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ABC LTD.

Policy Document
BlackBerry Internet Services
Neha Chandra

BIS Policy Page 1


Contents
Blackberry Internet Services (BIS) Policy.....................................................................................................3
Purpose:..............................................................................................................................................3
Scope:..................................................................................................................................................3
Roles & Responsibilities:......................................................................................................................3
Audience:.............................................................................................................................................3
Related policies:..................................................................................................................................3
Validity:................................................................................................................................................3
Policy Summary:..................................................................................................................................3
1. Encryption Policy.............................................................................................................................4
2. E-mail Policy.....................................................................................................................................4
3. Instant Messaging Policy.................................................................................................................4
4. Secure Browsing Policy....................................................................................................................4
5. Firewall Policy..................................................................................................................................5
6. Password Policy...............................................................................................................................5
7. Privacy Policy...................................................................................................................................5
8. Download Policy..............................................................................................................................5
9. Virus & Anti-spyware Policy.............................................................................................................6
10. Data Destruction Policy................................................................................................................6
Enforcement: ......................................................................................................................................6
Acronyms:............................................................................................................................................6

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Blackberry Internet Services (BIS) Policy

Purpose: This document intends to lay out the security requirements of Blackberry Internet Services on
a Blackberry smartphone and high level directives for implementing the same.

Scope: This policy applies to all subscribers of Blackberry Internet Services and related
services/applications.

Roles & Responsibilities: The responsibility of usage and compliance with these policies rests entirely
with the BIS user.

Audience: Blackberry Internet Services subscribers.

Related policies: None

Validity: This policy remains in effect unless and until succeeded by a newer version.

Policy Summary: There are mainly two BlackBerry mobile connectivity options. One of them is the
BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). Here in, the mobile service provider acts as an intermediary between
the user’s email server and his/her BlackBerry device. The BIS service hence caters to personal usage
and doesn’t have huge security concerns from organizational perspective. This policy outlines the
security policies which must be abided by the BIS user in order to enhance the security of blackberry
device owned.

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1. Encryption Policy
 Any communication between the messaging server and the device must be encrypted using SSL.
 SSL encryption must be enabled in BlackBerry browser.
 All transactions between the browser and e-commerce websites must use secure SSL
connection, the absence of which must terminate the transaction.
 Device password must be set up to prevent leakage of data directly from the device’s hardware.
 Content Protection strength level must be set according to the need of usage.
 All data on the media card of the device must be encrypted using the Encrypt Media Files
functionality of BIS.

2. E-mail Policy
 The device must be configured to automatically encrypt all e-mails sent by the mail server to the
BIS.
 All attachments must be protected using the Content Protection feature i.e. it must be turned
ON at all the times.
 BIS must be configured to scan all attachments before opening them and block all such functions
in the attachment which might raise a security issue.
 Anti-spam features of BIS must be turned ON to ward off unsolicited mails and messages.

3. Instant Messaging Policy


 Messages between the messaging server and BIS must be encrypted.
 All messaging communication travelling between BIS and the device uses the security settings of
the wireless network; hence the network must be appropriately secured.

4. Secure Browsing Policy


 The BlackBerry browser must be configured to accept only secure connections via SSL for critical
messages, transactions and logins.
 Images and javascript must be disabled from being displayed in the browser if security
requirements mandate so.

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5. Firewall Policy
 Device firewall must be enabled in the Security Settings option.
 The firewall must be configured as to not accept any unencrypted data from an untrusted
source i.e. unencrypted SMS text messages & PIN messages must be blocked if security
requirements are high.
 The firewall must be configured to reject any incoming SMS, MMS or PIN messages if at all
required.
 In order to provide proper communication between BIS and the email servers, a particular set of
IP ranges (as specified in the technical manual) must be allowed to communicate with the
BlackBerry Infrastructure. Firewall ACL must be configured for the same.

6. Password Policy
 A device password must be setup to prevent un-authorized users from accessing the device.
 If the Password Keeper utility of the device is being used to manage different passwords of the
user then the master password of that utility must be chosen such that it’s strong enough to
prevent password attacks.
 If the Content Protection Strength is set to ‘Stronger’ then a minimum of 12 digit device
password must be used.
 If the Content Protection Strength is set to ‘Strongest’ then the password length must be a
minimum of 21 characters.

7. Privacy Policy
 GPS Service provided by the device if not required must either be turned off or permanently
deleted as per the privacy requirements of the user.
 Third party applications accessing GPS data without permission must be blocked or deleted.

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8. Download Policy
 Access attempts to device resources by 3rd party applications must be controlled.
 Connection attempts made by 3rd party applications must also be monitored & controlled.

9. Virus & Anti-spyware Policy


 The built-in anti-virus and anti-spyware functions of the device must be turned ON always.
 They must be regularly updated and patched.

10. Data Destruction Policy


 Automatic cleaning performed by the device must be configured as per user requirements.
 All conditions under which the device cleans/overwrites memory must be reviewed and changes
must be made to the configuration accordingly.
 All personal information must be deleted from the device before disposing off the device. This
must be accomplished using the Wipe Handheld feature of BIS.

Enforcement: The enforcement of this policy is to be carried out on a personal/individual level.

Acronyms:
SSL Secure Sockets Layer
GPS Global Positioning System
BIS Blackberry Internet Services
BES Blackberry Enterprise Services
ACL Access Control List

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