Having grown up with the web, KTDs are more familiar with different parts of it while also being a lot less savvy about using it. There is a myth that we old fold like to tell about how good Kids These Days are with the internet. It usually has to do with the futility of installing things like Net Nanny software because Kids These Days will find a way around it in minutes. That’s not true. The fact is, having grown up with the web, KTDs are more familiar with different parts of it while also being a lot less savvy about using it. This poses a big problem for security issues. As Cisco points out in its annual security report: Today, your “millennial” employees—the people you want to hire because of the fresh ideas and energy they can bring to your business—show up to their first day on the job toting their own phones, tablets, and laptops, and expect to integrate them into their work life. They also expect others—namely, IT staff and chief information officers—to figure out how they can use their treasured devices, anywhere and anytime they want to, without putting the enterprise at risk. Security, they believe, is not really their responsibility: They want to work hard, from home or the office, using social networks and cloud applications to get the job done, while someone else builds seamless security into their interactions. You, Mr. and Ms. IT Security Person, just rolled your eyes. If you didn’t, you should have. Having been around the web their entire lives, Kids These Days take it for granted. It’s always been there and it always will be. This means they have a lot more casual attitude towards posting and distributing information. Everyone knows about KTDs who have gotten into trouble – professional and otherwise – for posting pictures on Facebook, etc. This same cluelessness applies to other types of information as well as other things they do on the internet. This was driven home to me when I realized that my 15-year-old son’s peers can’t find squat when it comes to specific information on the internet. I was surprised, but Greg explained it perfectly: “You had to search for information when you were growing up, so you learned how to do it. We didn’t. Just hit Google and it’s there.” The good news about these same employees, though, is that they are a lot less resistant to having security measures installed on personal devices which they use for work. Where mastodons like yours truly might get all libertarian about this, for most KTDs this would be like getting libertarian about the toaster or some other utensil. So, while they may be clueless about security, they don’t have anything against it either. P.S., to any KTDs who may read this: Stay off my lawn! Related content opinion Why Bitcoins are Just as Viable as Any Other Currency The true value of any currency is a reflection of how much people believe it's worth, according to CIO blogger Constantine von Hoffman. But it's wise to remember just how fast beliefs can change. By Constantine von Hoffman Apr 15, 2013 4 mins Government Technology Industry opinion No Surprise: Docs Show Obama Administration Lying About Drones President Obama has repeatedly said drones would only be used against members of al Qaida and allied groups. However, leaked intelligence documents show the administration has been using them to settle political and tribal feuds for at least four yea By Constantine von Hoffman Apr 10, 2013 3 mins Regulation Government opinion How Big Data Can Quickly Become Big Garbage The bigger the data the bigger the chance of mistakes or inaccuracies. In that vein, a large database used by retailers to screen people accused of stealing from employers is identifying innocent people and could result in major lawsuits, according t By Constantine von Hoffman Apr 04, 2013 2 mins Big Data opinion Why Crazy Trumps Logic on the Internet The earth is flat. Vaccines cause autism. 9/11 was a government conspiracy. These are just a few of the many ideas that continue to find adherents online despite overwhelming proof that they're not based on fact. CIO.com blogger Constantine von By Constantine von Hoffman Apr 02, 2013 3 mins Government Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe