A deal between Symantec and the US Department of
Defense will provide the US government with intelligence gathered
from the company's DeepSight threat and vulnerability alert
services.
The three-year deal will provide "actionable intelligence" about
computer vulnerabilities and attack activity to the department's
Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert).
That information will be used to protect IT assets in the
Department of Defense. Cert is run by the Defense Information
Systems Agency (Disa), a Pentagon combat support agency.
DeepSight Threat Management uses a network of more than 19,000
sensors worldwide to track evolving computer attacks, while Alert
Services track software vulnerabilities in 3,200 commonly used
products.
DeepSight services will provide the Pentagon with information on
emerging viruses, said Brian Finan, director of strategic programs
and homeland security at Symantec.
Where vulnerabilities are being exploited, the service will give
the Pentagon a head start on protecting or patching vulnerable
systems, he added.
Despite the fact that DeepSight is not a "military grade"
intelligence service, Symantec is hoping that its relationship with
the Pentagon will open the door to similar contracts. It has its
sights set on the Department of Homeland Security.
Symantec declined to say how much the contract is worth.
Paul Roberts writes for IDG News
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