Uk Government slam iPhone security

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-25-2012, 09:25 AM

Interesting article on v3.co.uk

Government IT chief slams Apple security as 'appalling' - IT News from V3.co.uk

The chief information officer for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has slammed Apple's security on devices such as the iPhone as "appalling" and ruled out letting staff use the devices for government work.

This must be good news for BlackBerry

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 09:26 AM

Apple has states to DoD that they will not implement changes that were requested because it would affect user experience. In Apple's defense, government contracts are a very minor part of their business, and they really never have been a large part. They are a consumer company, and have been for some time.

**Superfly_FR** · 05-25-2012, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by BigAl_BB9900

This must be good news for BlackBerry

RIM will not win because of other's failures ... On that particular point, RIM wins because it's security level is unmatched; there's no real match, in fact.

BTW, "in 2009, the HMRC employs 81,872 people, although this number could have changed since then." not a tenth of user, neither !

**crackcookie** · 05-25-2012, 09:56 AM

He is right when he says rim wont capitalize on the failure of others and you forgot to include this snippet from the bottom or you never read it at all.

Well im on my pb and dont know bow to paste but it says
40 bbs were lost a week for staff and it grew to 400 once the iphone was announced into the ecosystem

**wuulfy** · 05-25-2012, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by crackcookie

He is right when he says rim wont capitalize on the failure of others and you forgot to include this snippet from the bottom or you never read it at all.

Well im on my pb and dont know bow to paste but it says
40 bbs were lost a week for staff and it grew to 400 once the iphone was announced into the ecosystem

"LOST" ....or sold on e bay.

**Superfly_FR** · 05-25-2012, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by wuulfy

"LOST" ....or sold on e bay.

no, they'll be wiped/blocked instantly ... BES or Carrier side.

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 10:17 AM

When the iPhone was launched people "lost" their BlackBerry in order to try and use the iPhone.

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-25-2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Superfly_FR

BTW, "in 2009, the HMRC employs 81,872 people, although this number could have changed since then." not a tenth of user, neither !

HMRC (UK Tax Dept) is very influential within the (bloated) UK Civil Service (the equivalent of Federal Gov Depts in the US)

If a major UK Civil Service dept goes public on this type of policy - the other depts will all take notice (and many will follow)

Unfortunately, most of these departments are already primarily BlackBerry users... but at least more market share will not be lost to iPhone, etc

**dandbj13** · 05-25-2012, 10:45 AM

If security was the big selling point for BB, it would already be kicking the snot out of iOS. Strangely, we are seeing just the opposite. OP, you will sleep a lot better at night when you realize that BB is not competing in any substantive way with iOS. Think WP7 and 8. Now that's a death match.

**wuulfy** · 05-25-2012, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Sith_Apprentice

When the iPhone was launched people "lost" their BlackBerry in order to try and use the iPhone.

i think we had all managed to work that one out lol

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by dandbj13

If security was the big selling point for BB, it would already be kicking the snot out of iOS. Strangely, we are seeing just the opposite. OP, you will sleep a lot better at night when you realize that BB is not competing in any substantive way with iOS. Think WP7 and 8. Now that's a death match.

We are seeing the opposite because Apple appeals to PEOPLE, not companies. Once you can sway a C level exec (specifically CEO) you generally get put into the company. CEO tells CIO I want this, CIO has to make it happen. IAM/IAO sit there shaking their heads while they get over ruled.

**playpen007** · 05-25-2012, 11:06 AM

I really never understand if the security is their top priority why they still let their employees trade in Blackberry for an Iphone even though they know that Blackberry is the best when it comes to security. I have an Iphone 4S and it does the same thing Blackberry does the only difference is Iphone has a lot of apps and Blackberry lack of that. I bought an Iphone 4S because in that time I don't know there is Blackbery 9900 Bold with 7.1 software. I hardly see any commercial with Blackberry smarts phones. I think Blackberry needed the best marketer team with the commercial to compare and contrast between competitors' devices to the Blackberry devices. I never see a commercial of the Blackberry PlayBook, but one of my friend told me about it and I bought two one for me and the other one for my son college. It never disappointed with my purchase because this device is the best compare to the competors' tablets for the least money. I took it to my son's graduation so that I can take some pictures and videos. There are a lot of people staring at my PlayBook and wondering what is it. They usually see Ipad only. I know for sure RIMM needed the best marketing team very badly. They needed to do the best commercial with Blackberry smarts phones and the PlayBook.

**WinningWithLogic** · 05-25-2012, 11:57 AM

Sith, what are some of the security aspects that are missing from the iPhone that this guy could be referring to? Is it just related to MDM or is there something else?

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by WinningWithLogic

Sith, what are some of the security aspects that are missing from the iPhone that this guy could be referring to? Is it just related to MDM or is there something else?

Its just about everything in the ecosystem, including MDM. Did you ever take alook at the TrendMicro study on the 4 big OS's and how it relates to security? iOS came in second, but on a scale from 1-5 it was WELL below BlackBerry security.

**sinsin07** · 05-25-2012, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Superfly_FR

RIM will not win because of other's failures ... On that particular point, RIM wins because it's security level is unmatched; there's no real match, in fact....snip

What about the General Dynamic Selectra, which is probably what Obama would be using if the NSA did not re-work his Blackberry.
Obama's new BlackBerry: The NSA's secure PDA?

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 12:45 PM

Have you used the Sectera Edge? It is a terrible device that weighs a ton. It serves a VERY limited purpose and costs an astronomical amount.

RIM is looking to sneak into that segment and offer Suite B certified BlackBerry devices.

**dbmalloy** · 05-25-2012, 12:54 PM

IBM has actually started addressing the security issue and BYOD ... interesting article....

IBM bans Dropbox, Siri and rival cloud tech at work â€¢ The Register

**sinsin07** · 05-25-2012, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by Sith_Apprentice

Have you used the Sectera Edge? It is a terrible device that weighs a ton. It serves a VERY limited purpose and costs an astronomical amount.

RIM is looking to sneak into that segment and offer Suite B certified BlackBerry devices.

That is not relevant to why the question was posted. The response was to "On that particular point, RIM wins because it's security level is unmatched; there's no real match, in fact".
The additional factors you slid in where not in the post the response was directed to. But you're smart, you probably already new that, thus the deflection.

**Houshinto** · 05-25-2012, 12:58 PM

I'm glad the UK IT department is doing it's job properly. That being said, Apple should only shrug really.

Their pie is the general consumer, not secure government/corporations.

**sinsin07** · 05-25-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Houshinto

I'm glad the UK IT department is doing it's job properly. That being said, Apple should only shrug really.

Their pie is the general consumer, not secure government/corporations.

This ^^^^^

**Sith_Apprentice** · 05-25-2012, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by sinsin07

That is not relevant to why the question was posted. The response was to "On that particular point, RIM wins because it's security level is unmatched; there's no real match, in fact".
The additional factors you slid in where not in the post the response was directed to. But you're smart, you probably already new that, thus the deflection.

Not a deflection at all. The Sectera is a secure device (not sure how many agencies are still using them), but by no means the most secure. It also has secure voice which is its main selling point (as other devices, including the BlackBerry) do not at this point natively have secure voice.

**kg4icg** · 05-25-2012, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Sith_Apprentice

Not a deflection at all. The Sectera is a secure device (not sure how many agencies are still using them), but by no means the most secure. It also has secure voice which is its main selling point (as other devices, including the BlackBerry) do not at this point natively have secure voice.

Being that I am on a CDMA system being with Sprint, which is basically a digital spread spectrum system. How much more secure can I get?

**dtango** · 05-25-2012, 01:49 PM

why is this even in blackberry news?

**sam_b77** · 05-25-2012, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by dandbj13

If security was the big selling point for BB, it would already be kicking the snot out of iOS. Strangely, we are seeing just the opposite. OP, you will sleep a lot better at night when you realize that BB is not competing in any substantive way with iOS. Think WP7 and 8. Now that's a death match.

Sometimes a man needs to flirt before he realises how good his wife is. The companies flirted and are now realising the fundamentals behind BB. Mobile market is fickle at best. Today's top dog might be the dog's lunch tomorrow. Don't count RIM out just yet. Security will come back to be a major contender for companies and govt players. iOS and Android can have the consumers, but there will always be a place for RIM style security.

**sleepngbear** · 05-25-2012, 02:44 PM

The point of all this is, in the midst of all the other predictions of doom and gloom are those warning that RIM is going to lose its government and enterprise customers. Well, not so fast. As Sam noted, many of them that were entertaining or even experimenting with BYOD are beginning to realize exactly what RIM's security brings to the table. Is this security advantage going to single-handedly save the company? Of course not. But it is one area of their business that is at a much lower risk of slumping.