National child protection organisation deploys Sourcefire technology to protect sensitive and critical information from being compromised
Open source innovator and Snort creator, Sourcefire has announced that the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently deployed the Sourcefire 3D System to protect confidential information and provide network visibility throughout its entire organisation. “The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children deals with life and death situations every day, and we need to ensure that our sensitive information is never compromised,” said Steven Gelfound, Director of Information Technology at The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. “Because we deal with law enforcement agencies around the country, we needed a security solution that helps us share information with confidence. Sourcefire provides us with a complete system that prevents threats to critical information and delivers the visibility required for us to gain a true understanding of everything taking place on our network.” The Sourcefire 3D System is monitoring traffic from both internal and external sources across all NCMEC network segments, including its CyberTipline and Missing Children divisions, as well as its common use network. Positioned at critical points on all of the segments, the 3D System is blocking attacks and monitoring systems and traffic for potential risks, including spyware or malware. To protect the information stored within the databases on its CyberTipline network, NCMEC is using Sourcefire RNA (Real-time Network Awareness) to identify all systems on the network and ensure that they comply with the organization’s security guidelines. RNA can also monitor the hosts each system is accessing to help ensure that critical information remains protected and confidential. Because RNA monitors all traffic on the network, whether the system is located on the NCMEC network or it belongs to a law enforcement agency accessing the network via a VPN, NCMEC can verify that outsiders are as secure as the internal team, so that threats are not introduced through trusted parties. When an intrusion or other risk is identified, the 3D System either blocks the threat or sends an instantaneous email alert that provides critical information about the issue. The NCMEC IT staff receives pertinent alerts that contain all of the information they need to determine the appropriate response. With built-in context and few false positives, these smart alerts significantly reduce the effort required to monitor potential threats. “The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children plays an essential role in protecting our nation’s children, and as part of its mission, the organisation must protect confidential information on a continual basis,” said Tom McDonough, President and COO at Sourcefire. “The Sourcefire 3D System was designed to provide the visibility and proactive protection that organisations require to safeguard their most critical information, and we are proud to play even a small role in helping protect today’s young people.”
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