This article explores the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), tracing its 2015 origins, examining its core provisions, and analyzing how it supports businesses through legal protections. It discusses the act’s commitment to safeguarding data privacy, offers insights into compliance measures, and explains the purpose of the CISA threat intelligence feed. Readers will gain a clear understanding of how CISA strengthens national cybersecurity through strategic information sharing.
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What is the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA)?
The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 2015 to enhance cybersecurity collaboration between the private sector and government agencies. The act encourages the sharing of cyber threat indicators, vulnerabilities, and defensive measures to improve the collective ability to detect and respond to cyberattacks. A major U.S. health insurer integrated AIS and successfully blocked a phishing campaign within minutes. According to DHS’s 2018 report, their incident response time dropped by 40% after onboarding to CISA’s sharing framework. By aligning with existing cybercrime laws, CISA ensures that shared information can be legally and securely utilized in investigations without overstepping civil liberties.
Organizations operating a SOC are often required to comply with legal frameworks like CISA, especially if they handle critical infrastructure or government data. Understanding what is SOC in cybersecurity—a centralized unit for monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents—is crucial for ensuring compliance and maintaining robust defense mechanisms.
What led to the creation of CISA in 2015?
The creation of CISA was not a sudden event—it was a culmination of several high-profile cyberattacks and an increasing acknowledgment that information silos across federal agencies and the private sector were putting national security at risk. In 2014 alone, cybercrime cost the U.S. economy an estimated $100 billion, pushing lawmakers to prioritize legislation like CISA.
Here's what pushed the law forward:
- Major cyber incidents involving corporate giants and government agencies exposed vulnerabilities in national cybersecurity practices. The breaches of OPM, Sony Pictures, and major health insurers served as wake-up calls.
- The need to establish a legal pathway for entities to voluntarily share cyber threat indicators and defensive measures without fear of violating privacy laws or facing liability.
- Bipartisan recognition, especially from the Senate Intelligence Committee, that improving cybersecurity policy required formal, scalable, and secure channels of threat intelligence exchange.
- Growing demands from industry partners to define what could be legally shared, and how, while maintaining strong privacy and civil liberties guidelines.
Post-2015, there was a surge in SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS) adoption, especially among organizations that wanted to meet compliance and cyber resilience goals tied to regulatory standards
What are the key provisions of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015?
The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA), passed as part of the larger omnibus spending bill, was designed to facilitate the sharing of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures between the private sector and government agencies, particularly the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The law attempts to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity defenses by establishing a structured yet voluntary framework for cyber threat information sharing—while also including guidelines to protect personal data and civil liberties.
Here are the most significant provisions of the information sharing act of 2015:
1. Voluntary Sharing of Cyber Threat Information
CISA authorizes both private and non-federal entities to voluntarily share cyber threat indicators and defensive measures with each other and with the federal government. The intent is to create a collaborative ecosystem where potential cyber threats are identified early and mitigated efficiently.
2. Centralized Role of DHS as the Sharing Hub
The Department of Homeland Security—through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA’s) infrastructure—acts as the primary hub for the sharing of cyber threat information. This centralization ensures standardized processing, minimizes duplication, and reduces risk of disclosure of sensitive information.
3. Implementation of Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS)
To support real-time exchanges, the law introduced the Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) initiative. Through this system, approved AIS participants can automatically receive and submit cyber threat indicators. AIS is designed to improve cybersecurity by speeding up detection and response across both public and private sectors.
4.Liability Protection for Sharing Entities
Entities that voluntarily share cybersecurity information in accordance with CISA are granted liability protection. This provision addresses industry fears that sharing threat intelligence could expose them to lawsuits or federal antitrust violations.
5. Safeguards for Privacy and Civil Liberties
To address mounting privacy concerns, the act mandates that cyber threat indicators must be reviewed to remove personal data before sharing. It also calls for adherence to privacy and civil liberties guidelines, ensuring private information is safeguarded from unnecessary exposure.
6. Restrictions on Government Use
Even though the law encourages sharing with federal agencies, it strictly limits how that data can be used. Information shared under CISA may only be used for cybersecurity purposes, investigation of specific cybercrimes, and protection of information systems. It cannot be used to prosecute unrelated crimes, with narrow exceptions for immediate threats like terrorism.
7. Requirement for Federal Guidelines and Oversight
The act required the creation of federal guidelines to standardize the handling, receipt, and dissemination of threat indicators, and called for reviews by the Inspector General and privacy oversight bodies. This includes the Center for Democracy and Technology and civil liberties advocates like Jake Laperruque, who have monitored implementation against best practices.
8. Exemptions from Disclosure Laws
Shared information under CISA is exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. This ensures that sensitive threat intelligence and corporate data shared in good faith does not become publicly disclosed, protecting both national intelligence operations and corporate interests.
What protections does CISA offer to businesses
CISA includes specific legal safeguards and liability protections to encourage private sector entities to participate in sharing of cyber threat indicators without fear of legal repercussions.
- Liability Protection: Businesses that share information in good faith through approved channels such as Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) receive immunity from liability, including protection against lawsuits related to data disclosure.
- Exemption from Disclosure Laws: Information shared under CISA is not subject to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, which ensures sensitive business data remains protected.
- Federal Antitrust Exemptions: Private companies participating in collaborative cyber threat intelligence efforts are exempt from certain antitrust regulations, allowing them to work together without legal concern.
How CISA ensures data privacy
CISA outlines strict data privacy protocols to prevent the misuse or over-collection of private information when organizations share cybersecurity information.
- Scrubbing of Personal Data: Before information is shared, entities are required to remove any data that is not directly related to a cybersecurity threat, including personal identifiers. This is a built-in step in the AIS system managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Minimization Procedures: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA’s) guidelines require that only the essential threat indicators and defensive measures are exchanged—ensuring privacy protections are prioritized.
- Independent Oversight: The law mandates reviews by the Inspector General to assess compliance with privacy and civil liberties guidelines, reinforcing accountability.
What is CISA Threat Intelligence Feed 2018?
The CISA threat intelligence feed is a real-time stream of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures shared through the Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) program, managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). It enables public and private sector entities to quickly access and respond to potential cyber threats, enhancing collective cybersecurity defenses across the U.S.
