As I reported yesterday, the Defense Information Systems Agency has plans to add support for smartphones to its enterprise email that already supports 1.4 million Army personnel and a bunch of folks from most of the joint commands.
DISA started work on this more than a year ago, according to a draft planning document I managed to track down on the Internet that lays out the security guidelines to connect smartphones to Defense networks.
No surprises here: FIPS 140-2 for encryption, a VPN tunnel, data-at-rest security and the ability for administrators to disable built-in phone cameras.
While it looks like DISA has taken the inevitability of smartphones seriously, signage at its new headquarters at Fort Meade, Md., send a far different message, telling visitors to turn off all wireless gadgets upon entering the building.
Bob Brewin
Bob Brewin joined Government Executive in April 2007, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a journalist focusing on defense issues and technology. Bob covers the world of defense and information technology for Nextgov, and is the author of the “What’s Brewin” blog.
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