Virtualization to boost mobile security

The technology is predicted to be used to break the ties between a mobile device's hardware and software so that standardized software can be downloaded on any handset or laptop.

This will allow companies to keep a tight security rein on the increasing number of different types of mobile gadgets by making sure that every corporate device adheres to the same consistent security rules, according to the analyst.

But the bad news is that such virtualization tools for mobile devices will not be around until 2012--so businesses need to start bringing in policies in the short term, Gartner said.

Speaking at the Gartner IT Security Summit here, Monica Basso, research director at Gartner, said more personal devices are being brought into the business space. She said this diversity--and the lack of security on such devices--is putting companies at risk.

"Technology over the next five years will allow convergence of (mobile) devices and tools, and virtualization is one of the many enablers to allow this convergence," Basso said.