May 05, 2017
The Smart Move for the DOD on Smartphoness
President Trump’s reluctance to give up his personal smartphone following his inauguration is well documented. It’s also understandable. The highly modified, top secret, certified smartphone that “goes with the office” is so secure it won’t run apps. Former President Barack Obama compared it to a toddler’s phone — no texts, no photos, and he could only make calls from a restricted contact list.
While the president’s phone is a unique case, the widening divide between most commercial smartphones and the devices issued to federal employees is a problem. Outdated devices hobbled by restrictive security measures are a staple in organizations that deal with sensitive information. Nowhere is this clearer than at the Pentagon.
Allowing Defense Department employees to use their personal devices for work — if they meet minimum security standards and are equipped with additional security functions — would be cheaper, easier to manage and lead to better technology outcomes.
Read the full article in FedTech Magazine.
More from CNAS
-
When your data is held hostage
Podcast
Technology and security expert Kara Frederick explains how and why U.S. local governments and electoral rolls are vulnerable to ransomware and what can be done about it. List...
By Kara Frederick
-
Setting the Stage for U.S. Leadership in 6G
Commentary
Every day there are more headlines about China’s rise in 5G, the next generation of wireless communications technologies, and the economic and national security risksto the Un...
By Martijn Rasser
-
China’s Quantum Future
Commentary
China should be a “global leader in innovation” by 2035, President Xi Jinping declared during the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th National Congress last October. His remarks re...
By Elsa B. Kania
-
Technology and Innovation in an Era of U.S.-China Strategic Competition
Podcast
China has taken significant steps to implement national strategies and encourage investment aimed at surpassing the U.S. in high-tech fields like artificial intelligence. In t...
By Elsa B. Kania
