Symantec looks to cyber-security's future with Ozone

Many of us who work for the private sector or the government are by this point well acquainted with officially issued technology being the only thing you’re authorized to access your work on, but inevitably ignore for your preferred personal devices and applications. And the many of us who have, as a result run into various technical issues accessing our work files, but because your IT has already said this is forbidden, you can’t go to them for support when you run into these difficulties. More importantly you’re also circumventing the security features utilized by your employers, and making them vulnerable to hacker attacks. Thankfully someone else has figured out we’re still going to behave this way despite everything we’re told or even threatened with.

Symantec Corp. has decided to tackle the problem from another angle, and will likely make them a lot of money as a result having already approached the American government as a prospective buyer.

O3 – or Ozone – is their solution. This web client links the users’ identity with the files and applications they’re permitted to access without requiring specific hardware or network programs like the VPNs many of us are familiar with.

While the company is still working on O3, Symantec intends to see it on the market some time next year. It certainly offers the advantage of mobility, and gives the employee the ability to access their work from anywhere. A productivity bonus I’m sure many organizations will enjoy, but it does mean you’re reliant upon Symantec to ensure the security and integrity of that web client.

There’s part of me that really likes the expediency of what they’re offering. Telecommuting would certainly become that much easier.