[Vads]

You guys will think we're crazy asking this, but here I go...

Within our company we're currently having a pilot, experimenting with a BB. Several users are using it daily to handle mail, calendar and make phone calls.

Security is organised in the way that there is a password on the SIM-card and a timeout of 60 minutes (which is the max).

The problem is related to these 60 minutes. People find it very annoying that they have to unlock their BB each time they want to make a phone call. This is especially bothersome when you're in the car, driving, wanting to make a call, fiddling with the BB to type the password and make the actual call.

Now they general idea is to remove the timeout lock, thus exposing all the stored information in case of loss or theft of the BB.

In my opinion it is a crazy idea to remove this lock. People seem to be unaware of the risks of what happens in case of loss or theft... For your info, our main complainer is the CEO and we already had to create a special policy for him alone, in which his BB is only protected by the code on the SIM-card!!!

How do you guys handle security with the BB? Any way to expand the 60 minutes to a total of 120 (or more)?

Thanks,

Vitor

[rainmakr]

There is a policy setting you can change on the BES (at least in BES 4.0):

Under "Security Policy Group" the setting is "Allow Outgoing Call When Locked". If you don't have this policy set, then I think the users should just be able to go to their security settings on the device and change it.

[Graywolf]

Get a BES and send a kill command if the phone is lost or missing?

[jcoke]

Originally Posted by Graywolf

Get a BES and send a kill command if the phone is lost or missing?

Sure, if the device's radio is turned on and has coverage. If I were Dr. Evil with an orphaned BlackBerry in my hand I'd turn the radio off and have a look around.

[sempai]

Originally Posted by jcoke

Sure, if the device's radio is turned on and has coverage. If I were Dr. Evil with an orphaned BlackBerry in my hand I'd turn the radio off and have a look around.

Which is possible! The commands are queued so that the Blackberry will first attempt to sync email before the kill comes through. I think the KILL is best used in the circumstance of someone misplacing the BlackBerry.

If you're fast, the batteries wont be dead and you'll nuke it before someone picks it up. But most people don't even realize something is missing and even fewer of those people would think "Hey, I should call my BES administrator over in the Nerd Pit - she'd be concerned about the loss of this device."

People complain about having to unlock the password on their BlackBerry?

Remind them that the password doesn't have to be a password. I recommend considering using passwords that are more efficient.

Consider this:

Tell them to pick up the BlackBerry in a different way, upside-down, sideways - something one-handed. Have them compose a one-handed "password" based on just a memorable pattern on the keyboard.

I always do it upside down because I can type very easily one-handed when more of the 'Berry's weight is supported. I use a password that meets a very high password policy one-handed with my eyes away from the device all the time.

I think people often get caught up in the whole "word" part of password.

Using a pattern lets your hands learn it as a pattern - so even if your eyes don't see it, your fingers will.

[JRV]

Originally Posted by Vads

How do you guys handle security with the BB?

http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=8124
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=12521

-----------------------
The 2nd thread above has a link to what used to be an MSNBC story detailing corporate destruction caused by an unsecured BB. Don't recall the details at this point, and I now see the link in the thread is now broken. Guess I should've just copied & pasted the story, hunh.

[Vads]

Thanks for all reactions so far guys; I will keep my eye on this post!

[Vads]

Could a mod please close this topic? Thanks!