By Nick Heath
Thursday, March 06 2008 08:07 AM
URL: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/security/0,39044215,62038562,00.htm

A state-of-the-art monitoring technology will allow Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to instantly spot anybody trying to hack into its systems.

Nato's Communication and Information Systems Agency is protecting the alliance's network of thousands of computers with Guidance Software's EnCase Information Assurance technology.

The system provides an immediate snapshot of any intrusions and will provide forensic-level analysis across its network, which spans thousands of miles.

Nato's Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) unit has deployed a large scale cyber defense project combining intrusion detection and prevention systems, security information and event management and automated incident response.

Ian West, director of NCIRC technical center, said this will significantly enhance Nato's ability to counter today's online threats and attacks.

He said in a statement: "[This] has enabled us to do in seconds what used to take us weeks.

"It delivers a unique capability at our fingertips that would have otherwise taken massive in-house resources to achieve."

Nick Heath of Silicon.com reported from London.