DISA broadens cybersecurity efforts

The Defense Department is looking to build up its network security, starting with the $189 million contract award to Northrop Grumman and McAfee to further develop the agency’s use of the Host-Based Security Systems (HBSS), according to an announcemnt from Northrop.

DOD first implemented HBSS, which is built on intrusion prevention software that monitors, detects and counter threats and a system firewall, back in 2006 with an initial deployment designed to rapidly ensure compliance of more than five million devices connected to department networks. It’s also been used to protect the SIPR and NIPR networks from attacks and additionally from information being stolen from inside the network, as in the case of Wikileaks.

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All-seeing security program spreading throughout DOD

Now, DOD is looking to improve HBSS to take on an array of changing threats, including by taking advantage of McAfee’s advanced enterprise host technologies, and by employing Northrop and McAfee to train cybersecurity personnel . The latest HBSS effort will be overseen by the Defense Information Systems Agency.

“The threats evolve and we continue to evolve ahead of them," said Tom Conway, McAfee federal business development director, according to a Nextgov report, which also said in the future HBSS services could be extended to non-DOD internet connects and even personal devices.