Founded in 2019, Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC) is a nonprofit C4, nonpartisan and non-aligned organization providing access to cybersecurity products, services and information regardless of party affiliation for free to eligible campaigns, committees and state parties. 

IMpact

In the 2024 election cycle, DDC fortified more than 360 eligible campaigns and committees and provided more than 4.6 million dollars in donated cybersecurity products. Since 2020, DDC has provided more than 9.5 million dollars in donated security tools. See the full 2024 Election Cycle Impact Report.

Mission

DDC’s mission is highly focused: make campaigns and committees more secure by providing them with knowledge, free products, and services to defend against cyber attacks.

Background

DDC is the only non-partisan, non-aligned organization dedicated to assisting all campaigns and political committees with cybersecurity. DDC was founded by former presidential campaign managers Robby Mook (Hillary Clinton) and Matt Rhoades (Mitt Romney) along with subject matter experts with senior leadership experience in the private sector and government (NSA and DHS.).  

Under an FEC advisory opinion received at DDC’s request, the organization has removed cost and campaign finance rules as barriers to adopting better cybersecurity for federal campaigns (presidential, U.S. House, U.S. Senate) national party committees (i.e. DNC, RNC, DCCC, NRCC), and state parties, and has received similar advisory opinions in Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia to serve campaigns down ballot. The rationale behind the approvals DDC has received, includes the recognition of the significant cybersecurity risks campaigns face, the need to provide free products and services to increase adoption, and DDC’s commitment to be nonaligned and nonpartisan in its efforts. 

How We Help

DDC has three major areas of operation:

1. Working directly with eligible campaigns and committees to implement core cybersecurity practices, including providing donated products and onboarding and support.

2. Recruiting companies to provide free cybersecurity products and services.

3. Providing training and information to campaigns, parties, political organizations, and vendors across the entire political landscape on cybersecurity best practices, including maintaining an extensive Knowledge Base.

Core Values

Operating principles

  • DDC works with all federal political party committees, U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and Presidential candidates from all parties, as long as they file their candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and meet very modest fundraising thresholds.  

  • DDC bases its product offerings on the needs expressed by parties, political committees and individual campaigns as well as DDC’s knowledge of the cybersecurity landscape. 

  • DDC does not endorse the products and inclusion on DDC’s list of products does not imply an endorsement.

  • DDC shares no information about the cybersecurity posture, products or services in use by any party, or specific campaign.