Contact: Lauren Gaydos, 703-351-2015
Arlington, Va., (September 29, 2021)—CyberShare: The Small Broadband Provider ISAC, operated by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, today announced Breached!, a free, industry-wide virtual wargame. Sponsored by several organizations representing small broadband providers, the online event will invite participants to role-play in response to a cyberattack.
Breached! will be facilitated by Booz Allen Hamilton and is sponsored by ACA Connects, Competitive Carriers Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, NRTC, NTCA, the Rural Wireless Association, Telcom Insurance Group, and WISPA. During this interactive and dynamic exercise designed for C-Suite, IT and security professionals at small broadband companies, participants will receive intelligence briefings, collaborate with peers, confront challenges derived from real-world incidents, and address the complex decisions and trade-offs that companies would typically face during a major cyber event.
Breached! will be held on December 9, 2021. The event is free and open to any small broadband provider or representative. The event will be off-the-record. More information can be found on the CyberShare website.
“Small broadband providers are aware of the important role they play in our nation’s critical communications infrastructure, and this exercise will supplement their continuing efforts to protect and secure their networks,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “CyberShare is proud to host this free, industry-wide event to give small broadband providers the opportunity to simulate a cyberattack without having to go through the pain of experiencing one firsthand. We all win when we stay cyber safe, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this exercise.”
“Our singular purpose in Booz Allen Commercial is to fuse and deliver world-class strategy and technology tradecraft to solve the world’s most complex and sophisticated cyber challenges,” said Booz Allen’s Commercial Leader and Executive Vice President Bill Phelps. “Operating at all ‘layers’ of the challenge, we provide cyber capabilities to the private sector across the domains of IT, Operational Technology (OT), Cloud, and Connected Products & Services that enable greater context, visibility, and risk reduction.”
“Cyberattacks have become so pervasive that they hardly are newsworthy anymore. But when the perpetrators are successful, they can cause significant damage to businesses and consumers,” said ACA Connects President/CEO Matt Polka. “ACA Connects Members understand the need for constant vigilance in cyber defense, and have safeguards and action plans in place today to thwart cyberattacks. At the same time, because the threats are ever-evolving, they recognize the importance of stress-testing their defenses and learning from simulated real-world experience so they are as prepared as possible for the real thing. This event will help them, and other small and midsize providers across the broadband ecosystem, do just this.”
“Competitive carriers are committed to protecting their customers and their networks from cybersecurity attacks, and CCA is very pleased to support efforts to advance industry preparedness such as Breached!,” said Steven K. Berry, President & CEO of CCA. “Providing carriers and organizations throughout the telecommunications industry with the best practices they need to identify and successfully manage a cyber-attack is an invaluable resource.”
“Cybersecurity is a top priority for America’s electric cooperatives as they work to keep the lights on and bring high-speed broadband to rural families and businesses,” said NRECA Senior Director-Regulatory Issues Brian O’Hara. “As co-ops work to remain vigilant against evolving cyberthreats, exercises like this are an important learning tool that helps hone their ability to prepare for, prevent and respond to cyberattacks.”
“NRTC is always looking for ways to help our members and other rural broadband providers stay informed about and protected against cyber threats,” said NRTC Managed Services President Jon Bartleson. “We're excited to be able to work with NTCA to provide this unique opportunity for our members to gain live experience responding to a simulated cyberattack."
“With programs like Breached!, RWA members are taking steps to better shield and protect their customers from cyberattacks,” RWA President Jana Wallace said. “Our members are aware of the damage cyberattacks can have on the industry, and RWA members are actively learning how to better protect against and react to potential breaches.”
“Trends can be fads that come and go. Cyber security and the potential liability does not fall into the category of a trend that is just a fad. One role of mine and that of my company, the Telcom Insurance Group, is to provide education and communication on the significant risk associated with the cyber world so that the importance is understood,” said Peter Elliott, President and CEO of Telcom Insurance Group. “Breached! and CyberShare are things that I wish I could claim as something we had created but since we didn’t, I happily support and sponsor. Please join this event and gain insights from it.”
“Community-based ISPs serve millions of happy customers all over America,” stated Claude Aiken, President and CEO of WISPA. “Exercises such as these, which erase the distance to the ‘classroom,’ allow our small, local entrepreneurs to stay abreast of the latest best practices so they can continue to securely deliver internet access expected by their customers 24/7/365.”
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CyberShare: The Small Broadband Provider ISAC promotes the resiliency and continuity of operation of small network operators across the United States. CyberShare collects and disseminates threat information, indicators and mitigation strategies from a variety of public and private sources and facilitates communications among participants. Working closely with industry partners, the federal government and other stakeholders, CyberShare helps small broadband providers recognize, analyze and respond to vulnerabilities, threats and other risks. CyberShare is managed by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. To learn more, visit www.cyber-share.org.