Deployment (IT Watch)

As the number of interfaces in today’s clients grows (USB, PCMCIA, Infrared, Bluetooth, Firewire, WLAN...), so does the multitude of peripheral devices and the spectrum of usage in the value-adding processes of the enterprise. IT departments therefore find themselves faced with ever more complex challenges in managing these peripheral devices.

Along with the utilisation of removable devices, security threats arise. Usability and security are incompatible at first and have to be joined together with the use of an appropriate centrally managed tool. Once secure and controlled use of removable devices is achieved, the complete inventory of all devices and, of course, some of their usage statistics (about who, where, when, how etc.) are required - a need that is hardly reflected in detail by any of the classic inventory tools. Integration into systems-management is another requirement in device management: device-specific events have to be integrated in ‘real-time’ into environments like Tivoli or OpenView, Plug-and-Play Errors must be sent to the central Help Desk, missing device-drivers have to be installed on demand, to mention just a couple of requirements in that context. In addition to the technical challenges, there is also a strong need to integrate the device management into already existing business processes such as purchasing and validation of hardware, granting of access, lifecycle management of security policies or auditing.

Solutions

Security

DeviceWatch allows the centrally controlled secure deployment of all devices in a network. It enables the efficient management of all interfaces – USB, Infrared, PCMCIA, SCSI, Bluetooth, Firewire etc. – all device classes like mass storage, cellular phones, smart card reader/writer, PDA, network communication devices, modem, printer, mouse etc. It enforces the centrally defined security policy for using or blocking of devices, even functions of devices, device-classes or interfaces. Any decision may be made on user or user-group basis network-wide or on defined PCs.

Centrally managed Content Filter protects your company network against the importing of forbidden data and protects the companies information assets from being exported to foreign environment. It allows an in depth analysis of the file contents in realtime.

Encryption with PDWatch allows you to implement your requirements to the confidentiality of company-owned-information with a centrally managed Security Policy. The encryption may be enforced mandatory or on a user decision on the basis of the type of media a user wants to store the information on.

Content Filter and Encryption help you to control the flow of information at the network-border on all PCs according to the existing company policy.

CDWatch gives you the opportunity to allow complete or restricted use of centrally authenticated media (CDs or DVDs). Centrally managed policies enforce the execution of company-specific profiles like installation-skripts. Timeframes for the usage are centrally organized and de-centrally controlled.

Systems management

DeviceWatch DEvCon processes your requirements for the deployment of removable devices. All requests related to the networkwide use of modern removable devices from the perspective of systems management are being served, easy to use, from the central console.

Process integration

All technical functionality wouldn’t be of much use without the integration in already established processes. Therefore, acquisition processes like application, approval, inventory, gaining of statistical data concerning usage and possible optimisation, auditing and lifecycle management of both security and inventory are integrated and may interface to management frameworks like IBMs Tivoli, HPs Open View and many more.