The top five US cloud service providers have recently joined forces in an unprecedented effort to create a National Cyber Feed, which aims to provide continuous threat-monitoring data to federal cybersecurity authorities. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Oracle are all working together on this initiative under the Cloud Safe Task Force (CSTF), a coalition formed by several prominent organizations last fall.
The idea behind the National Cyber Feed Initiative is to establish an integrated, single national view of the country’s security, according to a white paper published by the CSTF. The initiative comes in response to the need for a more time-sensitive and effective threat intelligence strategy, as identified by the CSTF in February. Currently, government agencies like the Department of Defense only receive delayed feeds from CSPs, which hinders their ability to combat cyber threats effectively.
The CSTF is making progress in defining various metrics for the national feed and stakeholders are engaged in weekly meetings to iron out the details. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as how to share data without compromising competitive, compliance, or data-leakage risks. Each CSP has its frameworks and agreements in place, which need to be reconciled to create a common approach to data sharing.
Another crucial aspect under discussion within the initiative is how to make the combined data consumable and manageable. Standardizing data formats, tagging, logging, and retention standards will be essential to ensure that all parties can effectively analyze and utilize the information provided. Major Julian Petty from the US Army Cyber Command stresses the importance of a unified data approach to create a national feed successfully.
In addition to continuous monitoring and data sharing, the initiative is also considering the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing cybersecurity efforts. Mari Spina from MITRE emphasizes the need for continuous testing and predictive threat modeling to stay ahead of adversaries who are increasingly leveraging AI in their attacks. She points out that while continuous monitoring is essential, it must be complemented by predictive modeling to anticipate and prevent threats before they occur.
Despite the challenges and complexities involved in creating a National Cyber Feed, participants like Dave Powner of MITRE are optimistic about the initiative’s potential benefits. Powner believes that both government agencies and CSPs stand to gain valuable insights from the shared data, which could enhance their cybersecurity posture and response capabilities.
Overall, the National Cyber Feed Initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening the country’s cybersecurity defenses through collaboration between public and private sector entities. By working together to share threat intelligence and leverage predictive modeling, the initiative aims to create a more secure and resilient cyber landscape for the nation.