CISA’s Clayton Romans Touts Accomplishments of JCDC, Looks Forward to Future Contributions to Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) has made significant strides in the past three years, according to Clayton Romans, CISA’s associate director for JCDC. In a recent article, Romans highlighted the organization’s accomplishments and looked forward to its future contributions to cybersecurity.

Established by CISA in 2021, JCDC is a public-private cybersecurity collaborative that brings together various stakeholders, including industry partners, to share cyber defense-related insights, implement defensive cyber operations, and bolster those operations by supporting exercises and designing and implementing cyber defense plans. The collaborative’s initial partners included Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Verizon, but their ranks have since expanded to over 20 industry partners.

One of JCDC’s key accomplishments, according to Romans, is the development of a common language for cyber defense. This language, known as the Cyber Defense Ontology (CDO), provides a standardized framework for describing and analyzing cyber threats, allowing different organizations to share information and coordinate their efforts more effectively.

JCDC has also made significant progress in the area of cyber defense operations. The collaborative has developed a set of best practices for cyber defense, known as the Cyber Defense Operations Framework (CDOF), which provides a structured approach to defending against cyber threats. Additionally, JCDC has established a Cyber Defense Operations Center (CDOC) that provides 24/7 monitoring and response capabilities for its members.

Another important accomplishment of JCDC is the development of a cyber defense training program. This program, known as the Cyber Defense Training Academy (CDTA), provides training and certification for cybersecurity professionals, helping to ensure that the industry has a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.

Looking forward, Romans expressed his excitement about JCDC’s future contributions to cybersecurity. He noted that the collaborative is expanding its focus beyond the traditional areas of cyber defense, such as network security and threat intelligence, to include new areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Romans also highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and industry in the area of cybersecurity. He emphasized that cyber threats are a global problem that requires a collective response, and that JCDC provides a platform for government and industry to work together to address these threats.

In conclusion, the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative has made significant strides in its three-year existence, providing a platform for government and industry to collaborate on cyber defense efforts. With its focus on developing a common language, best practices, and training programs, JCDC is well-positioned to continue making important contributions to the field of cybersecurity in the years to come.