Israel and US Sign Cyber Defense Cooperation Agreement

The agreement covers efforts by the two countries to deal with cyber events, cyber defense, building partnerships with the private sector, and research and development. It places special emphasis on the establishment of networks and procedures between Israel’s National Cyber Security Authority and its US counterpart in the Department of Homeland Security in order to facilitate the sharing of information on cyber defense in real time.

Israel and the US signed on Tuesday a joint declaration on operative cyber defense cooperation.

The declaration expresses the vital nature of international cooperation in order to effectively deal with joint threats in the cyber sphere, “especially given the commitment of the US and Israeli governments to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in cyber defense, which has grown in recent years,” Israel said in a statement.

Israel was represented by National Cyber Bureau (INCB) Head Dr. Eviatar Matania and National Cyber Security Authority Head Buky Carmeli, and the US was represented by Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Under Secretary of Homeland Security (National Protection and Programs Directorate) Suzanne Spaulding.

The declaration covers efforts by the two countries regarding aspects of managing cyber events, the cyber defense of critical infrastructures, building partnerships with the private sector, and research and development regarding innovative technologies and solutions.

The declaration places special emphasis on the establishment of networks and procedures between Israel’s National Cyber Security Authority and its US counterpart in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to facilitate the sharing of operative information regarding cyber defense in real time.

Keeping with its unique position as a global leader in the field, Israel will be among the first countries in the world to join the DHS Automated Indicator Sharing initiative, which is designed to create an automated platform between governments and companies for the efficient and rapid sharing of information in order to thwart or deal with cyber attacks.

The senior DHS delegation participated in the 6th Annual International Cyber security Conference at Tel Aviv University, which is being attended by government, industry and academic representatives from around the world.

At the opening of the conference on Monday, Matania described how five years ago there was a turning point in the view of the cyber threat and the readiness necessary to meet it, and how since then additional countries have joined in dealing with complex questions of strategy and policy stemming from this complicated and changing challenge. He explained that currently, and looking at the next five years, it has become apparent how ideas and concepts that have been developed up until now are gradually becoming tangible and providing practical solutions, and that the State of Israel is at the forefront of this effort regarding both innovation and defense.

Israel has been forced to develop advanced security protocols, as cyber attacks on Israel have risen exponentially in the past four years, reaching up to two million attacks against crucial Israeli frameworks on a daily basis.

Israel is considered to be a leading cyber-security powerhouse. Its rise as one of the world’s leaders in cyber security has been boosted by cooperation between the military, government, education, and private sectors, a level of partnership unmatched in the Western world.

By: Max Gelber, United with Israel