GCN has reported that the Army has reminded remote workers in-home IoT devices pose security risks. The Army wants to be sure remote workers aren’t allowing smart devices in their home to listen in on any government-related conversations.
In a memo dated 25th May, Army CIO Raj G. Iyer described mandatory procedures teleworkers must use to mitigate leaks of official government information. These principles apply to all military components, civilian employees and contractors.
Effective immediately, the memo states that the remote work environment for all approved remote workers must be free of internet-of-things devices. That includes more than 70 types of devices, from Bluetooth speakers, fitness trackers, smart kitchen appliances, TVs and gaming consoles and home security systems. The memo makes particular mention of personal home assistants – like Alexa and Siri from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple and others.