Federal CISO: No contradiction between mobility and security
The need to prepare for disaster and the growing availability of technology have combined to promote telework — but is there a contradiction between mobility and security? New study says “no”
Two forces have combined to push for growing reliance on telework, that is, the ability of employees to work away from the organization’s central location: Developments in mobility and communication tecnology (broadband, laptops, PDAs), and homeland security: The vivid demonstration of how disruptive to business acts of terrorism or natural disasters can be caused many government and private organizations to begin to move toward teleworking. In addition, the growing recognition of the importance of business continuity during and after disasters has led to the emergence of continuity-specific comanies — Rockville, Maryland-based TeleContinuity is a good example — which offer technologies to facilitate communication among members of an organizations forced to disperse as a result of a disaster.
Trouble is, many argue that there is an inherent tension — if not outright conradiction — between mobility and security. Alexandria, Virginia-based Telework ExchangeSM says there is not. The organization is a public-private partnership focused on demonstrating the value of telework. It also servies the educational and communication requirements of the Federal teleworker community. The organization facilitates communication and exchange of ideas among federal teleworkers, telework managers, and IT professionals. Telework Exchange has just released the results of the “Remote Control — Federal CISOs Dish on Mobility, Telework, and Data Security” study. The study was underwritten by HP, and the organization says it dispels myths of telework and security incompatibility
