Pentagon Wants to Scale Up Its Device Security Program

Daria Bogomolova/Shutterstock.com

The Comply-to-Connect program ensures devices connecting to military networks have baseline security without needing to install endpoint management apps.

The Defense Department wants to make sure any device touching its network meets the Pentagon’s strict cybersecurity standards and is in the process of expanding its Comply-to-Connect, or C2C, program across the military.

C2C was started in November 2013 as a joint program between the National Security Agency, Marine Corps and Air Force, deployed to help the branches manage 20,000 endpoints—devices such as smartphones, laptops and desktops. Pilot programs at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma established a set of security compliance tools that prevented unsecured devices from connecting to the DOD Information Network, or DODIN.

“Building on the success of these pilots, demand for the capability increased throughout DoD network space,” according to a request for information issued Tuesday by the Defense Information Systems Agency.

DISA has already deployed C2C capabilities with the Navy and Marine Corps, according to the RFI, though these are only initial “pathfinder activities” that have yet to scale. The information request seeks industry feedback on software management platforms that could help the department grow and operationalize C2C capabilities.

The program works by proactively seeking out and tracking all devices connected to the network and continuously analyzing them to ensure compliance with all department cybersecurity requirements. The program is set up to both prevent access to the network and respond quickly to remove non-compliant devices.

“The C2C solution will allow real time visibility of all IP endpoint, network infrastructure, and internet of things devices,” the RFI states. “By identifying the non-compliant and previously unidentified devices, DoD will be able to isolate these assets and mitigate risk in an automated fashion, which will significantly increase the security posture of the DODIN.”

The program also creates segments within the DODIN based on “device type, operational/functional impact, sensitivity, and security risk,” the RFI states. “This segmentation will restrict an adversary’s ability to traverse the network, protect access to sensitive data, and allow easier remediation upon discovery providing an automation solution that is reliable, timely, and allows for comprehensive reporting on critical cyber security metrics.”

Program officials have a long way to go before C2C can scale across all of DOD, but the management software is a key first step, according to the RFI.

The RFI outlines several technical characteristics DISA wants in potential solutions, including:

  • A single, converged platform to “discover, identify, categorize, classify and profile all devices” connected to the DODIN. To ensure the platform is a catch-all for everything touching the network, the software must use “the widest variety of both passive and active network-based and host-based discovery methodologies.”
  • The ability to “automatically remediate deviations from established required compliance baselines” on non-compliant devices without the need to install endpoint management software on the device.
  • The ability to segment networks—or manage segmentation—to block non-compliant devices. Then, once the devices have been updated, “segregate devices by type/function to limit access to only mission necessary network segments.” This capability should also be achieved without the use of an endpoint agent.
  • Continuously monitor devices for compliance and ensure information sharing between various cybersecurity components.

Responses are due by 1 p.m. June 26. Questions on the RFI are due by 1 p.m. June 25 and will only be accepted by email.

NEXT STORY: Congress targets COVID cyber fraud

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.