Brandon Wales: US, Israel Cooperating on Cybersecurity Front Following Hamas Attacks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working with its Israeli counterpart to prevent cyberattacks following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 and the subsequent counteroffensive by Israeli operatives.

Speaking at a Washington Post event on Thursday, CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales said the agency is regularly exchanging information with the Israel National Cyber Directorate to ensure that Israel’s systems are protected and that the United States will be in the loop about potential threats. Wales also noted that while the Hamas attack took a significant physical toll, there have been no signs of significant cyberattacks.

Wales noted that while there were cyber intrusions, they were low-level and executed by less sophisticated actors. Wales said CISA will continue monitoring for significant threats, FedScoop reported.

The United States and Israel have a long-standing partnership on improving bilateral cybersecurity capabilities.

In mid-August, the BIRD Foundation, established by the Department of Homeland Security and the Israel National Cyber Directorate, approved four projects that would address industrial control systems and port cybersecurity challenges. The four projects received a total of $3.85 million to pursue their objectives.

In December 2022, the U.S. and Israeli militaries participated in the Cyber Dome VII event, where personnel fought against a team of hackers in a simulated Mediterranean environment. Participants said they learned new techniques and gained insights into interoperability and real-world conflict mitigation.