Better control for external storage
Big brother tool lets administrators track files transferred to USB flash disks, iPods and DVDs.
Centennial Software has updated its DeviceWall software for managing external storage devices by beefing up the audit function. Administrators can now use this tool to track every single file operation involving devices such as USB Flash disks, according to the company. Other changes make it easier to allow one-time exemptions to policies, and speed up installation.
DeviceWall 4.5, available immediately, helps firms to comply with corporate governance regulations by keeping a record of file transactions where users copy to or from any external storage devices. Administrators will be able to see if users are copying sensitive documents, Centennial said.
“Companies need to know what data is moving on and off their network,” said Centennial’s vice-president of marketing, Matt Fisher. Firms can track every single file operation, or filter the records down by type, such as spreadsheets. Previous releases only recorded which kind of device users were connecting to systems.
DeviceWall already let companies set policies that could block all external storage devices from PCs, including USB Flash drives and iPods, and even stop users from burning DVDs. Policies could also be set to allow specific devices, and govern which employees are allowed to use them.
The update provides a number of changes requested by customers, Fisher said. Other enhancements include an overhauled install process with greater support for customisation; and wizards to help admin staff deploy their first policies. DeviceWall now also supports Apache Web server to handle the client update service as an alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS).
Another addition is the ability to grant time-limited exemptions to policy restrictions, perhaps to let a sales executive use their laptop to create a DVD to hand to a customer while on the road.
“The exec can phone an administrator, explain the need to access a device, and the administrator can create an exemption,” said Fisher. The exemption only applies on the specified dates. This is an extension of the Temporary Access feature which lets a user request a one-time password for a blocked device.
DeviceWall costs £12 per seat for 500 users, with volume discounts. A 20 percent annual maintenance fee also applies.