Forrester Research has declared that Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS in newer iPhones and the iPad is now secure enough for enterprises to deploy. However, even the iOS in the iPhone 4, is no match to the higher security offered by the BlackBerry platform, the firm said.

In its report, Forrester's recommendations include implementing a basic set of iOS-based security features on both enterprise- and individually-owned iPhones and then layering additional capabilities and policies to meet more strict enterprise requirements. High-security organizations will find iPhone devices lacking in features, however.

The firm said roughly one in three companies in North America and Europe support the iPhone, a hefty amount considering Apple pales in comparison to RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) in terms of management and security infrastructure.

The iOS 4 now includes what Forrester calls key features to cover the basic security needs of most enterprises. They include:

• Encryption of email to and from iOS devices;
• Remote wiping of data from lost or stolen devices within less than one second;
• Numeric-only PIN or alphanumeric passcode lock;
• Device lock when the phone is inactive for a set period;
• Automatic erase after a specified number of failed unlock attempts;
• Signed user configuration profiles;
• Automatic refresh of security policy settings only via ActiveSync and Microsoft Exchange 2007; and
• Minimum-length PIN to prevent guessable passwords.

For more:
- check out this Computerworld article

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