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October 9, 2013

New enterprise version of SafeMonk offers cure to Dropbox security phobia

IT policy enforcers can now allow company-wide use of popular cloud application.

By Duncan Macrae

SafeNet has announced the availability of the enterprise version of its encryption solution designed specifically for users of the file-sharing service Dropbox.

Back in June, SafeMonk rolled out the consumer version of the product – the only tapproof Dropbox security solution on the market.

Chris Holland, CEO, SafeMonk, said: "SafeMonk for Enterprise enables CIOs, CTOs, CSOs, and other IT policy enforcers to say ‘yes’ to using Dropbox within their organisations.

"Organisations, including our parent company, SafeNet, which now uses SafeMonk for Enterprise, can take advantage of the simplicity and functionality of Dropbox while also keeping their sensitive data secure and under control."

According to 451 Research senior analyst of Enterprise Security, Javvad Malik: "More common than trying to replace supposedly consumer-based collaboration systems is an attempt to learn how to coexist with them. If an enterprise has 10,000 Box or Dropbox instances that have grown without official approval, there is little real likelihood of them going away. So, as the maxim goes, if you can’t beat them, join them."

Like the consumer version, SafeMonk for Enterprise is also tapproof, meaning that neither SafeMonk nor Dropbox can see the keys used to encrypt or decrypt the files within SafeMonk. The keys stored on SafeMonk servers are encrypted with users’ private and local keys, so in the event of a system breach, SafeMonk user keys are protected and the files are not viewable.

With SafeMonk for Enterprise, companies can choose to revoke keys by user or file share. When access to the keys is removed, the data is rendered useless, giving the enterprise complete access control to the sensitive data everywhere Dropbox places it. Additionally, SafeMonk for Enterprise administration console and logging capabilities provide IT staff with records of activity that can be accessed for compliance reporting and monitored for red flags.

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To use SafeMonk for Enterprise, the IT administrator creates an Enterprise SafeMonk account and provisions the appropriate employee accounts. Once the application downloads to the employee’s PC or other device, an encrypted SafeMonk folder is created in Dropbox.

The SafeMonk folder can be used like any other folder within Dropbox, with the addition that all the content inside is tapproof. SafeMonk for Enterprise allows IT administrators to monitor and track shares with other Dropbox users; provision and de-provision access based on employee status; and revoke access to users, folders, and/or devices — allowing them to maintain internal and external policies around data governance.

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