BlackBerry device maker Research In Motion (RIM) issued a statement today regarding the security of customer data that is stored on their servers and that traverses their systems.
In an online article appearing on the Wall Street Journal website, Phred Dvorak writes:
“RIM said the BlackBerry network was set up so that “no one, including RIM, could access” customer data, which is encrypted from the time it leaves the device. It added that RIM would “simply be unable to accommodate any request” for a key to decrypt the data, since the company doesn’t have the key.
The BlackBerry network is designed “to exclude the capability for RIM or any third party to read encrypted information under any circumstances,” RIM’s statement said. Moreover, the location of BlackBerry’s servers doesn’t matter, the company said, because the data on them can’t be deciphered without a decryption key. “RIM assures customers that it will not compromise the integrity and security of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution,” the statement said.”
While I like to think that my data that passes between my BlackBerry Storm2 and RIM’s network operations center, or NOC, is secured, even from RIM, in today’s day and age, I’m still a little bit skeptical that if the US or Canadian governments came knocking on RIM’s dock that they won’t eventually turn over the data. For how, RIM is taking the moral high ground and is backing their customer base. Good for you, RIM!