“The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is exploring security systems that would permit employees to use as many as 100,000 mobile devices, including Apple Inc.’s iPad and phones using Google Inc.’s Android, without endangering the privacy of sensitive information,” Kathleen Miller reports for Bloomberg.
“VA officials are researching ‘mobile device management’ services that will protect e-mail and control access to agency computer networks for people using smartphones and tablet computers, according to a VA request for information issued last week and updated today,” Miller reports. “‘We want to make sure that veteran information is protected while still enabling productivity enhancing applications,’ Roger Baker, the agency’s chief information officer, said in an e-mailed statement.”
MacDailyNews Take: Well, then you’ll want to forget about Android immediately, Rog:
• Massive HTC Android security flaw leaves security expert speechless – October 2, 2011
• Apple’s iOS unaffected by malware as Android exploits surge 76% – August 24, 2011
• Android malware records phone calls; iPhone users unaffected – August 2, 2011
• Symantec: Apple iOS offers ‘full protection,’ Google Android ‘little protection’ vs. malware attacks – June 29, 2011
• Malware apps spoof Android Market to infect Android phones – June 21, 2011
• Google forced to pull several malware-infested apps from Android market – June 8, 2011
• Android malware sees explosive growth; even faster than with PCs – April 27, 2011
• Virus-laden apps infest Google’s ‘open’ Android platform; iPhone unaffected – March 3, 2011
• Security firm warns of new Android trojan that can steal personal information; iPhone unaffected – December 30, 2010
• Trojan infects Android smartphones; iPhone unaffected – August 10, 2010
• Millions of Android phone users slammed by malicious data theft app – July 29, 2010
• Unlike proactive Apple, reactive Google doesn’t block malware from Android app store – June 4, 2010
• Malware designed to steal bank information pops up in Google’s Android app store – January 11, 2010
Miller reports, “The VA’s decision may open a new market for Apple, which has until now lagged behind competitors Dell Inc. and Research In Motion Ltd. in selling technology to the government. The VA is looking for technology that would allow its employees to use as many as 100,000 iPads and iPhones within 18 months, including a mix of government-owned and personal mobile devices, Jo Schuda, a VA spokeswoman, said in an e-mail today.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
Yawn. Whatever.
100,000 units? That’s chicken feed to Apple. Now 100,000,000 units, that would be good news.
no, the more Apple gets in to the enterprise the better.
100k IS a big deal. and for the government, very big deal.
When I left my job with the Feds in 2008 our procurement office was blocking *any* Mac purchase requests. So this, by comparison, is a *very* big deal.
Nice.
100K x 600 ASP = $60M
Someone needs to inform them of the security flaws of Android.
Why are they mix and matching androids with iOS? Huh?
They can’t let anything outside of Apple go. Ther going in a good direction. Give them time. You know it takes the government a while to wake up.
“a mix of government-owned and personal mobile devices”
personal: iPhone, iPad
government-owned: BB, AndriOS
Another pack of MSCEs forced to support Apple. I love it!
The only reason any phone or tablet other than Apple’s gets picked, if security is most important, is that the procurement agents get payola.
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