PlumChoice Promotes Anti-Theft Technology Service to SMBs

PlumChoice, Inc., which was acquired in May, has unveiled a partnership with Intel Corp. as part of its SAFElink Anti-Theft Service release.

The PlumChoice SAFElink Anti-Theft  solution is pretty straightforward. It protects all of the data stored on a laptop or notebook by completely shutting down the device if it is lost or stolen. The shutdown occurs as soon as the SAFElink Anti-Theft solution suspects the item is in the wrong hands.

“There are several triggers and flags set up within the SAFElink Anti-Theft solution that detects a device has been lost or stolen, like an excessive number of log-in attempts,” said Josh Goldlust, VP and general manager of platform service at PlumChoice. SAFElink tells the users that the device is being locked down. The user then needs to contact PlumChoice, answer a series of challenge questions, and reset their password to authenticate and unlock the device.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Intel in which we leverage their technology,” Goldlust said. “They’ve had this technology for the enterprise and now they’re bringing it down to small businesses.” That’s where PlumChoice fits in. The company targets small businesses of 50 users and under. SAFElink Anti-theft will work with the laptop lockdown security application that Intel developed with Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

If the user can’t authenticate the device, SAFElink, deletes all of  the data from the laptop or notebook  within a period of time decided by SAFElink resellers to prevent data theft. “It’s not good business to tell clients that you’re going to erase all of their data,” Goldlust joked. So PlumhChoice installs a net-based backup solution as part of the SAFElink installation process. When the user gets a new device, their data is restored from their net-based backup system.

PlumChoice has over 150,000 subscribers primarily based in the U.S., but that could soon change. Goldlust noted that there is “a significant opportunity in the coming months to expand internationally.”

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