One interesting point is (will be) the recognition that the Apple fingerprint mechanism is a secure authentication mean, at least as secure as the traditional existing ones.
This is correct. iPhones and iPads will not be able to enter classified areas (although exceptions will be made for a few, I am sure.) This is because Apple refuses to allow modifications to iOS or to the hardware. (Camera's and some of the mic's would need to be disabled or possibly even removed.) Apple has refused to alter their stance on this since at least 2009. Maybe even before then?
As for Blackberries, yes they are still being used by the USAF, but every single week, I see an outage for all BB devices on base and that the 'issue' is being worked on. The sheer mount of man hours and money being spent on these phones is mind boggling. Moving to iDevices for all non-secure needs will save a ton of time and money in the long run.
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
I think they should have purchased Acer Iconia w511p units. They are much better than iPads they have Windows 8 and Microsoft Office
iPads are the ONLY tablet that were approved for purchase by the GSA for the next three years with a optional extension for an additional three years.
For phones, BB is allowed, along with all iPhones, and one Samsung phone (with security modifications). With regard to BB, I'm not sure the newer "touch" models are allowed in or not.
Microsoft managed to drag their feet for so long they didn't have a product to submit for the RFQ. Neither a phone or tablet. If the bids are not opened up at the three year window, Windows will be a small advantage in six years from now... possibly a small factor in three years, the way things are going.
Which begs the question - If enterprise were to chose an OS to replace Windows going forward, what OS will it be? Some flavor of Unix perhaps?
iPhones and iPads will not be able to enter classified areas (although exceptions will be made for a few, I am sure.) This is because Apple refuses to allow modifications to iOS or to the hardware. (Camera's and some of the mic's would need to be disabled or possibly even removed.) Apple has refused to alter their stance on this since at least 2009. Maybe even before then?
I wonder if Apple had a part in these guys' efforts not being repeated for the 5 and 5s. could have just been an unprofitable adventure too, as they seem to have bent over backwards to make it clear they weren't trying to gouge anyone.
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
The historical posture supposedly addressed accidental and malicious compromise by restricting access to anything close to classified information. In fact, most information was considered sensitive enough to keep everything in a limited area. It wasn't until maybe 15-20 years ago that management got tired of having to escort people they wanted to talk to into meetings that they started to open things up. Classified information was declassified, computer systems were attached to the open internet (no routers or firewalls at first), and people started thinking about security second (convenience first). I grew up during the lock-down period and had to shake my head during the enlightenment period.
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
The historical posture supposedly addressed accidental and malicious compromise by restricting access to anything close to classified information. In fact, most information was considered sensitive enough to keep everything in a limited area. It wasn't until maybe 15-20 years ago that management got tired of having to escort people they wanted to talk to into meetings that they started to open things up. Classified information was declassified, computer systems were attached to the open internet (no routers or firewalls at first), and people started thinking about security second (convenience first). I grew up during the lock-down period and had to shake my head during the enlightenment period.
I wasn't referring to the actual access to classified material - the rules governing that have not changed much in that period as far as I can see, except for how it is tracked in some cases. To clarify, my comment on preventing accidental disclosure referred to accidental disclosure of collateral classified material by persons already authorized for access. I don't think that declassification has been driven by convenience either. Information cannot be classified (in general) just on a whim, and it simply represents application of the original declassification guidance. And no classified computer systems are ever connected to the internet.
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
So if you're uploading a selfie to Instagram, make sure the aliens working on the death ray aren't visible in the background.
Great now the Air Force won't get any work done. Cause iPads are just toys
If you held a professional position, you would know that iPads are becoming a key tool of business and engineering professionals. I have spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation authoring software. I've got signal generators, operation and service manuals for various electronic devices, a library of schematics, remote access software for Windows, Linux, and OS X systems, and reference books and apps for various development tools. I have specialized calculators for electronics, base conversions, unit conversions, and boolean logic. I receive professional periodicals on my iPad. When I'm on the road, I have multiple GPS apps including those that can direct me to local restaurants, hotels, stores, police stations, and medical facilities. And, of course, it's invaluable for e-mail (not all of us type like 13 year old girls with our thumbs on phones).
And I don't have any incarnation of Flappy Birds, Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Grand Theft Auto or other such apps that I'm sure you're all-too-familiar with. (In fact, I had to go to the App store just to come up with that list.)
If you want to accuse some tablets of being "just toys," focus on the ones with 16:9 and 16:10 ratio screens sized for watching movies, not the iPad with its 4:3 ratio screen that closely aligns with the print area of a standard 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. Tablets like the Google Nexus 7 and 10, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z come to mind.
Comments
One interesting point is (will be) the recognition that the Apple fingerprint mechanism is a secure authentication mean, at least as secure as the traditional existing ones.
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
iPads are the ONLY tablet that were approved for purchase by the GSA for the next three years with a optional extension for an additional three years.
For phones, BB is allowed, along with all iPhones, and one Samsung phone (with security modifications). With regard to BB, I'm not sure the newer "touch" models are allowed in or not.
Microsoft managed to drag their feet for so long they didn't have a product to submit for the RFQ. Neither a phone or tablet. If the bids are not opened up at the three year window, Windows will be a small advantage in six years from now... possibly a small factor in three years, the way things are going.
Which begs the question - If enterprise were to chose an OS to replace Windows going forward, what OS will it be? Some flavor of Unix perhaps?
SCIF has been used a few times in NCIS.
iPhones and iPads will not be able to enter classified areas (although exceptions will be made for a few, I am sure.) This is because Apple refuses to allow modifications to iOS or to the hardware. (Camera's and some of the mic's would need to be disabled or possibly even removed.) Apple has refused to alter their stance on this since at least 2009. Maybe even before then?
I wonder if Apple had a part in these guys' efforts not being repeated for the 5 and 5s. could have just been an unprofitable adventure too, as they seem to have bent over backwards to make it clear they weren't trying to gouge anyone.
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
I was under the impression that the government had a contract with a company that removed the cameras from iDevices. Perhaps the military isn't included in that program.
As you said, and I agree, the camera is a problem, but how can you remove a microphone from a phone and still make a two-way call?
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
Do you have a need to know?
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
The historical posture supposedly addressed accidental and malicious compromise by restricting access to anything close to classified information. In fact, most information was considered sensitive enough to keep everything in a limited area. It wasn't until maybe 15-20 years ago that management got tired of having to escort people they wanted to talk to into meetings that they started to open things up. Classified information was declassified, computer systems were attached to the open internet (no routers or firewalls at first), and people started thinking about security second (convenience first). I grew up during the lock-down period and had to shake my head during the enlightenment period.
That is illustrative of the fact that camera use, per se, should not be regarded as a huge issue. The security posture, in most areas, is intended to prevent accidental, not malicious, compromise of classified information, so provided that camera use is controlled, and something equivalent to a DC review is required before the images are disseminated, there should be no problem. What you don't want is photos taken in limited or secure areas finding their way onto FB or the cloud and so, for example, photostream is generally disabled in the security profile on government iOS device.
I've never understood the lack of attention paid to the security risk presented by regular phones in classified environments.
The historical posture supposedly addressed accidental and malicious compromise by restricting access to anything close to classified information. In fact, most information was considered sensitive enough to keep everything in a limited area. It wasn't until maybe 15-20 years ago that management got tired of having to escort people they wanted to talk to into meetings that they started to open things up. Classified information was declassified, computer systems were attached to the open internet (no routers or firewalls at first), and people started thinking about security second (convenience first). I grew up during the lock-down period and had to shake my head during the enlightenment period.
I wasn't referring to the actual access to classified material - the rules governing that have not changed much in that period as far as I can see, except for how it is tracked in some cases. To clarify, my comment on preventing accidental disclosure referred to accidental disclosure of collateral classified material by persons already authorized for access. I don't think that declassification has been driven by convenience either. Information cannot be classified (in general) just on a whim, and it simply represents application of the original declassification guidance. And no classified computer systems are ever connected to the internet.
The ironic thing about cameras is where I worked, there originally were only a few people authorized to use cameras on site. All of a sudden, anyone with management approval could carry a point and shoot. Our desk phones had speaker phone capability and they weren't controlled the same way as computers or mobile devices so you could have a speaker phone active in a classified area. Go figure.....
So if you're uploading a selfie to Instagram, make sure the aliens working on the death ray aren't visible in the background.
Great now the Air Force won't get any work done. Cause iPads are just toys