Zscaler’s Drew Schnabel on 5G in Federal IT Space

Drew Schnabel, vice president of federal at Zscaler, told MeriTalk in an interview published Thursday he believes 5G will have the biggest impact on federal information technology in 2020.

“5G will bring high-speed internet connections to government in the next decade, improving agencies’ connectivity and providing consistent user experience and mobile access to federal networks,” Schnabel said. “More federal employees will use personal devices, work remotely, and connect to cloud destinations.”

As people get more connected through 5G, he said federal agencies face the challenge of keeping critical data secure from cyber criminals.

Schnabel also cited the need for agencies to focus on providing end users secure access wherever they are. “In 2020, agencies should be shifting to more comprehensive security platforms that reflect modern IT environments – Secure Access Service Edge,” he said. “While agencies might have aspects of this security approach in place – SD-Wan, SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and FWaaS, they will need to look for a single security offering solution that can scale to meet the needs of each agency.”