NSA shares source code of SIMP cyber security tool

UNITED STATES: As a part of its endeavour to fight cybercrime, the National Security Agency (NSA) has shared the source code of its systems integrity management platform (SIMP) technology.

The tool allows computer systems to maintain a specific security posture, and is considered a critical part of layered, defense-in-depth approaches to cyber security.

According to NSA, SIMP keeps networked systems compliant with given security standards.

In recent years, multiple government and industry organizations have developed technologies similar to SIMP in response to US Defense Department and Intelligence Community compliance requirements. By releasing SIMP, the agency seeks to reduce duplication of effort and promote greater collaboration within the community: The wheel would not have to be reinvented for every organization, NSA said in a press release.

“The open-source software method of transferring technology from the federal laboratory to the marketplace is extremely efficient,” said Linda Burger, Director, NSA Technology Transfer Program. “The open-source community can leverage the work that NSA has produced, and the government can benefit from that community’s expertise and perspective. It’s a win for everyone – and for the nation itself.”