Systems are now being developed to ensure classified information can be transmitted securely on mobile devices used by the federal workforce. These systems will ultimately be used by industries in this country from banking to healthcare, according to Greg Youst, Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) Chief Mobility engineer.
The government and industry are working together to develop a secure communication solution for the Defense Department’s 600,000 mobile device users. The solution must be capable of keeping up with rapidly changing technology. A DOD strategy released in February calls for establishing a framework for reliable and secure classified mobile communications worldwide.
Youst has been holding discussions with Google, Apple, and Samsung, and he realizes that the strict security requirements needed for the federal workforce will also end up benefiting the commercial market.
“What is driving industry to work with DOD and the federal government is that when DOD’s high level of security becomes available, then companies will be able to market their mobile products to the corporate world. In other words, they can tell industry that if they are able to make the technology secure enough for DOD, than they are capable of developing a system for phone or mobile device management to provide a high level of security for industry”, said Youst.