Bradley Anstis, vice president of technical strategy for , agrees that there are some serious questions to be answered about protecting confidential or sensitive company data on a device like the iPad. Anstis commented via e-mail to warn "It has a cool factor so expect senior executives to force it on IT to support this new device, or simply start using them in their corporate infrastructures."

Anstis recommends that IT admins consider the possible ramifications of the iPad and how to protect data on it. Businesses should define acceptable use for Web browsing with the device.

Anstis explains "If the iPad is using the corporate Wi-Fi to access the Web, then this should be controlled by company's current Web security technology, but what about Web surfing via the iPad's 3G connection, that goes nowhere near the corporate infrastructure?"

By default, users with iPads will want to sync up basic information like e-mail, contacts, and calendar events. Users may also store files on the iPad, and the company needs to determine how that information will be protected.

The iPhone has presented many of the same concerns--again, the two devices use the same iPhone OS. The difference is that the iPhone--while it is a smartphone capable of much more than placing phone calls--is still too small to do much else from a practical perspective. The iPad represents a shift in how the iPhone OS will be put to use.