Remember when BlackBerry ruled the smartphone market? It seems like so long ago but there once was a time that everyone cool had a BlackBerry in their hand. However, just as quickly as they rose to the top, BlackBerry hit rock bottom. BB10 was an OS that simply could not compete with Android or iOS and sales of BlackBerry smartphones suffered. Since then, BlackBerry has stopped manufacturing their own devices and they have adopted Android on the devices branded with their name. For the most part, however, BlackBerry is a software company these days.
Like A Phoenix Rising From The Ashes
All of that sounds like a lot of bad news. And, up until the last couple of years, BlackBerry was pretty much laying on its death bed. However, after CEO John Chen took over, the company has focused on what it does best: software and security. This has led to the recent announcement of BlackBerry Cyber Security Services.
During the announcement, Chen acknowledged that cyber security has gone from being a niche need to a part of everyday life. With major hacks like the Equifax breach affecting hundreds of millions of people, cyber security is at the front of everyone’s mind these days.
What Is The Goal Of BlackBerry Cyber Security Services?
The cyber security services from BlackBerry will have a strong focus on enterprise and bringing companies within EU regulations. Chen also mentioned that they will be focusing on securing increasingly connected vehicles and the safety risks that vulnerabilities could pose to drivers in cars that could potentially be hacked. The consultants with BlackBerry will guide companies through the process of managing and securing their data. With technology and hackers moving so quickly, a lot of companies simply do not have the know how to keep up with what’s going on in the tech world. BlackBerry is aiming to be the organization that is able to bridge the gap between confusion and understanding.
Will This Strategy Work For BlackBerry?
It’s too early to say if this is a win or a miss for BlackBerry. However, there is no denying there is a growing need for BlackBerry Cyber Security Services and services like it. In his announcement, John Chen mentioned that there is already a shortage of security professionals available for companies to hire. He expects that shortage to continue to grow drastically over the next decade. Chances are that companies will have to reach out to security-minded organizations like BlackBerry for assistance in staying ahead of hackers and security vulnerabilities. If BlackBerry can position themselves as leaders in the market then there’s no reason to believe this latest endeavor won’t be successful. Plus, BlackBerry already has a trusted name when it comes to security. Gartner has scored Blackberry apps at the top of all 6 of its categories for mobile security. BlackBerry may not have made the best mobile OS but they sure do know security.
The Time Is Right
If there ever was a time for BlackBerry to try and make a big splash in security consulting; this is it. Major data breaches are becoming more and more common. Not only do they harm the reputations of companies but they can cost companies untold amounts of money. In some cases, a company could be entirely destroyed by a data or security breach. If BlackBerry can deliver on its promises you just may see the BlackBerry name rise to the level that it once was.
