The Homeland Security Spending Trail: How to Follow the Money Through U.S. Government Databases
Summary
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Heinrich Boell Foundation have released an updated database of vendors providing technology to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components, such as ICE and CBP. The EFF also provides a guide on how to efficiently search government databases for federal spending and contracts information, with a focus on DHS agencies.
IFF Assessment
Increased transparency around government spending and vendor relationships with DHS can help expose potential privacy and security concerns, aiding defenders in identifying and mitigating risks.
Severity
Defender Context
This database and guide can help security researchers, journalists, and other interested parties to understand the technology landscape within DHS. Knowing which vendors are providing what services to DHS allows defenders to anticipate potential attack surfaces and evaluate the security posture of related systems. This information also facilitates scrutiny of vendor security practices and accountability.