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By Austin O'Neill
FederalNewsRadio
We know managers, you were
uncomfortable with the idea of
teleworking even before all
those security breaches rattled
the federal government. But
now you're really against it
aren't you? You might not
actually have to be so worried.
"Some people like to say 'isn't
security a barrier to the use of
telework?' We do not believe
that's the case," says Paul
Kurtz, Executive Director of the
Cyber Security Industry
Alliance. And he says, the
recent data breaches will not
help, either. He thinks they will
be used as an excuse to put off
or delay teleworking.
We would argue that there are
several technologies available
today that can help people
telework securely. There are
means today to, for example,
fingerprint that laptop so you
know that it's an individual's
laptop and not someone else
using a different laptop in order
to tap into a database.
FederalNewsRadio took a tour
of one of the General Services
Administration's 14 teleworking
sites with center director Joyce
Larrick. On the tour of the facility
at Bowie State University in
Maryland, Larrick pointed to a
work station used by the
Department of Defense.
uncomfortable with the idea of
teleworking even before all
those security breaches rattled
the federal government. But
now you're really against it
aren't you? You might not
actually have to be so worried.
"Some people like to say 'isn't
security a barrier to the use of
telework?' We do not believe
that's the case," says Paul
Kurtz, Executive Director of the
Cyber Security Industry
Alliance. And he says, the
recent data breaches will not
help, either. He thinks they will
be used as an excuse to put off
or delay teleworking.
We would argue that there are
several technologies available
today that can help people
telework securely. There are
means today to, for example,
fingerprint that laptop so you
know that it's an individual's
laptop and not someone else
using a different laptop in order
to tap into a database.
FederalNewsRadio took a tour
of one of the General Services
Administration's 14 teleworking
sites with center director Joyce
Larrick. On the tour of the facility
at Bowie State University in
Maryland, Larrick pointed to a
work station used by the
Department of Defense.
There are of course, ways to
authenticate the user
themselves, the individual
behind the computer, to make
sure that's the individual (who)
ought to be accessing the
system. There are also ways to
access data without having to
have 26.5 million names on a
laptop.
You could actually access a
database that would be held in
a separate location. There are
a variety of ways you can
securely do teleworking to
bolster a distributed workforce.
"This person has a high
security position. You see his
computer? His monitor? You'll
see an encryption box. All of
that is owned by DOD." Larrick
says the agencies work with
the technical team at the
University and set up a work
station that is secure. "This
gives them a comfort level and
they pretty much handle their
own upgrades," she says.
Despite existing technology to
ensure security, and making
the teleworking process easier
overall, managers are still
resisting telework. Kurtz says
GSA has given agencies,
managers and employees the
proper guidance to set it all up.
"The federal government can
pay for broadband installation
authenticate the user
themselves, the individual
behind the computer, to make
sure that's the individual (who)
ought to be accessing the
system. There are also ways to
access data without having to
have 26.5 million names on a
laptop.
You could actually access a
database that would be held in
a separate location. There are
a variety of ways you can
securely do teleworking to
bolster a distributed workforce.
"This person has a high
security position. You see his
computer? His monitor? You'll
see an encryption box. All of
that is owned by DOD." Larrick
says the agencies work with
the technical team at the
University and set up a work
station that is secure. "This
gives them a comfort level and
they pretty much handle their
own upgrades," she says.
Despite existing technology to
ensure security, and making
the teleworking process easier
overall, managers are still
resisting telework. Kurtz says
GSA has given agencies,
managers and employees the
proper guidance to set it all up.
"The federal government can
pay for broadband installation
and monthly access fees,
provide new or excess
equipment including
computers, provide help desk
and technical support, also
there's guidance under Federal
Preparedness Circular #65 that
focuses on the need for
telework," he says.
Kurtz says you managers are a
major roadblock, preventing
feds from working closer to
home. "What we're finding is a
resistance among mid-level
managers to take this issue
on. In other words, they want to
have their employees in sight
rather than out of sight," he
says.
Larrick invites any manager to
come to her site in Bowie and
telework for a day. "I really love
talking to managers. We want
to see how we can best use
the center to work for that
particular office in that agency."
After all, teleworking is not just
about saving money on gas or
a better quality of life anymore.
There are threats of
pandemics, terrorist attacks,
natural disasters. And Kurtz
says, even on a more basic
level, the 100-plus-degree,
Code Red days here in
Washington D.C. are good
reasons for telecommuting.
"We could all save on energy
and reduce smog."
provide new or excess
equipment including
computers, provide help desk
and technical support, also
there's guidance under Federal
Preparedness Circular #65 that
focuses on the need for
telework," he says.
Kurtz says you managers are a
major roadblock, preventing
feds from working closer to
home. "What we're finding is a
resistance among mid-level
managers to take this issue
on. In other words, they want to
have their employees in sight
rather than out of sight," he
says.
Larrick invites any manager to
come to her site in Bowie and
telework for a day. "I really love
talking to managers. We want
to see how we can best use
the center to work for that
particular office in that agency."
After all, teleworking is not just
about saving money on gas or
a better quality of life anymore.
There are threats of
pandemics, terrorist attacks,
natural disasters. And Kurtz
says, even on a more basic
level, the 100-plus-degree,
Code Red days here in
Washington D.C. are good
reasons for telecommuting.
"We could all save on energy
and reduce smog."
Copyright © 2006 Bowie State University Telecommuting Center. All rights reserved.
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