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US cyber agency launches joint defence collaborative

CISA has unveiled a new cyber security strategy, aimed at bolstering cooperation between all levels of government and the private sector.

user icon Charbel Kadib
Mon, 09 Aug 2021
US cyber agency launches joint defence collaborative
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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has announced the launch of the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) — a new initiative aimed at streamlining cyber defence operations strategies in co-ordination with federal interagency partners, private sector, and state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) government stakeholders.

The initiative is expected to reduce cyber risks ahead of a malicious attack, while also facilitating a unified response to an incident.

Specifically, the JCDC aims to:

  • design and implement comprehensive, whole-of-nation cyber defence plans to address risks and facilitate co-ordinated action;
  • share insight to shape joint understanding of challenges and opportunities for cyber defence;
  • implement co-ordinated defensive cyber operations to prevent and reduce impacts of cyber intrusions; and
  • support joint exercises to improve cyber defence operations.

“The JCDC presents an exciting and important opportunity for this agency and our partners – the creation of a unique planning capability to be proactive vice reactive in our collective approach to dealing with the most serious cyber threats to our nation,” CISA director Jen Easterly said.

“The industry partners that have agreed to work side-by-side with CISA and our interagency teammates share the same commitment to defending our country’s national critical functions from cyber intrusions, and the imagination to spark new solutions.

“With these extraordinarily capable partners, our initial focus will be on efforts to combat ransomware and developing a planning framework to coordinate incidents affecting cloud service providers.”

The JCDC will initially comprise of Amazon Web Services, AT&T, CrowdStrike, FireEye Mandiant, Google Cloud, Lumen, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, and Verizon.

Government partners currently include the Department of Defense, US Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, with Sector Risk Management Agencies also expected to join.

This latest push follows a spike in major cyber incidents, including attacks on the US’ critical infrastructure.

Last month, the US Senate Armed Services Committee approved an increase to cyber security funding under the National Defense Authorisation Act for the 2022 financial year.

The bill, approved by 23 committee members (three opposed), authorises an increase of US$268.4 million in funding for cyber security efforts across the US Department of Defence.

This is in addition to the $9.8 billion requested by US President Joe Biden in the budget earlier this year.

The funding aims to secure federal civilian networks and protect infrastructure, while also supporting efforts to share information, standards, and best practices with critical infrastructure partners and American businesses.

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