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The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to utilize Blockchain technology, an approach in technology that replaces data managers with encrypted blocks of data, in securing the transmission and storage of data collected by security cameras, sensors and internal databases.

The DHS is aiming to prevent data manipulation and potential hacking attacks on thousands of devices operating in airports and on the US borders with Mexico and Canada. Currently, these devices rely on an outdated system based on centralized servers and databases, which are vulnerable to sophisticated malware-related attacks.

According to cointelegraph,com, depending on a traditional IT infrastructure is inefficient for a wide-reaching agency since it often leads large-scale operations hugely reliant on the storage and processing of information.

Factom, a Blockchain startup, has secured a contract with the DHS to provide an infrastructure for departments such as the US Customs and Border Protection which is efficient, immutable and transparent.

Various sources revealed that Factom and Customs and Border Protection are planning to carry out extensive testing of their joint project, to ensure the security and efficiency of the Blockchain platform so as that it can supplement large volumes of data processed by the DHS on a daily basis.

Factom and the DHS are yet to disclose additional details on the implementation date of their platform. The development team of Factom will continue to carry out extensive tests based on a simulation of the Customers and Border Protection’s actual day-to-day operations. Once the platform is ready to be implemented, Factom and the DHS will collaborate to either replace or implement their Blockchain-based platform on top of the existing protocol.

Several financial institutions and banks that are looking into the implementation of Blockchain-based platforms are attempting to lay their Blockchain technologies on top of existing systems. The goal behind launching a Blockchain project on a pre-existing system is to have two core networks co-exist and thus provide more security and efficiency to their consumers.

Kevin McAleenan, deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, believes that either way, Blockchain technology will be applied to a wide range of applications and platforms that are operated by the DHS in the near future.