Proven Security for Real-Time Mobile Reporting Systems
The highlight of Oulu-based Nive Information Technology is the Nive Notis application for mobile observations. Nive Notis enables effortless, instant, and secure reporting from the observation site directly into a company’s M-Files-based information management system. In spring 2022, the application underwent a thorough security inspection by Prove.
Easy Field Observations Directly into the Information Management System
"Our competitive advantage is that the application can be easily customized for all types of mobile observations. Anything can be reported," says CEO Pekka Korpela. "Through Nive Notis, users can report anything from a power line fault in the forests of Kainuu to deviations spotted during an audit and their follow-ups, or daily observations from a security company," Korpela continues, noting that the app integrates seamlessly with the Finnish M-Files information management system. M-Files has a large customer base, and for them, Nive Notis offers an agile solution for reporting, recording, and storing observations.
In March 2022, a security test was conducted on the Nive Notis app together with Prove, coinciding with the release of the first commercially available version for iOS and Android app stores.
"We wanted to test the security level of the communication between the mobile phone and the M-Files server, ensuring that no third party could access the data moving through the public internet," Korpela explains.
For data collection to make sense, mobile network usage must be possible, allowing quick and real-time reporting of observations, Korpela continues. For example, observations related to snow plowing needs require a fast response time, and fresh data is the most reliable.
"Of course, an individual observation can also be confidential information, but the bigger risk would be a data breach targeting the company’s other information."
"The testing went well in two ways," Korpela praises. "Prove impressed us with their expertise in how the testing was defined, executed, and reported. We were satisfied with the quality of everything they did."
Another positive outcome, according to Korpela, was the unusually low number of testing findings. "In fact, there were no critical findings at all, and the minor observations that came up during testing were addressed."
Prove Made Buying Testing Services Easy
Prove was selected as Nive’s partner through positive word-of-mouth. "We really didn’t know of any other company that was as good. We knew Prove was a company from Oulu, and we had heard good things. There were other options, but it was important to us that the testing was done by a Finnish company," Korpela recalls.
In addition to Prove’s testing expertise, Korpela was impressed by their productization and packaging of the service. "One intensive testing week was a good example of how they made the purchasing process easy."
Before testing, Nive already had strong confidence and an assumption that the application was secure. However, without Prove’s testing, Nive would not have had an official testing report to show to customers. Customer trust is vital for Nive’s operations, and after the testing, their internal confidence in the application grew even further.
"We wouldn’t dare sell the application to a security-critical customer unless we were absolutely sure everything was in order," Korpela conclcludes.
