Building a Collective Defense: Collaborative Threat Intelligence and Information Sharing for Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure — including systems vital to energy, water, transportation, communication, healthcare, finance, the military, and more — is the backbone of any nation’s public health, safety, security, and economic stability. As a result of their necessity, these systems are prime targets for sophisticated state-sponsored threat actors, organized cybercrime groups, and even hacktivists interested in drawing the most attention to their cause. Collaborative threat intelligence and information sharing, often referred to as “collective defense,” is critical to safeguarding these vital assets. By uniting governments, private organizations, and industry stakeholders, collective defense increases the efficiency of prevention and detection of — as well as response to — cyberattacks.

Critical Infrastructure Under Siege

Critical infrastructure faces unique vulnerabilities due to its complexity, interdependence, and often aging systems. For example, ransomware groups like DarkSide have targeted the energy sector, disrupting fuel supplies across the U.S. East Coast.¹ Similarly, attacks on healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic showcased the human cost of cyber threats…and the lack of guardrails on threat actor targeting. There isn’t much that is off-limits in the eyes of our adversaries.²

State-sponsored actors pose particularly severe threats. Just as U.S. tactics for rapidly overwhelming Iraqi forces a generation ago included kinetic attacks on vital targets, Russia’s cyberattacks on Ukraine’s power grid and other essential services illustrate the strategic significance of critical infrastructure.³ These types of attacks also highlight the cascading effects that disruptions can have across interconnected systems, making critical infrastructure a high-value target.⁴

What is Collective Defense?

Collective defense is a framework that prioritizes collaboration over isolation in mitigating cyber risks. Unlike traditional approaches, which often involve siloed responses, collective defense relies on shared intelligence, transparent communication, and synchronized responses among stakeholders. Frameworks such as NATO’s Article 5 (adapted to include responses to cyberattacks) illustrate how collective defense is reshaping security in the digital age.⁴

Public-private partnerships are central to collective defense, fostering trust and cooperation. For instance, the U.S. Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act underscores the importance of government-industry collaboration to protect critical infrastructure.⁵ These alliances are essential for bridging gaps in resources, expertise, and situational awareness.

Benefits of Collaborative Threat Intelligence

Collaborative threat intelligence enhances security by pooling expertise, resources, and insights from diverse sources. Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) — such as the Financial Services ISAC (FS-ISAC) and Health-ISAC — have shown how effective these partnerships can be (when organizations actively participate).⁶ By facilitating real-time sharing of actionable intelligence, ISACs improve threat detection and accelerate response times.

Another ISAC — the IT-ISAC — has strengthened the resilience of technology providers through its collaborative approach.⁷ However, challenges such as trust deficits, legal restrictions, and data sensitivity can hinder these efforts. Platforms like Mattermost address these barriers by offering secure, customizable environments for communication and collaboration.⁸

Information Sharing in Collective Defense

Information sharing is a cornerstone of collective defense, with initiatives like MITRE ATT&CK and the Structured Threat Information eXpression (STIX) framework enabling stakeholders to share and standardize threat data so organizations can anticipate threats, identify vulnerabilities, and develop robust defenses.⁹

Government-led initiatives, such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) public-private partnerships, further enhance information sharing in support of their core values of Collaboration, Innovation, Service, and Accountability.¹⁰ A well-publicized example of the power of these programs is CISA’s response to the 2021 SolarWinds breach that illustrated how timely intelligence dissemination can mitigate widespread risks.¹¹ Still, barriers like interoperability issues and data quality are the reason Mattermost offers solutions that enable secure, contextualized sharing of actionable intelligence across stakeholders.¹²

Building Resilience Through Collective Defense

Strengthening critical infrastructure resilience requires a holistic approach. Collective defense addresses systemic vulnerabilities by fostering partnerships across sectors and nations. The European Union’s Cybersecurity Act, for instance, encourages member states to adopt collaborative strategies for protecting vital systems.¹³

Organizations can bolster their defenses by participating in ISACs, investing in advanced monitoring tools, and implementing zero-trust security architectures.¹⁴ Trust-building measures — such as anonymized data sharing and transparent governance — are also essential for fostering collaboration, which is why Mattermost provides secure, interoperable platforms for threat intelligence sharing so the right people have access to the right content at the right time to make the most informed decisions.¹⁵

The Role of Technology Platforms

Secure, flexible, and robust technologies are vital for operationalizing collective defense. With real-time communication capabilities and customizable features, Mattermost enables organizations to coordinate incident responses and integrate threat intelligence feeds seamlessly.¹⁶ By prioritizing security and interoperability, Mattermost helps stakeholders overcome traditional barriers to collaboration without being bogged down with protracted security reviews or engineering support to build integrations that already exist.

Wrapping it All Up

The threats facing critical infrastructure are real and growing. To combat these challenges, governments, private organizations, and international partners must embrace collective defense by:

1. Adopting Trusted Platforms: Leverage tools like Mattermost to enhance secure collaboration.
2. Engaging Actively: Participate in ISACs, public-private partnerships, and threat intelligence sharing initiatives.
3. Promoting Cyber Hygiene: Implement advanced security measures, from regular software updates to network segmentation.
4. Fostering Trust: Build transparent relationships that encourage information sharing among stakeholders.

Collective defense is more than a cybersecurity strategy…it’s a necessity. By sharing intelligence, leveraging technology, and fostering trust, we can build a resilient ecosystem capable of withstanding the most sophisticated threats. Because critical infrastructure is the foundation of our society, protecting it is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s rise to the challenge and build a collective defense that secures our future.

Sources

1. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). “Critical Infrastructure Protection: Actions Needed to Address Significant Cybersecurity Risks Facing the Electric Grid.”
2. Griffith University. “Cybersecurity Threats to Critical Infrastructure: The Case of Healthcare.”
3. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. “Toward a Collaborative Cyber Defense and Enhanced Threat Intelligence Structure.”
4. NATO. “Collective Defence – Article 5.”
5. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.”
6. Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC). “About FS-ISAC.”
7. Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC). “Mission and Role.”
8. Microsoft. “Collaborative Cybersecurity: The Case for Public–Private Partnerships.”
9. MITRE. “MITRE ATT&CK®.”
10. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). “Critical Infrastructure Sectors.”
11. RAND Corporation. “The Evolving Cyber Threat to Critical Infrastructure.”
12. Atlantic Council. “Reexamining Article 5: NATO’s Collective Defense in Times of Cyber Threats.”
13. European Commission. “Cybersecurity Act.”
14. IEEE Xplore. “Public-Private Partnerships and Collective Cyber Defence.”
15. Mattermost. “Mattermost for Integrated Security Operations.”
16. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). “SolarWinds Compromise.”