Security starts at the backbone of your business
By WP BrandStudio
Today’s devices can connect to each other with astonishing ease. And with new technological advances like 5G just on the horizon, both personal and professional tech tools will soon be linked in an even more intricate web of connectivity. But these complex networks also pose a majority security risk, since more connections also mean more entry points for data theft and breaches. What can business leaders do to ensure their organization’s sensitive data stays protected?
In this interview, Jonathan Wong, director of product marketing at Samsung, explains how businesses can adopt more comprehensive security strategies, refine existing security measures and shore up gaps in protection. He also explains how smarter security can empower a business to reach its larger goals—a key ingredient for success in the Next Mobile Economy.
What are the biggest security challenges that companies are facing in the Next Mobile Economy?
Security is something that customers, big and small, have been trying to wrestle with for years. This has really been accelerated by mobile—just the pure amount of people with mobile devices and connecting to networks. Organizations are trying to figure out how to balance enabling their employees and keeping their stuff protected. And by stuff, I mean their users, their devices, and the data on those devices.
That’s the challenge, but it’s also a big opportunity. It’s not just security for the sake of protection. Security is actually able to enhance the experience to do things that customers traditionally wouldn’t have been able to do without it.
Any other challenges?
Employees can also be viewed as a pretty big threat, and it doesn’t have to be intentional or malicious by any means. People do a lot of things on their devices, both work and personal. And there’s a lot of different ways that they’re exposing the company data on those devices to external threats. It could be as simple as them receiving a text message that has a link or URL to something that opens access up to their device.
How do you shape a new security strategy around the fact that there are so many more opportunities for security breaches to occur?
First and foremost, it needs to start with the actual fundamental hardware of the device. It’s from design and manufacture to when a user powers on the device, to when it’s loading and booting and then to actually running apps. It’s about having that foundation that sets you up to actually accomplish what you want to accomplish.
Is it possible for an organization to go through the process of digital transformation without creating new security gaps?
That’s a good question. Ultimately, it’s two things: it’s balance and it’s a journey. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s complex. There’s usually way too many moving parts than most people want to deal with. And so, having security at that foundation balances the elements.
Can security actually empower a business to reach its core goals?
Think of a retailer or a service company or even a bank branch. Their larger initiative might be to transform their experience for customers while enabling their employees with the latest technology they actually want to use – not the outdated tech they are forced to use.. Upgrading to those devices can only be done if they’re actually secure from the chip up through all the layers of security. They also need tools that allows them to createa specific user interface that the customer would see, and permits greater customization, like having a corporate logo as the device wallpaper. We’re addressing customer satisfaction via better, more productive, happier employees. But at the same time, we’re making sure they’re using devices that are secured, controlled and managed with an experience that’s ideal for them and for the customer.
What do you think is on the horizon for mobile security over the five years?
It’s only going to become more important. I think we’ll have a point where it won’t just be viewed as security in isolation or security as only protection, or security as an inhibitor. It will be more as an integrated part of the overall solution to enable business.
There’s going to be a lot more of these devices and a lot more devices connecting to networks. Whether it’s our traditional view of a smartphone or tablet, which is obviously still very prevalent, or more connected devices with IoT. It’s only going to become more and more important to have a backbone of security.
Security has to really be woven into every part of the business experience. It’s part of the organization at every level, and it’s supporting those big, long-term business objectives.
Exactly. And I think it’s important to note that those security threats constantly evolve. So all the players in the space must be able to constantly evolve as well. There’s no solution that works forever. You’re constantly having to evolve the solution based off the various kind of security threats and attack vectors that constantly keep on changing. You can have that backbone, but that backbone still needs to be continually enhanced and maintained. It’s not the same as it was yesterday or would be tomorrow.
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