Navy looks to upgrade network security

As part of its overall security strategy, the Navy is looking at several new auditing products that can offer real-time intrusion detection.

The Navy is using the auditing and other security features that are part of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT and variations of the Unix operating system. But the Navy can only use that technology to find out about intrusions into a network after the fact, Cmdr. Larry Downs, director of operations for the Navy Fleet Information Warfare Center, said today at the GovTechNet conference in Washington, D.C.

Companies recently have released several products that will enable Navy network administrators to learn about intrusions and attacks as the attacks occur. The Navy is interested in incorporating the products into its network security, Downs said.

"The Navy is looking closely at this and will probably look to buy in the very near future," he said.