If there's anything that businesses have learned as a result of COVID-19 and the ensuing chaos, it's that communications systems need to be resilient enough to handle more than they currently can. Many of these organizations, particularly those in the telecommunications sector, stepped up to the plate and met a vastly increased demand when millions of Americans were forced to work remotely. Several of these lessons learned should be seriously considered by the government sector as candidates for implementation in the future, should such a situation arise again.
Availability vs. Confidentiality
Before any new communications platforms are adopted, organizations must conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to determine what communications need to be secured and at what cost. Cybersecurity and communications are constantly a trade-off between making sure the necessary people have access to information vs. keeping that information secure. A move toward accessibility necessitates a move away from confidentiality, and vice versa. Comms that can be resilient in the face of a mass exodus away from traditional workplaces will still need to be secured, but an organization cannot make that move without conducting the proper risk assessments.
Mobile Platforms
Perhaps one of the most lasting legacies of the COVID-19 pandemic will be a move toward mobile communication platforms. Cell phones and tablets that employees can use to securely reach back to company resources through unsecured Wi-Fi connections are absolutely critical to success moving forward. In the government, this is made more complex by the different requirements for securing classified information, many of which have substantial legal ramifications if mistreated.
This is not to say that sensitive data and communications should have their classifications downgraded or restrictions relaxed. However, it ..
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