September 22, 2015 By Shane Schick 2 min read

Apple has made significant strides in getting some of its mobile devices adopted by large enterprises, but a problem in iOS 9 could cause issues for information workers who want to access their corporate network via a virtual private network (VPN).

Cisco posted a Facebook alert about the flaw, which remains in the most current version of iOS 9 and involves a malfunction in the Tunnel All DNS option in Cisco’s AnyConnect VPN product. It means remote workers may not be able to access some servers, although not necessarily all of them.

The iOS 9 bug is not limited to Cisco AnyConnect but potentially affects many similar products, as well, according to InfoWorld. It’s an issue that could prove frustrating for iPhone or iPad users who decided to upgrade to Apple’s latest mobile OS early since they would now have to figure out a way to move back to iOS 8.4.1, which is immune to the VPN connectivity flaw.

ZDNet said the only option is for iOS 9 users to first ensure they have backed up their device using iTunes. Although some might have assumed iCloud would be the more logical tool for this task, iTunes has a restore feature that can essentially make it seem like the upgrade never happened — and, perhaps more importantly, get them the corporate access they need.

Ironically, Apple and others have been working hard to prove that iOS 9 is one of the most secure mobile platforms in the industry, FierceMobileIT pointed out. This includes the ability for IT administrators to push apps to employee devices without going through the App Store or relying on an Apple ID, and the ability to integrate with enterprise mobile management software. An inability to get into the corporate network via VPN, however, may have IT departments putting off upgrades until a newer iteration of the beta is available.

Softpedia said that the iOS 9 bug could have something to do with the way some companies set up a particular VPN. Over time, this flaw will no doubt be resolved by Apple, but it shows that companies moving to a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy may need to think through potential connectivity snags as they allow employees more choice over the kinds of technologies they use.

More from

Airplane cybersecurity: Past, present, future

4 min read - With most aviation processes now digitized, airlines and the aviation industry as a whole must prioritize cybersecurity. If a cyber criminal launches an attack that affects a system involved in aviation — either an airline’s system or a third-party vendor — the entire process, from safety to passenger comfort, may be impacted.To improve security in the aviation industry, the FAA recently proposed new rules to tighten cybersecurity on airplanes. These rules would “protect the equipment, systems and networks of transport…

Protecting your digital assets from non-human identity attacks

4 min read - Untethered data accessibility and workflow automation are now foundational elements of most digital infrastructures. With the right applications and protocols in place, businesses no longer need to feel restricted by their lack of manpower or technical capabilities — machines are now filling those gaps.The use of non-human identities (NHIs) to power business-critical applications — especially those used in cloud computing environments or when facilitating service-to-service connections — has opened the doors for seamless operational efficiency. Unfortunately, these doors aren’t the…

Communication platforms play a major role in data breach risks

4 min read - Every online activity or task brings at least some level of cybersecurity risk, but some have more risk than others. Kiteworks Sensitive Content Communications Report found that this is especially true when it comes to using communication tools.When it comes to cybersecurity, communicating means more than just talking to another person; it includes any activity where you are transferring data from one point online to another. Companies use a wide range of different types of tools to communicate, including email,…

Topic updates

Get email updates and stay ahead of the latest threats to the security landscape, thought leadership and research.
Subscribe today