FireEye and protecting the election infrastructure

FireEye applied its intelligence-based cybersecurity solution to protection election infrastructure at the state and local level by bringing technology, threat intelligence and expertise together to detect and prevent incidents that could impact the election infrastructure.

The solution is built on FireEye’s Mandiant Managed Defense solution that continually updates counties with the most current threat indicators for real-time detection.

The solution combines automation with human expertise, including industry-recognized services and nation-state grade threat intelligence. The company leveraged over a decade of experience and the work it has done with state and federal agencies including the state of Indiana and the U.S. Homeland Security Department’s U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

The FireEye election infrastructure protection solution is used to:

• Assess critical election infrastructure and understand the potential entry points used by attackers.
• Test existing plans. For example, local governments can test election security plans to identify gaps and vulnerabilities.
• Secure existing technology by determining if devices and applications used by government officials use multi-factor authentication and encryption capabilities.
• Identify whether critical, sensitive data is backed up and stored offsite, and establish whether it has the same level of security as primary data.

The solution began as a pilot with seven Indiana counties that has now expanded to all 92 counties in the state thanks to a new law signed in March 2020.

Among the benefits being delivered are real-time analysis of network traffic, files and endpoint activity and a quick responses to any incidents. There also is a loop back to a dedicated FireEye security engineer. Audits to limit risk are now routine and there is coordination between Indiana and DHS.

“FireEye has helped us address both detection and prevention with the context needed to act quickly as needed,” said Indiana Secretary of State and Chief Elections Officer Connie Lawson, in FireEye’s application.