Source URL: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/backdoors-breaches-how-talos-is-helping-humanitarian-aid-ngos-prepare-for-cyber-attacks/
Source: Cisco Talos Blog
Title: Backdoors & Breaches: How Talos is helping humanitarian aid NGOs prepare for cyber attacks
Feedly Summary: In 2023, Cisco Talos and partners created a special Backdoors & Breaches card deck to help NGOs improve their cybersecurity skills with practical, easy-to-use training tailored to their needs.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the collaboration between Cisco Talos, NetHope, and NGO-ISAC to create customized cybersecurity tabletop exercises aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity preparedness of humanitarian organizations. The initiative is notable for addressing the unique challenges faced by NGOs operating under budget constraints while aiming to strengthen their incident response capabilities against cyber threats.
Detailed Description:
– The collaboration in 2023 was motivated by the pressing cybersecurity challenges faced by humanitarian NGOs, who often operate under significant budgetary constraints.
– Talos, in partnership with NetHope, developed an expansion deck for a tabletop exercise known as “Backdoors & Breaches,” which is tailored specifically for the unique contexts of international and domestic NGOs.
– The objective of the expansion deck is to help organizations build their incident response skills through engaging and relevant cybersecurity scenarios.
– Hundreds of these customized expansion decks have been distributed, and they have received positive feedback from users for practicality and relevance to real-world cyber threats faced by NGOs.
– The project highlights the cybersecurity knowledge gap in the NGO sector, justifying the need for cost-effective training solutions that come with low barriers to entry.
– Tabletop exercises (TTXs) are described as group thought experiments where teams can prepare for worst-case cybersecurity scenarios, thereby enhancing their overall readiness for potential cyber incidents.
– Talos and NGO-ISAC additionally created a U.S.-specific version of the deck that addresses the particular security landscape faced by domestic NGOs.
– Participants in these programs have reported valuable experiences and insights shared during the exercises, fostering a deeper understanding and preparation for actual cybersecurity challenges.
– The overall initiative indicates a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity preparedness in sectors that traditionally struggle with it, thus empowering NGOs to safeguard their missions effectively.
– Key Takeaways:
– Collaboration targeted at enhancing NGO cybersecurity preparedness.
– Custom tabletop exercises tailored to address real challenges faced by NGOs.
– Positive community reception and the initiative’s potential for broader applicability within the NGO sector.
– Increased conversation and awareness around cybersecurity importance in humanitarian aid efforts.
This initiative exemplifies how creative solutions can bridge the cybersecurity knowledge gap in non-profit sectors, which is increasingly important in today’s cyber threat landscape.