In Episode S7E4, David Matalon, CEO and Founder of Venn, joins Steven Bowcut to explore the evolving landscape of remote work security and the challenges of traditional Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). David shares insights into how financial services and other industries have struggled with data security, compliance, and usability in a BYOD-driven world, and how Venn’s Secure Enclave and Blue Border technology provide a more seamless, secure alternative. They also discuss the importance of work+life integration over balance, how Venn’s approach enhances remote productivity without sacrificing security, and the lessons learned from scaling a cybersecurity business. The conversation delves into the future of BYOD, its growing strategic importance in hybrid workforces, and how Venn is shaping the future of secure remote access by integrating with existing applications and infrastructure. David also shares his vision for the next phase of remote work, where BYOD becomes the standard rather than the exception.
Summary
Addressing VDI Challenges in Remote Work
David discusses the challenges faced by financial services and other firms in maintaining data security and compliance while transitioning to a remote workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains that they use VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) technology to securely deliver applications and data to remote users, keeping data secure and compliant. However, he notes that this approach has limitations, such as latency issues and the inability to use native computers or applications. David mentions that they listen to their customers’ struggles with this approach and are considering new technology to address these issues.
Work-Life Balance and Remote Productivity
Steven and David discuss the importance of work+life balance and how their respective companies approach it. David emphasizes the concept of “work plus life” rather than “work-life balance,” suggesting that people should strive to excel in both domains simultaneously. He also highlights the role of their product in enabling remote work flexibility, increasing productivity, and catering to individual work preferences without compromising security or compliance. Steven appreciates David’s insights and the philosophy behind their company’s approach.
Lessons Learned From Business Growth
David and Steven discuss the challenges and lessons learned from launching and scaling a business, particularly in the context of cyber security. David emphasizes the importance of learning from setbacks and failures and the need for a culture that is humble and understands that failure is a necessary part of growth. He also highlights the importance of listening to customers closely but not always taking their feedback at face value. Steven agrees with David’s points and adds that learning from failures and understanding what doesn’t work can lead to discovering what does work. They both agree that the business landscape is constantly changing and that staying ahead of the curve requires continuous learning and adaptation.
Innovation and Customer Focus in Tech
David and Steven discuss the importance of listening to customers and prospects while also being bold in innovation. David highlights the role of technology in changing the game for corporate customers, specifically mentioning the Secure Enclave and the blue border feature of Venn. He explains that these features allow for the containerization of work data on personal devices, providing a clear separation between work and personal life. Steven expresses his fascination with these features, noting their potential to protect work data from unauthorized access.
Balancing Security and Usability in Business
David and Steven discuss the balance between security and usability in their business, with David emphasizing that their technology aims to strike this balance effectively. They compare their approach to VDI, highlighting the challenges of remote application running and the cost associated with it. David also mentions that their technology is suitable for any organization with a workforce that uses Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). They acknowledge that their roots are in the financial services sector, but the technology is now applicable to any organization.
BYOD’s Strategic Importance in Hybrid Work
David and Steven discuss the strategic importance of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for organizations with teams of contractors, offshore teams, and high turnover rates. They highlight the benefits of BYOD in terms of efficiency, agility, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in sensitive data industries like healthcare and financial services. Steven also brings up the potential application of their solution in government entities, although David notes that their current customers primarily use their technology for remote workforces. Both agree that the future of work will likely involve a hybrid model, with a balance between remote and office work.
BYOD and Venn’s Future Integration
In the meeting, Steven and David discuss the future of remote work, particularly focusing on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and the shift away from company-managed laptops. David predicts that BYOD will become the norm in the coming years, with companies providing laptops only for specific roles. They also discuss the integration of Venn with various applications, file systems, and network infrastructure providers. David emphasizes that Venn’s architecture is designed to work well with a customer’s existing applications and security requirements. The conversation concludes with David sharing his vision for the future of Venn and remote work.
About our Guest
David Matalon is the founder and CEO of Venn, the leader in BYOD Security technology. Venn is the innovator behind the world’s first purpose-built technology that protects company data and applications on personal, unmanaged, or third-party computers. Before Venn, David co-founded OS33, the market-leading secure workspace solution for Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), Broker-Dealers, and other SEC and FINRA-regulated financial firms. David has dedicated his career to building technology that enables more flexible and productive workforces without compromising organizational security and compliance.
A native New Yorker, he earned his undergraduate degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business and holds a master’s degree from Columbia University. David and his wife are raising their four children in their hometown of Great Neck.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in BYOD.
Click the image below to listen to this episode of Brilliance Security Magazine Podcast
Steven Bowcut is an award-winning journalist covering cyber and physical security. He is an editor and writer for Brilliance Security Magazine as well as other security and non-security online publications. Follow and connect with Steve on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.