Faster, cheaper iPhone portends IT security headaches

While the throngs are going crazy about the new Apple iPhone's lower cost and faster download speeds, IT professionals are gearing up for more security headaches from the Apple's latest smart phone.

The new 3G iPhone announced on Monday by CEO Steve Jobs at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference will sell for US$199 for the 8GB model and US$299 for the 16GB model -- a US$200 discount on each model. That brings it within the reach of a much larger audience, including corporate users, according to analysts.

Moreover, the iPhone will support faster download over AT&T's 3G network, substantially enhancing users' web browsing experience. This makes the iPhone more appealing for workers accessing web-based enterprise applications via smart phone, Amrit Williams, CTO at vendor BigFix told SCMagazineUS.com.

That may be all well and good, but the new, faster iPhone models also portend problems for enterprise IT professionals who'll inevitably be forced to deal with them, Williams said. "What it boils down to, even though everyone is focusing on faster and cheaper, this creates a tipping point for a new era of mobile data threats and mobile malware," he said.

In addition, the iPhone lacks third-party verification that it is secure, no matter what Apple claims, Ken Dulaney, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, told SCMagazineUS.com. "For Apple to say it's secure is one thing, but to have independent people with secure products is another," he said.