Contributed by: Mirage Networks, Inc.

Today’s technology environment is defined by mobility. It’s a productivity enhancement few organizations can be without - but the gain in productivity is causing an explosion of network security concerns. Consider the dramatic increase in the number and capabilities of mobile devices: according to Gartner, the dominant trend in computer buying has shifted to notebooks, which now make up 29% of computers sold in the US and 31% of those sold worldwide. And not only are laptops becoming the computer of choice for many corporate employees, more and more IP-enabled devices are coming into the mix - PDAs, mobile phones, and gaming systems, to name a few, each bringing new security vulnerabilities onto the network. Further enhancing productivity - and jeopardizing network security - is the ubiquity of access. Whether at home, in a hotel, at a Starbucks, or even on a park bench, users require and expect access to corporate networks at a data rate that enables full productivity. The widespread adoption of broadband and wireless networking has made mobile computing the standard, not the exception.

This has created great challenges for IT and security professionals. Controlling the devices accessing the network has become increasingly problematic as these devices move in and out of protected corporate networks, and as the line between office and personal computer blurs or even disappears. And now, it’s easier than ever for unmanaged IP devices to make their way into corporate networks.

Contributed by: Mirage Networks, Inc.