Uncovering Cyber Villains through Data Exchange
In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, collaboration among cybersecurity vendors and organizations has emerged as a vital strategy in enhancing defence capabilities against cybercrime. This collaborative approach enables faster, more comprehensive, and coordinated responses to threats, raising the cost and complexity for attackers while reducing their chances of success.
One of the key benefits of such collaboration is faster and more effective issue resolution. Close collaboration and alignment, particularly early in sales and deployment cycles, create clear communication channels and unified support models, leading to quicker responses to incidents and security patches [1].
Shared and enriched threat intelligence is another significant advantage. Collaborative intelligence frameworks and information-sharing organisations, such as ISACs and ENISA, aggregate insights, including those drawn safely from dark web monitoring, to provide timely and actionable intelligence to multiple participants. This collective intelligence forms a “force multiplier,” improving defence capabilities far beyond individual efforts [2].
Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs) play a crucial role in this collaboration. These platforms integrate, analyse, and disseminate threat data from diverse sources using AI and machine learning to detect emerging attack patterns earlier and with better context. Collaboration enhances the breadth and quality of data feeding into these platforms, benefiting all users through faster detection and prioritization of threats [4].
Improved joint defence against advanced threats is another key benefit. Cybercriminals often share tools and resources; collaboration enables defenders to pool insights about campaigns and tactics, rapidly deploying countermeasures and closing security gaps before attackers can exploit them again [5].
Unified security policies and monitoring are also improved through collaboration. When vendors and partners align on security standards and practices, they reduce weaknesses caused by fragmented controls, enabling centralized threat detection and incident response that is more coherent and efficient [1][3].
Building trust and long-term partnerships is another important aspect of collaboration. Transparent feedback loops and aligned goals among vendors and partners strengthen collective resilience, enabling sustained improvements in security practices over time [1].
In summary, this collaboration creates a connected ecosystem where threat intelligence is continuously shared and defences are coordinated, significantly increasing cybersecurity effectiveness against increasingly complex and fast-moving cybercrime [1][2][4][5].
However, the battle against cybercrime is far from won. A $10.5 trillion cybercrime economy exists and grows stronger while our defences remain a shambles. High-profile attacks, such as the one that resulted in a £300 million loss for Marks & Spencer, demonstrate the devastating impact of successful attacks.
The dark web serves as a marketplace and testing ground for cybercriminals, largely dominated by criminal groups. Most stolen corporate data ends up on dark web marketplaces within days of a successful operation. Companies like The North Face and Harrods are currently dealing with credential stuffing attacks and system intrusions, respectively.
To combat these threats, the cybersecurity field needs to adopt collaborative frameworks that allow for a collective defence on a scale we’ve never seen before. This includes the involvement of smaller organisations in sector-specific ISACs, the adoption of standardized threat intelligence platforms, and the use of professional OSINT services.
Regulatory measures are also playing a role in enhancing cybersecurity. For instance, the European Union's NIS2 Directive, Cyber Resilience Act, and Cyber Solidarity Act affect hundreds of thousands of entities across essential and important service sectors. In the United States, multiple overlapping disclosure mandates were implemented in 2024, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules, Federal Trade Commission's regulations, Federal Communications Commission's requirements, and Department of Housing and Urban Development's aggressive reporting window for mortgage-related breaches.
The success of these collaborative efforts is evident in recent alliances, such as the one between CrowdStrike and Microsoft, which has resolved the identities of over 80 adversaries through direct collaboration among analysts. The success of ISACs has led to expansion efforts, with 26 U.S. states adopting the NAIC Model Law to encourage information sharing in the insurance sector.
As we navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of cyber threats, it is clear that collaboration is key to strengthening our defences and reducing the impact of cybercrime. By working together, we can create a more secure digital future for all.
References: [1] CrowdStrike. (2022). The Power of Collective Defense. Retrieved from https://www.crowdstrike.com/resources/reports/the-power-of-collective-defense/ [2] Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. (2021). The Future of Cybersecurity: A Collective Defense Approach. Retrieved from https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/07/12/future-of-cybersecurity-collective-defense-approach-pub-83467 [3] Microsoft. (2021). Microsoft and CrowdStrike Announce a Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Cybersecurity Innovation. Retrieved from https://news.microsoft.com/2021/07/20/microsoft-and-crowdstrike-announce-a-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-cybersecurity-innovation/ [4] Forrester. (2021). The Total Economic Impact™ Of CrowdStrike’s Falcon® X Threat Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.crowdstrike.com/resources/reports/the-total-economic-impact-of-crowdstrike-falcon-x-threat-intelligence/ [5] SANS Institute. (n.d.). Threat Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-resources/practice/threat-intelligence
Collaboration in data management, particularly among cybersecurity vendors and organizations, can contribute to stronger cybersecurity by facilitating faster responses to threats and issues, ensuring clear communication channels and unified support models. Shared and enriched threat intelligence, drawn from diverse sources including the dark web, plays a crucial role in providing timely and actionable intelligence that improves defence capabilities.
Data-and-cloud-computing collaborative efforts, such as the use of standardized threat intelligence platforms and information-sharing organizations, can result in the development of a connected ecosystem where threat intelligence is continuously shared and defences are coordinated, thereby significantly increasing effectiveness against sophisticated and evolving cybercrime.
