Election Security
Cyber criminals and bad actors can create chaos in state and local voting and election systems – from disqualifying legitimate voters to corrupting data to launching denial-of-service attacks.
Many government election commissions and agencies could be much better prepared to deal with election security threats, but many are not. To develop solutions and security programs to counter cyber threats to elections, government agencies should engage with industry experts with frontline experience to stop cyber criminals and bad actors.
Election Infrastructure Protection
Assess critical election infrastructure
Understand the potential entry points by which attackers can access voting systems, as well as the methods used to breach them.
Test existing plans
Local governments should test their election security plans to help identify potential gaps and vulnerabilities.
Modernize election infrastructure
Find ways to collaborate with technology vendors and public and private sector peers about ways to protect systems.
Secure existing technology
Determine 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.
Featured blogs and news stories
FireEye Blogs on Election Security
12 Oct 2020
Late Game and Lingering Threats to the Upcoming Elections25 Feb 2020
Congress Provides Additional Assistance to Secure Election Infrastructure in 202012 Dec 2019
FireEye Success Story: Solutions and Strategies for Elections Part Three – The War Room02 Oct 2019
Additional Resources Possible for Officials to Thwart Attacks During the 2020 Elections15 Aug 2019
FireEye Success Story: Solutions and Strategies for Elections Part Two – Pre-Election Preparedness
Unique challenges
To protect the integrity of elections, state and local governments must ensure that voting processes are secure and accessible while also being fiscally responsible–and often with limited IT staffing.
Agencies must also find ways to counter cyber security threats that target many systems, including electronic voting machines, ballot counters, voter registration systems, websites, and election management systems.
Low or no cost support for state and local governments
- Financial assistance via the Help America Vote Act
-
The Cyber security and Infrastructure Security
Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
provides no-cost services, including:
- Access to regional cyber security personnel who can provide advice on preparing for and responding to cyber attacks
- Cybersecurity assessments such as hygiene scans, risk and vulnerability assessments and cyber resilience reviews
- Cyber threat hunting
- Access to threat information, including the DHS Information Network portal; intrusion analysis after a cyber incident
- Cyber security training and professional development opportunities
- DHS resource library
Related Resources
ebook
Cyber Threat Activity Targeting Elections
Solution Overview
Recommendations for National Guard and State Fusion Centers
Case Study
Strategic Election Security Solutions in Action
Webinar
Cyber Threats and Elections: What You Need to Know
Solution Brief
Manage Beyond the Endpoint
White Paper
Ransomware Protection and Containment Strategies
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