The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a new dedicated High-Risk Communities webpage today with a range of cybersecurity resources for civil society organizations and other high-risk communities.
The webpage serves as a one-stop-shop for cybersecurity guidance tailored to communities such as activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and academics, among others. According to CISA, these communities are often at an increased risk of being targeted by cyber threat actors due to their work, identity, or lean cyber budget.
“With experts across government and the private sector, we collaborated extensively to identify and develop actionable and easy-to-use resources for high-risk communities. We will continue to solicit input and feedback from partners across civil society as we collectively work to safeguard those organizations advancing democracy and human rights against cyber threats,” CISA Director Jen Easterly said in an April 2 press release.
“CISA is especially pleased in the public-private collaboration that led to development and publication of these resources, reflecting shared commitment across government, industry, and civil society,” Easterly added.
The new webpage offers resources including Project Upskill, which is a suite of “how-to” guides designed for non-technical individuals within high-risk organizations to improve their cybersecurity posture.
“The steps outlined in this new resource are not a ‘silver bullet’ against cyber intrusions however, they can make it more difficult and costly for malign cyber actors to target individuals and the organization,” Clayton Romans, associate director of CISA’s Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), explained in an April 2 blog post.
Other resources on the webpage include information on local cyber volunteer programs, as well as a repository of free or discounted cybersecurity tools and services for high-risk communities.
CISA said these resources are the product of a year-long effort led by JCDC, and they build on priorities advanced through the Biden administration’s recent Summit for Democracy.
