So you heard about the security issues at Dropbox and how it may affect others.. Turns out IBM banned a lot of use of services of its ilk, and there’s the question about ‘should people use it at work‘?
My reaction is “duh”.
Look, there’s new services, gizmos, websites, gadgets, feeds, cybernetic implants, or whatever coming at us fast and furious. Companies can whip up services, slap android on some device of common components, or get out a new app rapidly. Inevitably in all this speed there will be plenty of stupid security breaches, or even understandable ones, because there’s more new than there is well-validated.
Of course it’s hard to say no to people using these devices and apps and services as they’re popular and powerful. So we end up with bring your own device going bad, security fears going dumb, and the usual.
This is where we geeks come in.
We know this stuff. We live this stuff. We build this stuff.
So on your job, or assignment, or with your clients be ready to sling the knowledge on the latest cool technology that’s coming out of our seemingly ever-accelerating geekonomy. It helps them out, it makes you look good, and it builds good relations. People always appreciate a little technical support – especially offered and free.
It also keeps people from doing dumb stuff with new technology. Believe me, there’s plenty of opportunity for it . . .
Leverage that geekery.
Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach. He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.