The National Guard will activate 14 cybersecurity teams in the states before the election. Tuesday is the midterm electionPolitico and StateScoop reported on Friday to combat any possible interferences.
Since the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, it has been a common decision to keep support teams available.
“Cyber’s that new domain. It’s a man-made domain,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, head of the Illinois National Guard, according to media outlet StateScoop. “Our goal is for as secure an election as possible. This is just the beginning.
National Guard Cyber ForcesEight states received support during the primaries earlier in the year. They are said to be ready to defend the integrity and legitimacy of the midterms, if necessary.
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Voters at the Ankeny, Iowa polling place for 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020
(Getty Images)
There are 14 states that have teams on Tuesday: Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Connecticut. Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana. New Mexico, New York, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, New Mexico, New York, New York, Washington, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii.
National Guard officials will receive security updates and work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyAccording to Politico, (CISA) is the main agency charged with protecting electoral infrastructure against cyber threats.Â
There are 38 cyber units in the National Guard, with over 2,200 employees. These cyber units support state and local officials on cyber issues such network assessments and mitigation.Â
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States like North Carolina are home to 10 cyber-security personnel in their “core teams”, but this number could increase during an election cycle as federal and emergency management partners are added.
Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt (adjutant general of North Carolina National Guard) stated Friday during a virtual briefing, that the Tar Heel State created a Joint Cyber Mission Center consisting of National Guard personnel as well federal liaisons from CISA/the Department of Homeland Security.
Hunt said that he would “surge during the election” to ensure that there is 24-hour coverage throughout the whole process. “We are citizens soldiers. We live in this state and have a vested right in both our state elections and our federal elections.”
Hunt stated that the unit started its work before Election Day. They conducted vulnerability assessments and ran penetration tests for both county and local authorities. Most of the state’s county electoral boards were also offered cyber training.
A worker processes mail in ballots at Bucks County Board of Elections before the primary election in Doylestown on May 27, 2020.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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CISA Director Jen Easterly stated that while teams are ready to act across the country, the agency does not have any information about attempts to disrupt or compromise the midterm elections, or related systems.
CISA officials and state election officials will also monitor online disinformation spread by “foreign” or domestic actors.
