With 1 billion more mobile connections in the world than there are people in the world, it’s fair to say most people have a mobile device. Certainly, Zimperium works with clients in the public sector and the private sector, in countries and on continents around the globe, with organizations in every major industry, and with companies ranging in size from small start-ups to FORTUNE 10 enterprises. In short, we have a broad customer base.
Even so, we still sometimes get customers that make us blink. Chad Fulgham, now CIO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Interim Executive Director of the National Law Enforcement Museum (NLEM), understands a thing or two about cybersecurity. He expanded on that knowledge when, at 34, he served as the youngest CIO in FBI history.
Do you lock the front door to your home?
When it comes to the importance of securing mobile devices, Chad has had a consistent vision throughout his career. “In discussing the need for cybersecurity in general, or mobile device security, I like to use the analogy of a securing person’s house as it’s an easy analogy to understand. I always ask: ‘When you want to be secure your home, do you lock your doors and your windows?’ Most of us do. It’s common sense.”
“If you want to be secure in the digital world, the first thing you should do is lock the doors and windows. And for most of us, our first and most frequently used door to digital is the mobile device we take everywhere and look at countless times a day.”
Chad has seen the real-world attacks cybercriminals use. Everything from turning on your smartphone’s microphone to listening in on private conversations. From performing screen scrapes to capturing personal data. Using the device to impersonate you to colleagues, business associates, and even family members.
“Often, because their mobile device comes from a big-name company, and they get their service through a big-name carrier, and even because their smartphone is small and, in their pocket, people assume that their mobile experience is safe. They believe that someone else is out there whose job it is to keep their mobile device secure. But that is far from the truth.”
Cloud-only means mobile apps
In his current role as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Interim Executive Director at the NLEM, Chad finds mobile is a particular focal point because of the ‘cloud-only’ doctrine he has brought to the organization. “We have a very small staff. Minimizing the need for any tasks that don’t directly serve the museum and its visitors is vital. Servers, office software, email, telephone systems, collaboration, printing—if our organization uses it, we use it from the cloud.”
That, in turn, means using apps on mobile devices. Since everyone associated with the museum uses their personal mobile devices to conduct business on behalf of the museum, mobile security was not optional. And, since everyone is using personal devices, a solution that absolutely respects user privacy was also not optional.
Choosing Zimperium for the National Law Enforcement Museum
The solution of choice was Zimperium. “We—and our users—can basically just set it and forget it. Once it is installed, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. It allows all of us to conduct our mission securely while imposing no obstacles to getting the job done.”
The job for Chad and others at the NLEM is extensive and varied, because visitors to the museum get to experience a wide range of activities first-hand. “Put on a headset to see what it’s like being a 911 operator. You can ride along with a few officers to see what their days are like and experience surveillance and undercover tradecraft. You can have fun examining DNA evidence or other forensics in the Take the Case exhibit. The museum is very hands on and an immersive experience.”
“We even have a full-fledged training simulator where you experience the same kinds of environments and decision-making challenges that law enforcement professionals face every day. We are using a real law enforcement training simulator—this is as real as it gets.”
The aim of the museum is more than exhibiting the history of US law enforcement. It provides experiences that showcase all the different aspects of law enforcement. Roles such as medical examiners, intelligence analysts, aviation experts, forensics professionals, and many more beyond the more familiar canine units, sheriffs, police, and other peace officers.
Providing security and peace of mind
Providing peace of mind through mobile security is a fundamental, from Chad’s perspective. “We have an incredible team at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. They go above and beyond every day. Keeping their data and their devices secure is the least we can do.”
