2019 SailPoint Identity Insider Magazine - Magazine - Page 10
JULIETTE RIZKALLAH
CMO, SailPoint
Is There
a Price for
Privacy?
When you think of your home
environment, do you view it as your
sanctuary – the place where you
feel the most secure and private?
A handful of years ago, I would’ve
expected most people to answer that
question with a resounding “Yes.” At
that time, the heightened focus on the
internet of things (IoT) was not what it
is today, at least not on the home front.
Today, everything is connected, from
baby monitors to door bells and house
lights. But to what end? Where do we
need to draw the line as consumers of
technology?
Working in identity management and helping
corporations secure their users’ digital identities,
I am maybe over-sensitized to how data can be
breached, leaked and exploited by malicious actors.
This makes me reflect on how we use the devices at
home that have access to our personal data.
A Fundamental Shift
A connected home is meant to provide a new level
of convenience and, in certain instances, an added
layer of security. However, it seems a week doesn’t
go by without news of another smart device that
has been breached.
For example, a rash of incidents was reported at
the end of 2018 when several Nest devices were
targeted by hackers as a means of gaining entrance
to the home. It’s a terrifying thought to consider that
a complete stranger could contact you or your little
ones from your Nest device, and it is even more
terrifying to think that they could have the means or
visibility to eventually break into your home.
Then, there are the cybersecurity implications. We
need to consider that smart devices are not only
connected to our home or other devices, but they
also contain sensitive data, including payment
card information, passwords and the like. Hacking
10
|
SAILPOINT IDENTIT Y INSIDER