New level of cross-device data syncing

Apple's upcoming iCloud service could bring its users to a new level of cross-device data syncing. Nevertheless, the service has raised concerns about security. Syncing that much data through a central Apple hub could provide a juicy target for hackers. And for iDevices used in an enterprise setting, iCloud's ability to automatically sync data could accidentally push secret information then outside the corporate walls.

Some analysts expect the iCloud will help Apple keep clients closer to its bosom -- make them "stickier," in analystspeak. Others think the iCloud will give a boost to cloud computing.

The increasing consumerization of the enterprise

With the increasing consumerization of the enterprise, iCloud has as well raised questions regarding corporate security. As executives and workers use their iPads and iPhones in their daily work, is there a risk of corporate documents being accidentally exposed to outside eyes when devices are automatically synced on the iCloud?

Apple's iCloud will accelerate the process of cloud services pouring into the corporate environment, Geoff Webb, product marketing director at Credant Technologies, told MacNewsWorld.

"I'm more worried about two other areas," Credant's Webb said. "One is the increasing risk of sensitive information leaking out of the business via iCloud and the second is the opportunity of iCloud itself becoming a target."

Apple's iTunes store was reportedly hacked recently, and victims' accounts were bilked for payments for Sega's "Kingdom Conquest" game. Sega denied responsibility, stating the game would only be charged to a victim's iTunes account if someone installed the app, logged into the victim's account with valid credentials, at the time made a purchase.

Perhaps the crooks simply guessed the passwords on victims' iDevices. iOS app developer Daniel Amitay found that 15 percent of iPhone owners used one of 10 four-digit numbers. These included "1234" "0000," "1111" and "2222."

Two other favorites were "0852" and "2580," both of which consist of selecting keys in one column of the iPhone's keypad.

The chances of such an attack succeeding are high because iCloud is a free service, Storms contended. As such, it's reasonable to assume that nearly every Apple user will take advantage of the iCloud, he said.

"Enterprise security teams, in particular, do not want to guess," Storms said. "They want solid information so they can build it into the risk models they use to protect the business."

"With iCloud being free and very easy to use, every iPhone and iPad user in your company will very probably be syncing their devices to the iCloud, and Apple hasn't provided any tools the enterprise can use to control what kind of data can be stored in the iCloud," Storms pointed out.

"Businesses should be asking how this will affect their ability to lock down sensitive data," Webb said. "They should as well be very worried about compliance reporting."