Ongoing Cyber Awareness: How You can Contribute to a More Secure World
As Cyber Awareness Month 2023 ends, it is important for us all to take some time to appreciate the agencies and organizations that Secure Our World. These groups help us identify cyber-attacks and risks and educate us on how to be better corporate and community citizens. Companies and agencies that are engaged in this community of continuous education, cyber trend monitoring and sharing intelligence data with peers and industry partners help us all prevent cyber issues and reduce our vulnerability.
Here are just a few of these organizations that study trends, develop policies, work in joint business and government collaboration groups, influence improvements in cyber law, promote threat intelligence sharing and work in areas of incident response to Secure Our World.
The National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA), is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that engages with government agencies, law enforcement, academia and the private sector to build a diverse and knowledgeable network of stakeholders dedicated to addressing cyber threats. The NCFTA’s overarching goal is to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity resilience by bringing together a wide range of expertise and resources.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). IC3 primarily serves as a centralized reporting mechanism for individuals and organizations to report cybercrime and online fraud. Its efforts help protect individuals and businesses from the evolving landscape of internet-related crimes. If you or your organization is the victim of a network intrusion, data breach, or ransomware attack, contact your nearest FBI field office or report it here.
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is a global coalition of cybersecurity experts and industry stakeholders that is primarily dedicated to combating the pervasive threat of phishing. The APWG’s collaborative efforts in the fight against phishing are instrumental in reducing the success of phishing attacks, protecting individuals and organizations from falling victim to scams, and contributing to a safer online environment. You can contribute by reporting phishing attacks on your organization here.
The Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that focuses on assisting victims of cybercrimes and online fraud. The organization’s primary mission is to provide support and resources to individuals and businesses who have been affected by cybercrimes, such as identity theft, online fraud, hacking, and other forms of internet-related crimes.
The Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) is a global industry association that focuses on addressing issues related to online messaging abuse. M3AAWG brings together industry experts, technology companies, network operators, and other stakeholders to collaboratively develop best practices to combat various forms of online abuse.
InfraGard is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and members of the private sector, academia, and other government agencies. Its primary mission is to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure in the United States by promoting information sharing, collaboration, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) include sector-specific organizations that focus on enhancing cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection within a particular industry. Examples of ISACs include the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (H-ISAC), and the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), There are over 25 different ISAC organizations that can support industry.
This is in no way an exhaustive list of all those who help us manage the scale and volume of cybercrime, but it’s a great place to start seeking out resources and contributing to the conversation that secures our world.
