Lessons Learned

Election Security Cooperation

Lessons Learned

Election Security Cooperation

State and local government officials have spent the past four years building up their cybersecurity defenses. They worked to build cooperation and communication with each other and with the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. On Nov. 3, those efforts paid off.

How was the election secured?

Deepfakes

Measuring Deepfakes' Impact

Deepfakes

Measuring Deepfakes' Impact

Earlier this year, experts were concerned about “deepfake” videos, which are completely fabricated videos of politicians or other prominent figures saying and doing things that never happened. However, deepfakes were not as prevalent as feared, in part because simple edits and shameless falsehoods were easier to create — and worked just as well.

How did election misinformation spread?

Election Security

Confront the Threat

Election Security

Confront the Threat

All of the election security concerns that existed in January before the coronavirus pandemic are still out there and are now more difficult to tackle, including malicious actors spreading disinformation and attackers targeting voting databases. How are state and local governments working with federal partners to address these threats?

Find out how states are partnering with feds

State and local governments face an array of election cybersecurity threats, from attacks on voter registration databases to misinformation on social media. They have bolstered their defenses and are partnering closely with the Department of Homeland Security. Through Nov. 3 and beyond, we’ll be tracking what state and local election officials are doing to enhance their cybersecurity and speaking with top experts in the field.

Exclusive Q&A’s

We spoke with state election officials and outside experts about enhancing election cybersecurity.

“We are relying much more than I think anyone could have expected at the beginning of 2020 on online systems for registration.”

LAWRENCE NORDEN, director of the Brennan Center’s election reform program

Read the Q&A to learn about how states can prepare backup systems for the election

“We were the first state in the nation to conduct a risk-limiting audit that shows to a high statistical degree of certainty that our election results are correct.”

JENA GRISWOLD, Colorado Secretary of State

Read the Q&A to learn how Colorado monitors its elections

“One of the main things that we’ve tried to pay attention to and watch for is the risk of ransomware. And that’s always a concern.”

PETER THRELKEL, Director of Information Services for the Oregon Secretary of State

Read the Q&A to learn how Oregon has been enhancing its election cybersecurity

“There is no one we’ve met that doesn’t believe this is a serious problem that requires their attention.”

ADAM CLAYTON POWELL III, Executive Director, University of Southern California Election Cybersecurity Initiative

Read the Q&A to find out how USC is helping states with election security

“Threat prevention is really part of the culture of security that we built here at our office.”

KATIE HOBBS, Arizona Secretary of State

Read the Q&A to see how Arizona views the election security threat landscape

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Election Security News

6 Steps (and More) for Improving Election Security for Local Agencies

What Is the State of Play on Election Cybersecurity?

Technology Supporting Election Infrastructure Enables Security and Access

Secretaries of State Call for Help on Election Disinformation

How State and Local Governments Kept the 2020 Election Secure

States Have Improved Election Cybersecurity, but Still Can Do More

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Handle Election Security Threats

Q&A: CISA’s Masterson on the Election Cybersecurity Battle

Ohio Invites Ethical Hackers to Target Its Election Systems

Q&A: How Arizona’s Katie Hobbs Is Tackling 2020 Election Security

How Endpoint Detection and Response Can Improve Election Security

Milwaukee County Had a Security Assessment Prior to Hosting DNC

Spc. Lincoln Meverden and Pfc. Napatsawan Sanguanboon, both of the 132nd Brigade Support Battalion, process ballots May 12 in Maine, Wisconsin.

Q&A: Brennan Center Expert on the Election Security Challenges That Remain

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Get Ahead of Election Security Threats

Microsoft Makes Azure Compatible with Election Security Sensors

Q&A: How Oregon Is Preparing to Secure the November Election

The Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library, University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles, Calif.

Q&A: USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative’s Powell on the Battle Ahead

States Step Up Cybersecurity Efforts Ahead of the 2020 Election

Election Day Is Less Than 6 Months Away. Now Is the Time to Instrument Infrastructure

States Cannot Waver in Election Security Efforts

Election Officials Get Access to Microsoft Security Tools

Election Security 2020: States Secure Election Systems with Help from Feds

How to Get Ahead of Election 2020 Security Threats

Insider Exclusive

Hear from Election Security Experts

Insider Exclusive

Hear from Election Security Experts

We'll be speaking with election cybersecurity experts in government and from nonprofits on how state and local agencies can best enhance election security. Become an Insider for access to exclusive Q&A’s and articles. You’ll also gain access to a personalized dashboard that makes it easy to stay up to date on the latest in state and local government IT.

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Election Security Cooperation

Lessons Learned

Election Security Cooperation

Measuring Deepfakes' Impact

Deepfakes

Measuring Deepfakes' Impact

Confront the Threat

Election Security

Confront the Threat

Exclusive Q&A’s

“We are relying much more than I think anyone could have expected at the beginning of 2020 on online systems for registration.”

“We were the first state in the nation to conduct a risk-limiting audit that shows to a high statistical degree of certainty that our election results are correct.”

“One of the main things that we’ve tried to pay attention to and watch for is the risk of ransomware. And that’s always a concern.”

“There is no one we’ve met that doesn’t believe this is a serious problem that requires their attention.”

“Threat prevention is really part of the culture of security that we built here at our office.”

Election Security News

6 Steps (and More) for Improving Election Security for Local Agencies

What Is the State of Play on Election Cybersecurity?

Technology Supporting Election Infrastructure Enables Security and Access

Secretaries of State Call for Help on Election Disinformation

How State and Local Governments Kept the 2020 Election Secure

States Have Improved Election Cybersecurity, but Still Can Do More

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Handle Election Security Threats

Q&A: CISA’s Masterson on the Election Cybersecurity Battle

Ohio Invites Ethical Hackers to Target Its Election Systems

Q&A: How Arizona’s Katie Hobbs Is Tackling 2020 Election Security

How Endpoint Detection and Response Can Improve Election Security

Milwaukee County Had a Security Assessment Prior to Hosting DNC

Q&A: Brennan Center Expert on the Election Security Challenges That Remain

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Get Ahead of Election Security Threats

Microsoft Makes Azure Compatible with Election Security Sensors

Q&A: How Oregon Is Preparing to Secure the November Election

Q&A: USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative’s Powell on the Battle Ahead

States Step Up Cybersecurity Efforts Ahead of the 2020 Election

Election Day Is Less Than 6 Months Away. Now Is the Time to Instrument Infrastructure

States Cannot Waver in Election Security Efforts

Election Officials Get Access to Microsoft Security Tools

Election Security 2020: States Secure Election Systems with Help from Feds

How to Get Ahead of Election 2020 Security Threats

Hear from Election Security Experts

Insider Exclusive

Hear from Election Security Experts

More Election Security Coverage

6 Steps (and More) for Improving Election Security for Local Agencies

What Is the State of Play on Election Cybersecurity?

Technology Supporting Election Infrastructure Enables Security and Access

Secretaries of State Call for Help on Election Disinformation

How State and Local Governments Kept the 2020 Election Secure

States Have Improved Election Cybersecurity, but Still Can Do More

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Handle Election Security Threats

Q&A: CISA’s Masterson on the Election Cybersecurity Battle

Ohio Invites Ethical Hackers to Target Its Election Systems

Q&A: How Arizona’s Katie Hobbs Is Tackling 2020 Election Security

How Endpoint Detection and Response Can Improve Election Security

Milwaukee County Had a Security Assessment Prior to Hosting DNC

Q&A: Brennan Center Expert on the Election Security Challenges That Remain

Q&A: Colorado’s Jena Griswold on How to Get Ahead of Election Security Threats

Microsoft Makes Azure Compatible with Election Security Sensors

Q&A: How Oregon Is Preparing to Secure the November Election

Q&A: USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative’s Powell on the Battle Ahead

States Step Up Cybersecurity Efforts Ahead of the 2020 Election

Election Day Is Less Than 6 Months Away. Now Is the Time to Instrument Infrastructure

States Cannot Waver in Election Security Efforts

Election Officials Get Access to Microsoft Security Tools

Election Security 2020: States Secure Election Systems with Help from Feds

How to Get Ahead of Election 2020 Security Threats

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