By Dr. Rose Quijano-Nguyen, Principal Certification Strategist – Global Vertical Offerings, Symantec Corp.
As remote working arrangements and “bring your own device” programs become more and more common, both the public and private sectors have an increasing need to protect confidential data on mobile devices against mounting cybersecurity threats. Symantec App Center is a mobile application and content management solution that secures corporate data on iOS and Android mobile devices. To allow the public sector to take advantage of the latest mobile technologies in a secure manner, the Symantec App Center Cryptographic Module recently achieved a certification known as the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 validation.
In a growing number of countries, FIPS 140-2 validation is considered the benchmark for security, enabling government agencies to provide the highest level of protection for sensitive information and comply with strict government regulations, while minimizing risk. It is issued by the Cryptographic Module Validation Program and is a joint effort of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Communications Security Establishment Canada.
Securing this certification for Symantec App Center is important, as App Center offers advanced technology that enables user productivity on mobile devices, regardless of their ownership, while protecting enterprise data. Additionally, App Center offers enterprise-grade security on a per-app basis, without requiring any source code changes or SDK embedding.
Several other Symantec solutions have also achieved recent certifications, including:
- The Altiris IT Management Suite, which has achieved an international evaluation standard for IT security products called the Common Criteria Assurance Continuity at Evaluation Assurance Level 2 (EAL2+). This certification is mandated for all IT solutions purchased by the U.S. federal government and is recognized by more than 20 countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Australia. This designation conforms to the International Standards Organization’s requirements, and like the FIPS certification, is backed by rigorous independent testing.
- Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition, Symantec Network Access Control and Symantec Web Gateway, which all have achieved certification from the Ministry of Public Security in China – the No. 1 mobile market in the world, according to mobiThinking.
- Symantec NetBackup and Backup Exec 2012, which received certification from Russia’s Federal Service for Technology and Export Control (FSTEC), which governs the handling and processing of confidential information in Russia.
“These efforts are just one way we’re working to make it easier for both the public and private sectors to deploy devices with confidence, even in the most demanding environments,” said Cheri McGuire, Vice President of Global Government Affairs & Cyber Security Policy at Symantec. “Providing top-notch security while protecting user privacy is something we take seriously, and we know that governments and businesses do too. Our solutions provide clients with reassurance that they are using trusted and proven technologies that meet the highest standards for data protection.”