CyberShare Sees Rapid Expansion Among Organizations Sharing Info on Cyberattacks

Every day, a growing number of cyberattacks are launched by actors growing more sophisticated than ever before. Sensitive data, including personal information and company intel, are all at risk and organizations across all sectors must consistently be on the lookout for phishing emails, malware, and more.

For small broadband providers across rural America, this can seem like a tall task. That’s why CyberShare: The Small Broadband Provider Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) has stepped up to help organizations recognize, analyze, and respond to vulnerabilities, threats, and other risks.

Launched as a pilot program in 2019 with funding from the Department of Homeland Security that was administered by the National Institute of Hometown Security, CyberShare sought to help small broadband providers protect their networks through information sharing.

After a successful year-long pilot, CyberShare officially launched in March 2020. In the time since, it has expanded quickly, jumping from handful of members to an 89-member cybersecurity leader with more than 225 participants. Growth of the program grew 33 percent from 2021 to 2022, and even more providers are expected to join in 2023.

“The attacks we’re seeing aren’t just coming from mischievous basement hackers anymore,” said NTCA General Counsel and Vice President of Policy Jill Canfield, who also oversees CyberShare. “These are sophisticated, targeted attacks by major nation state actors.”

The program was also recognized by the National Council of ISACs as the ISAC for the small broadband community. Providers that participate gain access to experts via biweekly calls, peer-to-peer sharing and networking to help identify threats, relevant information such as a daily threat indicator, and more.

In July, the organization hosted an industry-wide webinar, “IN ARMS: Combating Cybersecurity Threats to Critical Infrastructure,” that featured Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Executive Director Brendon Wales discussing recent cyberthreats and protections.

“The telecommunications field is a critical infrastructure sector, so we know small broadband providers could be targeted at any time,” Canfield said. “That’s why CyberShare is so important. We’re not just pulling resources, we’re truly creating a peer-to-peer environment to help protect our members.”

Geared more towards information technology employees than CEOs, CyberShare is an industry-wide tool available to all small broadband providers. More than 90 percent of participants say the program enhances their situational awareness about cyberthreats, while the same number say it adds value to their company.