#Protect2024: Ensuring Election Security

With election security being a top priority, The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is stepping up its game to ensure the integrity of the nation's elections infrastructure with #Protect2024, which states on its website that its mission is to “Help election officials and election infrastructure stakeholders protect against the cyber, physical, and operational security risks to election infrastructure during the 2024 election cycle.”

On its website, CISA includes an “incident response” form, which will alert them to respond with the “resources and information needed to effectively respond to a broad range of incidents.”?

Throughout this election cycle, the website has been updated with news and press releases from CISA, as well as security bulletins by the FBI putting several different potential situations, such as DDoS attacks, into context.?

To help election officials and their IT teams prepare for potential cybersecurity incidents, CISA has released a "Readiness and Resilience Checklist for Election Offices.”

Key areas covered in the checklist include enabling Multifactor Authentication (MFA) on all accounts, implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) software, and maintaining offline encrypted backups.?

CISA encourages election officials to remain vigilant, understand contingency plans, and stay informed about security alerts.

To help combat cyber threats, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved a rule, set to take effect Jan 1, 2025, that allows federal candidates and officeholders the ability to use campaign funds for physical and cyber security measures. This decision addresses growing concerns about the safety of public figures and their loved ones in the digital age.?

Candidates and officeholders have a need to protect themselves from potential threats. Because of this new rule, funds in their campaign accounts can now be used for the hiring of security personnel and services, as well as cybersecurity software, devices, and services.

The rule also extends to the security of family members and staff, recognizing that the threats faced by candidates and officeholders often extend to those closest to them.

These efforts underscore the relentless commitment to safeguarding the democratic process and ensuring that all participants, from election officials to voters, can trust the integrity of the system.?