Kryptowire receives mobile app security research contract from DHS

Kryptowire has received a cybersecurity mobile app security (MAS) research and development (R&D) contract from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to identify MAS vulnerabilities.

Awarded through S&T’s Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA), the $2.9m contract aims to establish continuous automated assurance of mobile apps for the federal government over the next 30 months.

The project will combine mobile app archiving and app vetting technologies and also incorporate government and industry security standards to capture app changes made over its lifespan and will test against known vulnerabilities and emerging threats.

DHS Science and Technology Under Secretary Dr Reginald Brothers said: "Ensuring that our mobile applications are secure across the federal government is a priority for S&T.

"This project will help to enable the secure use of mobile apps across the Department’s many missions."

S&T Cyber Security Division Mobile Security programme manager Vincent Sritapan said: "We want the project to adhere to government requirements and best practices, but still be cost effective for the federal IT community."

The results will be complied into a report that is continuously maintained and will follow the Federal Chief Information Officer Council’s Mobile Technology Tiger Team initiative for app reciprocity reporting that would be shareable with other federal departments and agencies.

The S&T is also expected to extend the mobile app security capabilities to the first responder community in order to help support their mission.

S&T’s Cyber Security Division and First Responders Group are leading the project with partnerships from the Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the US Customs and Border Protection.

The initiative is also supported by the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team, as well as the Department of Justice, the US General Services Administration and other federal agencies.