One of the biggest security challenges facing enterprises is how to handle the security risks posed by mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The ESUKOM project has taken on that challenge. As part of the project, it has built an IF-MAP Android app, and we've got a look at it for you, including screenshots.
The ESUKOM project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and has already begun leveraging IF-MAP for smartphone security --- Ingo Bente has detailed its work here.
At the recent NSA Trusted Computing Conference, NCP, a member of the ESUKOM project team, used the project's Android app to demonstrate how automated security for mobile devices and central IT networks can be provided using IF-MAP. The demonstration included ESUKOM's IF-MAP Android client allowing or blocking the phone from connecting to the corporate network.
The client collects information about the Android phone on which is is installed, and then communicates with a MAP server. It supports two types of connections: session-based, and renew-based. Its key features are:
- Ability to publish information about the Android device, such as the Android version, device manufacturer, IMSI and IMEI numbers, and the state of the microphone and Bluetooth.
- Subscribing to ip-identifier.
- Performing polling.
- Providing an overview of the device's characteristics.
- Logging of sent and received messages.
It also works as a VPN client.
Here's the app's setup screen:
Android IF-MAP setup screen
Here's its status screen, which includes information such as MAC address, IMEI and IMSI, manufacturer, and so on:
Android IF-MAP status screen
You won't be able to install the app from the Android Market. Instead, first head to the ESUKOM Web site where the app is hosted, here.
If you are installing the binary version, unzip the archive and extract the file AndroidIfMapClient_0.1.34.apk. TAke a look at the Readme file. Then transfer AndroidIfMapClient_0.1.34.apk to your Android device by connecting the device to your PC, and copying the file to your Android device, preferably to the device's Downloads folder, if it has one.
Once it's on the device, use a file manager to run the .apk file, and it should install easiy.