The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) yesterday said it will deploy its Einstein 1.0 computer network intrusion detection system to Michigan’s computer networks, marking the first federal-state cyber security partnership.
The partnership is a proof-of-concept effort to see how the relationship will work.
“Effective cyber security is a shared responsibility between the federal government and our state, local and tribal partners to protect our cyber networks from terrorism and other intrusions,” Napolitano said in a statement. “This first of its kind federal-state partnership will not only enhance our capabilities to defend Michigan from cyber threats, it will also strengthen our ability to protect networks and cyber assets nationwide.”
Einstein 1.0 is the first block of the DHS cyber security system designed to detect intrusions on federal civilian computer networks. The system does not have real-time alerting capabilities. The system automates the collection and analysis of computer security information.
DHS is currently rolling out Einstein 2.0, which does have real-time alerting capabilities. The next block, Einstein 3.0, will be an intrusion prevention system. The department is currently testing a suite of technologies developed by a federal agency for Einstein 3.0. DHS is expected to eventually host a competitive procurement for the 3.0 version.
The partnership with Michigan also includes a role for the DHS U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team in identifying possible abnormal activities on the state’s networks and to address threats to critical cyber infrastructure and strengthening defenses against cyber attacks.