Federal Election Commission

Cybersecurity Company Can Offer Discounted Services to Campaigns, FEC Rules

A California-based company has been given the OK to offer its services to campaigns for a discounted rate ⁠— as long as that rate is the same for other clients.

In a decision with potentially significant implications for the 2020 election, the Federal Election Commission ruled on Thursday that a cybersecurity company could legally offer discounted services to presidential campaigns hoping to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

Companies are typically forbidden by federal law from offering free or discounted cybersecurity services to campaigns because it is considered an “in-kind” contribution, The New York Times reported. Political parties cannot pay for the services due to the same rule.

Lawyers for the commission originally recommended that the FEC turn down an exemption request from Area 1, a corporation based in California, at a hearing last month. But commissioners decided to allow Area 1 to work with campaigns because it will offer the same discounted services in its “ordinary course of business” to non-political clients such as nonprofits, educational institutions and businesses, according to the ruling.

The decision applies only to Area 1 since the exemption was based on the company’s price structure. However, the ruling could lead to other such exemptions for security companies seeking to help protect America’s election system in wake of attacks from foreign adversaries, particularly Russian hackers.

Campaigns often cannot afford to spend the large sums necessary for adequate cybersecurity services, leaving them vulnerable to phishing and malware attacks, the Times reported.

The lack of cybersecurity protection for campaigns is particularly concerning given the U.S. intelligence community’s warnings of Russia’s intentions to escalate its interference efforts in 2020. In 2016, hackers acting on behalf of Russia were able to gain access to the Democratic National Committee’s servers and publicly release documents that reflected negatively on the DNC and the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Area 1 currently plans to offer anti-phishing help to federal candidates and political committees for a fixed fee of $1,337 per year, according to Bloomberg Government. The company will not give special price breaks to campaigns, resolving the key concern of the commission.

“Anytime we can help the community shore up their cybersecurity defenses, I always want to try and do that because this is obviously an ongoing and very serious concern,” FEC chairwoman Ellen Weintraub said, according to Bloomberg.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Nothing Artificial About this Intelligence

    I have been looking forward to this year’s GSX show in New Orleans, the Cresent City, or if you prefer The Big Easy. It seems like quite a while since we’ve been here. Twenty years ago, ASIS, as it was known then was literally washed out of the city by someone known as Katrina. It is a good thing to come back to NOLA. Read Now

  • From Monitors to Mission Control

    Security Operations Centers (SOC) were once defined by rows of static monitors, each displaying a single feed with operators quietly watching for issues. That model has become obsolete. Incidents evolve too quickly, data comes from multiple locations, and decisions must be made in seconds—not minutes. Read Now

  • New Gas Monkey Garage Venue Uses AI-Enhanced Video Technology

    Gas Monkey Garage, the automotive custom shop and entertainment brand founded by Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud TV fame, has opened a vibrant new restaurant and bar in South Dakota, equipped with advanced, AI-enhanced video tech from IDIS Americas. Read Now

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.