First Android Device Certified For DoD Personnel

aneroid writes "The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has certified its first secure mobile device running Android 2.2 — the Dell Streak 5. It is certified for use in the Defense Department's secure but unclassified communications. 'Although the Streak 5 is no longer available commercially, Dell is supplying it to DOD because the military likes the form factor,' said John Marinho, director of Dell enterprise mobility solutions. It 'includes a set of Android application interfaces designed to enhance the security of the device. Besides being able to transmit secure unclassified messages, the device can have its data remotely wiped in the event of loss or theft.' The device also has the ability to lock down after multiple unsuccessful password entries and allows admins to remotely control the peripherals and security policy levels on the device. You may recall that President Obama got an NSA-certified phone-PDA to use instead of his BlackBerry. We also discussed a related article last year about the U.S. Army considering smartphones. So, how soon will we start seeing other smartphone vendors bid for secure-communications-devices contracts?"

Comments

Obama's no longer using his Blackberry?

[jordanjay29]

Since when?

Re:Obama's no longer using his Blackberry?

[jordanjay29]

You seem deficient in reading post titles. I specifically questioned the article's stated fact that Obama was given a Sectera Edge (the NSA-certified phone-PDA device), which was proven false in my link. Obama's not using a phone-PDA, he's using a juiced-up Blackberry that's been locked down and yeah, probably certified for secure but unclassified communications as well.

All kinds of smart phones

[Anonymous Cowar]

for a semi-complete list of smart phones that DISA is looking at, check here: http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/net_perimeter/wireless/smartphone.html (A simple google search takes you right there).

That being said, IT infrastructure needs to expand and accommodate smart phones, both in the commercial and military world. You can only say NO for so long before everyone starts hearing "640K should be enough for anybody".

Re:All kinds of smart phones

[jeffmeden]

for a semi-complete list of smart phones that DISA is looking at, check here: http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/net_perimeter/wireless/smartphone.html (A simple google search takes you right there).

Interesting that their iPhone and iPad risk assessment document comes up as "access denied"... Maybe I need one of those Dell Streak thingys to see it?

Re:Smart Phone - Military

[jeffmeden]

Ob: Oxymoron comment

Non-secure, meaning: Do not leave sitting in your car with the records of 500,000 service personnel on it.

Clearly the Military wouldn't pay for a redundant device that allows them to lose 500,000 private records (get it, omg military puns) at a time, when the DAT tapes they have now work just fine...

Why not Blackberry instead/also?

[acoustix]

BlackBerry has had all of these security features since 2004/2005. Remote wipe, policy enforcement, encryption, etc. Why not use a product that was secure off the shelf? Was it not expensive enough???

Re:Why not Blackberry instead/also?

[Drakonik]

Because it's not secure enough unless they can put a "DoD home grown and raised" sticker on it.

Re:Why not Blackberry instead/also?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

"CNN - Due to a glitch in Research In Motion's infrastructure, all combat operations for this week have ceased. Now to our correspondent in the field . . . what's going on down there on the field, Nic?"

"Well, both sides have laid down their arms, and are gaming with each other instead . . . not much to report here . . . you got some old Lindsay Lohan footage to show instead . . . ?"

battery

[ace37]

One of the primary issues was that if the battery runs out of juice, a soldier can't swap it out for a fresh battery. They brought it up, and Apple basically said "we don't care." So they looked harder at Android.