In a Gartner report dated July 10, 2007 entitled iPhone First-Generation Security is Too Weak for Enterprises it is recommended that enterprise policy for the admission of the iPhone should follow Gartner's recommended guidelines and common sense. Basically stating that it (iPhone) should not be allowed to interact with business networks and data If the device cannot be supported, and if it cannot be brought into compliance.

The article goes on to "predict" that critical malware aimed at the iPhone will appear within weeks of its release. Is Gartner involved in the effort to destroy the innovation in the iPhone? Are the corporate "thunderheads" threatened by the new device? Or are they like Michael Chertoff and just have a "gut feeling" that something is going to happen. Unless Gartner and Chertoff are psychic "gut feelings" and "predictions" are from the culture of FUD (fear, uncertainty & doubt or doom) that have long held their place in the computer and security fields. But I digress... Something may happen but that can be said of anything at anytime so Goliath must feel threatened to go psychic.

On the factual side, the iPhone applications are tightly coupled to OSx and inbound port traffic can not reach them by design. Additionally, there is a clear way to get updates (through iTunes) so maybe it is not as "poorly" thought out as Gartner would like for all to believe. Additionally, Gartner states enterprises should view the iPhone as a wake-up call to fortify policies, that all devices should be managed in the PC group. Well that about says it all -- Gartner wants everything in the PC group, read Microsoft.

From a business perspective Gartner "reviews" are useful, but no business should make policy decisions based on one entities "predictions". The only useable part of this report is the notion of using common sense. In that regard, does it make you question who benefits if iPhone fails?, would the use of the iPhone make your staff more productive? As for the confidentiality of email -- we all know that you should not put anything in email that you don't want to read on the front page of the Post or NYT.

The iPhone is a window into the future of computing. In this "post PC" age -- wake up, your coffee is burning, transparent security will soon replace the firewalls and vpns. Will there be hacks -- YES, Will there be change -- YES!