HHS boosting cybersecurity

The Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its contract with iDefense Inc. to provide cyberthreat intelligence to the entire department.

Reston, Va.-based iDefense will help the department protect its computers, networks and Internet functions with the company's iAlert intelligence service.

The service will provide intelligence reports to keep HHS officials aware of possible risks. The company delivers the intelligence reports via e-mail, a secure Web interface and wireless devices.

"The Department of Health and Human Services is setting the standard for proactive defense by uniformly equipping all of its agencies with the capability to quickly deploy countermeasures against emerging threats before they can cause any damage," iDefense vice president of intelligence operations John Frazzini said in a statement.

IDefense will provide the following services for HHS:

* Daily intelligence reports providing early warning notification and analysis on cyberthreats.

* Proactive countermeasure information, such as patches and workarounds, to avoid damage from the latest vulnerability.

* Profiles of threats, including individual and groups of hackers and areas of increased malicious cyberactivity.