of device, user or port.
"More and more students come into school each year with phones, tablets and other personal devices. Thanks to the integration between iboss Network Security and Ruckus Wireless Smart Wi-Fi, we've embraced BYOD with open arms," said Harry Howes, MIS technical manager for Highlands County School District. "Our policies can determine appropriate access by drilling down into factors such as a student's grade level and location within the school. In many scenarios we're able to give students access to more on mobile or personal devices than before, such as education videos in a classroom setting that may have been mistakenly blocked for being on YouTube."
Integrated with Ruckus Wi-Fi, iboss Web and Mobile Device Security allows IT managers to bind a personally owned device like a smartphone or tablet to the network directory, and then dynamically apply directory workgroup policies to that device, depending on where that device is physically located. This location-based security gives organizations the ability to extend user and location-specific security policies, instead of assigning a single, blanket guest access policy across the entire network.
A recent Gartner report revealed that 20 percent of all enterprise BYOD programs will fail by 2016 because of mobile device management (MDM) measures that are too restrictive. Organizations that default to an overly restrictive blocking of Internet activity, applications and overall usage of mobile devices will negatively affect employee productivity and possibly risk data loss or damage through rogue mobile usage.
With Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi, iboss Web and Mobile Device Security allows its customers greater visibility and control over their wireless network security. It provides advanced SSL and application tools for monitoring of channels such as social media, as well as bandwidth management and location-based policy controls.
"The number of various devices connecting to Wi-Fi networks continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, introducing a range of new and complex connectivity and security needs," said Mark Puhalovich of Ruckus Wireless. "The integration of Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi with iboss Web and Mobile Device Security is a great value-add for our mutual customers like schools in showing them how to provide the best wireless experience to their users while keeping their wireless networks secure."
