We should all know by now that devices such as Smartphones/Converged Mobile Devices, should have a lock code set and a code that is not a simple short code, as its your first line of defence.

In fact iOS users with iOS4 should be aware that its more than this, as that code is used in the process of securely encrypting your devices data. A DOUBLE benefit that is part of the Enterprise adoption of iPhone and iPad.

Beyond that, Enterprise users will also know that devices should be Managed as well as Secured (I will let you check out my articles to get more information).

Friday iOS iBrainstorm! It first came out as...

• Please give me one configurable Guest Account on iOS. Good for demos etc. Not trying to get away from buying more devices, just want to lock down certain apps. Hmmm multiple accounts, not really needed or natural on a personal Mobile Device. They usually stay with one user, unless its is a demo device & then you would be foolish to have sensitive data on a device that is going to be used by potential clients etc

Then, after thinking of where the germ of an idea originated from, it progressed to a simple version...

• Please give iOS Native Email Client option of an unlock code. At least some products such as Sybase Mobile Office offer an enhanced secure sandbox approach for that purpose with its own seperate passcode used for encryption.

Finally, after rethinking about the origin of my thought as well as looking at the iOS Settings app and options like Notifications etc...

• Please give iOS a Settings option for each installed app (and some tasks) to subscribe to either the device lock code or a secondary or further code, that has to be entered before the app is started. Even though Enterprise/Corporate applications will already have been designed securely, this will allow other apps and tasks that may not already have further security, to refrain from being started and stay 'FYEO - For Your Eyes Only'.
  

The idea is not meant to be a corporate level idea but one that could benefit all users, whatever their usage patterns. Developers of apps that store sensitive data should already be Coding using the Security API that Encrypts their users application data on the device and that is in addition to any other Device Management & Security that you the user could & should be using. Beyond that an enhancement like this, at the iOS level, would be available to all apps with no recoding, as it is a device user preference, not an app feature.

But where did this germ of an idea originate? This came from a conversation I heard where an iOS User said, that on the very few times that they had passed their device over to colleagues, family, friends... they had immediately thought.... "I hope they don't email my CEO, or run apps/videos/pictures/camera that I don't want them to". Dude it only takes one time!

A seed of an idea for iOS Engineering! and something for any device user to keep in the back of their minds

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