Jon Kim has 17 years of leadership and consulting experience in information security solutions, strategic risk management and business decision support both in the private and public sectors. Kim is the Cyber Security Practice Director at Force 3, and manages a team of engineers to support the needs of customers and their unique business requirements. Kim talked with WashingtonExec about the emerging bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approach to enterprise mobility and security.
WashingtonExec: How is BYOD better than an organization providing the same mobile device to all its employees?
Jon Kim: BYOD is better because it provides employees with versatility and flexibility. When an organization ties themselves to a single platform, you not only increase the cost cycle for replacing devices but you limit your end users’ options and choices.
As devices continue to evolve, organizations must adapt and address the changes or risk falling behind on leveraging new innovative business technologies. Instead of focusing on one single device manufacturer, organizations should focus on the business applications that allow employees to achieve the business capabilities necessary to drive their business.
WashingtonExec: How do you customize BYOD for each of your clients?
Jon Kim: We start by clearly defining and understanding our customer’s business function. This will help to narrow down why, how and what your needs are around BYOD solutions. Next, we have organizations take the BYOD readiness assessment that evaluates if your current infrastructure in place can support BYOD. From there we look at the business purposes and functions you want BYOD to offer and we develop a solution that meets your needs.
WashingtonExec: What impact do you think that BYOD has on an employee’s work-life balance?
Jon Kim: Generation Y is driving the demand for an environment where everything on their office desktop is available on their smartphone or tablet, therefore making working at 2am or from their local Starbucks a feasible option. Although Baby Boomers and Generation X may have a different perspectives on work-life balance then the younger Generation Y workforce, BYOD allows greater flexibility to be mobile, telecommute and constantly connected for everyone.
WashingtonExec: What is the greatest security threat when it comes to BYOD?
Jon Kim: From an administration standpoint, the biggest security question becomes, “How do you control and enforce policies on devices that you no longer own?” It is essential for organizations to have a proper BYOD management solution that can detect devices accessing your network, identify them appropriately and determine allowances for each connected device.
WashingtonExec: What can be done to protect an organization’s data security if an employee loses a mobile device?
Jon Kim: First and foremost, prevention is key to minimizing your potential risk. This should include automated policy enforcements for mobile devices, encryption to safeguard data, the ability to track and disable the device remotely, and identity-based access management to address authentication and authorization.
WashingtonExec: What do you think the next big thing in enterprise computing will be?
Jon Kim: I believe enterprises will be moving away from traditional laptops as their main business devices and moving to tablets and smartphone devices. More and more merchants are using tablets and smartphones to process customer purchases, restaurants are starting to use tablets to take orders, and more frequently we are seeing healthcare offices with tablets to sign-in patients and access images and files. The business capabilities and possibilities are endless on these platforms.
WashingtonExec: If you were going to London as an Olympic athlete this month, which sport would you be competing in?
Jon Kim: Greco Roman Wrestling, of course! During the summer of 1987, I trained with the top Greco Roman Wrestling coach and was selected to join the US Team. I qualified for the ’88 Olympics but due to an injury I had to withdraw.
WashingtonExec: What’s your favorite movie?
Jon Kim: My favorite movie is “Shawshank Redemption” because it teaches people to maintain dignity through whatever obstacles they face and to make the best out of the worst situation.
