Government Technology - September 2008 - (Page 46)

security characteristic, for example, a fingerprint, voice recognition or other biological identifier. Some of these methods might be too techie, costly and complicated for many state and local governments, but protecting citizens data is important. “We have a higher moral obligation perhaps than the private sector does because our public constituents really can’t decide to opt out of whether they do business with the government or not,” Weatherford said. “They have to do business with us, whether it’s providing information to the department of motor vehicles or tax information. They can make a decision whether they want to walk into X bank and conduct their banking transactions or walk into a store and buy their groceries.” device over a wireless connection, they’re potentially putting sensitive information at risk. With so many people using wireless devices, the chances of this happening are skyrocketing. In 2006, FierceWireless, an online publication about wireless news and trends, partnered with Bluefire Security Technologies to survey 1,800 smartphone and wireless device users nationwide. These users comprised workers from various sectors, including government. More than 80 percent said their organizations’ handheld device usage increased during the past two years. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they worried about Web access security via their smartphones, and 70 percent said their top wireless security concerns were viruses or attacks on corporate networks and the security of data during transmission over wireless or cellular networks. Forty percent were concerned with loss or theft of wireless devices. In a FierceWireless/ BlueFire Security Technologies survey of smartphone and wireless device users across multiple sectors, more than 80 percent said the use of handheld devices increased in their organization over the past two years. Pocket Computers SEPT_08 Anyone interested in protecting wireless networks should remember the tiny mobile computers many people carry — cell phones. If someone uses an application on a handheld 46 Join Our Growing Government Team Apply your government experience to a career with ESRI, a company known for innovation and growth in the geographic information system (GIS) software industry. Our dynamic sales, marketing, and consulting experts work together to provide strategic direction and leadership for federal, state, regional, and local government agencies. We are looking for energetic, articulate people who are enthusiastic about GIS technology and have expertise in government-related disciplines for the following positions: These positions are based in our Washington, D.C., regional office and corporate headquarters in Redlands, California. Join the team dedicated to helping government agencies improve the quality of life for their constituents. Copyright © 2007 ESRI. All rights reserved. ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, and www.esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. ESRI is an equal opportunity employer. Mobile phones can access private networks via the Internet just like laptops, and both devices can be compromised by viruses. A cell phone can be infected with technology that lets a malicious third party see and hear what the user sees and hears — work meetings, text messages and phone calls are vulnerable. Because cell phones are so small, they are easily lost; a stranger can pick up a government-issued phone that’s dropped on the ground and access the data. “The users themselves still think of these devices as phones. They don’t think of them as the computer that sits on your hip,” said Paul Miller, Symantec managing director of mobile security. Consequently the same suspicious activity malware found on people’s desktops might go unnoticed on their phones. “They’re more apt to dismiss it or accept it because they don’t think of these things as computers.” But they should. It’s a good idea to put security software on phones and PDAs. Manage the cell phone under the same network access control policy that governs “regular” computers. Give cell phones password protection, antivirus software and consider monitoring activity with mobile device management (MDM) software. MDM software allows remote management of mobile devices — most of these solutions focus on PDAs and smartphones. Keep in mind that as computing and mobile technology evolves, security in all areas, including the wireless world, will undergo periodic changes. “It’s an art, not necessarily so much a science,” said Westchester County’s Harris about network security. There are many options, and the best ones depend on budget and type of network. “You have to see where you are in your particular growth in your network and see what changes need to be made.” Learn more and apply online at www.esri.com/careers/govt. http://www.esri.com/careers/govt http://www.esri.com http://www.esri.com/careers/govt

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - September 2008

Government Technology - September 2008 Contents Point of View On the Scene Big Picture Four Questions for... Up Close Fork in the Road On Time and On Target On the Record, Off the Charts Government’s Greatest Asset? Easy Access Finding the Money Security in the Wireless World The Case for Mobility Spectrum Products Two Cents signal:noise Digital Communities Contents A New Government Paradigm News is Now Transformation Web 2.0 Style Protecting Community Media Thinking Regionally Government at La-Z-Boy Speed

Government Technology - September 2008

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