Repelling cyber threats

ND-ISAC Named as Trusted Cybersecurity Resource Amid Fears of Russian Cyber Offensive

The National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center announced that it has been named as one of three agencies that can provide cybersecurity assistance to companies doing business with the Department of Defense. The move reinforces the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Shields Up advisory that was issued amid fears of state-sponsored cyberattacks against critical industries and infrastructure in the United States, ND-ISAC said Thursday.

The DOD also identified its own Cyber Crime Center and the National Security Agency as providers of cybersecurity resources to concerned defense companies.

In a statement, Steve Shirley, ND-ISAC executive director said, preparing in advance for cybersecurity incidents is sound advice for all companies, stressing that this “should be a core concern” for the defense sector. He added that the effort is focused mainly on companies having primary lines of business in the finance, health, energy, information technology, telecommunications and chemical critical infrastructure sectors.

CISA issued the Shields Up advisory as a warning to federal agencies, companies and other critical organizations, telling them to be prepared for potential cyberattacks amid the imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. The agency stressed that cyberattacks have been used by Russia as a key element of its force projection in the past 10 years.

In its Shields Up advisory, CISA calls upon all organizations to adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and focus on protecting their most critical assets. Organizations have been provided with a host of measures that will help reduce the likelihood of a damaging cyber intrusion.