infoTECH Feature

October 07, 2015

ITEXPO 2015 Day Three: The Impact of Digital Freedom on Security

Day three of ITEXPO 2015 started off on a powerful note as Candace Worley, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Endpoint Security of Intel (News - Alert) Security delivered an impactful keynote on the reality of modern corporate security.

Worley’s session, titled “Digital Freedom: A Risk To Corporate Security,” addressed the implications of mobility, the millennial generation, and the IT security talent deficit on business processes now and in the future.

Digital freedom, Worley explained, refers to the range of data and applications both consumers and employees can gain access to in any location, on any device, at any time. While many organizations are using this as an opportunity—consider the ubiquity of remote working and corporate collaboration technologies—this digital freedom is still a major risk for corporate security.

Today, individuals can take data anywhere, both in and out of the workplace, which creates heightened risk for security breach. “There are 50 billion devices attached to the network that your data and applications traverse through with littler consideration for security,” explained Worley. “With the complexity of IT and this nomadic data, users’ devices and data move fluidly in and out of corporate boundaries without halting productivity.”

“The nomadic nature of data contributes to the complexities of security policies and ensuring your company is meeting compliances,” Worley continued. However, implementing and enforcing such policies is more difficult than ever as millennials, who expect digital freedom in the workplace, begin taking over the workplace. In other words, millennial employees’ expectations for the free flowing of data and applications in and out of the workplace is putting corporation’s security measures at a disadvantage.

Unfortunately, the amount of interest in field is dwindling. “Over 50 percent of our workforce is not excited about security professions yet the demand is growing,” said Worley, “this is a massive challenge for companies that are trying to improve security uptime.” As such, Worley discussed what corporations must do in order to pivot with the significant changes that must be made to business processes.

Worley suggests that in order to fill the gaps in security talent in the workplace, technologies and policies must improve significantly to balance the deficit. She suggests deep integration across vendors in security and security IT. In addition, physical security elements integrated with cybersecurity elements will be crucial as this can provide a clearer view if an  incident is, indeed, malicious or not.

As well, Worley explained her vision for a security policy that is device agnostic. That is, a security policy that can be deployed where it’s needed without worrying about specific devices. Such a policy would be applied dynamically based on intelligence in the solutions despite whether the individual uses an Andrioid, an Apple (News - Alert), etc.

In closing, Worley asked “Is digital freedom a risk for corporate security?”

“Yes,” she answered, “Is it an incredible opportunity? Yes.” This opportunity lies in figuring out how to leverage the changing landscape of security in the workplace, something that Intel is taking on with innovation and strategy.




Edited by Kyle Piscioniere
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