Cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, and the FBI is teaming up with the private sector to combat this ever-evolving challenge. This collaboration leverages the strengths of both entities, enabling more effective responses to cyber-attacks. In this article, we explore the benefits, challenges, and strategies of the FBI’s partnerships with private companies, and how this collaboration enhances national cybersecurity efforts.
This afternoon, I’d like to focus on the critical importance of partnerships, particularly between the FBI and the private sector, in addressing today’s evolving threats. To start, I want to take you back to 2001, a moment in history that shaped how we approach security today. I was a newly appointed member of the Department of Justice on September 11, and I spent most of that fateful day in a packed command center at FBI headquarters. While we were all doing our best to respond to the attacks, we also grappled with the harsh reality of how a small group of terrorists had planned and executed such a devastating event on U.S. soil.
In the aftermath, I remember struggling to understand how these 19 individuals could operate within the U.S. undetected, planning a sophisticated, coordinated attack. The 9/11 Commission highlighted one major issue: a lack of communication between intelligence and law enforcement agencies. They famously wrote, “No one component holds all the relevant information,” and without cooperation, connecting the dots was impossible.
Fast forward to today, I’m proud of how much the law enforcement and intelligence communities have transformed. We broke down barriers, strengthened partnerships across government, and expanded collaboration with both domestic and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This shift allowed us to form stronger connections with state and local law enforcement, leading to better prevention and response to attacks through initiatives like the Joint Terrorism Task Forces.
These transformations made us more resilient, but as the world and threats evolve, so too must our strategies. For example, in the early 2000s, most people accessed the internet using dial-up, and BlackBerry was just starting to offer email services on a phone. Fast forward to today, and our biggest vulnerabilities are increasingly tied to digital threats. Cyber adversaries now have the potential to disrupt entire sectors of society with a simple piece of malicious code—threatening our national security, economic stability, and even our daily lives.
We are seeing a range of cybercriminals, from profit-driven groups to nation-state actors, and sometimes these entities collaborate in increasingly dangerous ways. Ransomware attacks are among the most pressing threats. Cybercriminals target everything from critical infrastructure like oil and gas pipelines to essential services like hospitals and schools.
One notable example was the Colonial Pipeline attack last year. While the cybercriminals targeted the company’s billing and IT systems, Colonial proactively shut down its pipeline operations until they could confirm the safety of the operational systems. This response helped limit the immediate damage, but it still triggered a major fuel shortage across the Southeastern U.S. and led to a state of emergency declaration. The threat posed by ransomware is not hypothetical—between 2019 and 2021, ransomware complaints reported to the FBI skyrocketed by 82%.
To put the impact into perspective, between 2019 and 2021, ransomware attacks in the U.S. targeted 14 of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors. One of the most high-profile ransomware attacks involved JBS, the world’s largest supplier of beef, chicken, and pork. Their attack in May last year caused major disruptions to the global food supply chain, leading to price increases and empty grocery store shelves.
However, the threat landscape isn’t limited to cybercriminals. Nation-state actors—like those from Iran, Russia, North Korea, and China—pose a more insidious risk. These actors don’t just aim to steal data; they actively work to destabilize entire industries, economies, and governments. For example, in 2017, Russia’s military targeted Ukrainian critical infrastructure with a cyberattack disguised as ransomware, ultimately causing over $10 billion in damage worldwide.
The scope of the problem is daunting. China, for example, has launched cyber operations aimed at dominating global technology sectors through intellectual property theft. In just one instance last year, hackers associated with China’s Ministry of State Security targeted a vulnerability in Microsoft’s Exchange Server, compromising thousands of organizations worldwide. China has been responsible for stealing more U.S. personal and corporate data than all other countries combined.
Fortunately, the FBI’s response to these challenges has been effective in minimizing the damage. When hackers targeted a U.S. children’s hospital last year, our team acted swiftly to provide the hospital with the necessary intelligence to stop the attack. Similarly, we worked with Microsoft and other partners to shut down the backdoors left by hackers during the Exchange Server breach.
We’re also continuously working to dismantle the infrastructure that cybercriminals rely on. For example, in 2020, the FBI led an international operation that seized control of a large botnet called Emotet, which was used in various cybercrime schemes, including ransomware. And when we seize virtual currency wallets used by cybercriminals, we not only help victims recover some of their losses but also prevent the criminals from using those resources to fuel further attacks.
However, the most effective way to combat these threats is through collaboration. The FBI’s approach has evolved to involve significant coordination with the private sector. We’ve established Cyber Task Forces in all 56 FBI field offices across the country, ensuring that businesses have direct access to experts who can help when cyber incidents occur. Through initiatives like the Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) and InfraGard, we’ve built a network of partnerships with over 627 Fortune 1000 companies and more than 70,000 professionals focused on safeguarding critical U.S. infrastructure.
But we need your help. The private sector is often the first line of defense. If businesses don’t report cyber incidents, we may never know about them, and that makes it difficult to prevent future attacks. The sharing of information is vital to developing strategies to counter threats and improve defenses. Each time a company shares an intrusion report with the FBI, we can work to understand the attack, attribute it to a threat actor, and disrupt their operations. The more information we have, the more we can help protect you and other organizations from cyber threats.
Success in this fight requires strong partnerships, with both the public and private sectors working together. I encourage all business leaders to develop formal cyber incident response plans and ensure that your local FBI field office is included as a key resource in the event of an attack. The work we’ve done in the past and the ongoing collaboration with the private sector will continue to make a difference in protecting our businesses, our critical infrastructure, and our way of life.
Why is the FBI Partnering with the Private Sector on Cybersecurity?
In today’s digital age, the rise of cyber threats poses one of the greatest risks to national security, financial systems, and public safety. From ransomware attacks to data breaches, the threat landscape is expanding at an alarming rate. While government agencies like the FBI play a critical role in investigating cyber crimes, the private sector holds vital expertise, technology, and data that are crucial in identifying, preventing, and responding to these attacks.
Recognizing this, the FBI has increasingly turned to the private sector for assistance. By combining the investigative power of the FBI with the private sector’s innovative solutions, this collaboration aims to strengthen cybersecurity efforts and protect critical infrastructure. But how exactly are these partnerships working, and what impact are they having on countering cyber threats?
In this article, we’ll break down how the FBI is working with private companies to combat cyber threats, the key benefits of these partnerships, and how they are reshaping cybersecurity strategies across the United States.
Why is Collaboration Between the FBI and Private Sector Crucial?
The FBI’s collaboration with the private sector is critical in addressing the evolving nature of cyber threats. There are several reasons why this partnership is more necessary than ever:
1. Increased Complexity of Cyber Threats
Cyber threats have evolved from simple hacking attempts to sophisticated cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure, government agencies, and private businesses. These attacks can cause massive financial loss, steal sensitive data, and disrupt essential services. The FBI recognizes that it cannot fight these threats alone and needs the private sector’s cutting-edge technology and resources to stay ahead.
2. Sharing Intelligence and Data
Private sector companies often have access to valuable data that can help detect and prevent cyber-attacks in real-time. By partnering with these companies, the FBI gains access to this data and can more quickly identify emerging threats. Information-sharing agreements between the FBI and private companies allow for timely responses and better coordination.
3. Leveraging Expertise and Innovation
The private sector is home to some of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms, which constantly innovate and develop new technologies to prevent attacks. By collaborating with these companies, the FBI can enhance its cybersecurity capabilities and respond to threats more effectively.
Key Benefits of FBI-Private Sector Partnerships
FBI partnerships with the private sector offer numerous benefits for both parties and for national security as a whole:
1. Faster Response to Cyber Threats
Cyber-attacks can spread rapidly, and the speed at which the threat is identified and neutralized is crucial. By collaborating, the FBI can respond faster to cyber incidents by accessing real-time intelligence and technical resources provided by the private sector.
2. Enhanced Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Many of the systems that power critical infrastructure—such as electricity grids, financial networks, and healthcare systems—are privately owned. The FBI’s partnerships with these private entities ensure that vulnerabilities are detected and patched quickly, safeguarding vital sectors from disruption or attack.
3. Improved Cyber Defense Capabilities
Through information sharing and technology collaboration, the FBI can enhance its cyber defense strategies. Companies in the private sector often have proprietary tools and threat intelligence that can significantly bolster the FBI’s cybersecurity operations.
4. Building Trust in Cybersecurity Measures
Partnerships help foster greater trust in cybersecurity initiatives. By working together, the FBI and private companies can create a more secure and transparent system, which benefits businesses, consumers, and government entities alike.
How the FBI and Private Sector Work Together: Case Studies
1. The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC)
The FBI is a key partner in the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, which is designed to help organizations across critical sectors identify and respond to threats. By connecting government agencies with private sector cybersecurity firms, JCDC streamlines threat intelligence sharing, making it easier to tackle large-scale cyber incidents.
2. Public-Private Partnerships in Threat Intelligence
One example of this collaboration is the FBI’s InfraGard program, which connects private-sector professionals with the FBI to share critical cybersecurity information. Through InfraGard, companies from various industries work directly with the FBI to report emerging threats and mitigate risks, ensuring a unified response to cyber incidents.
Challenges Faced by the FBI in Partnering with the Private Sector
While the collaboration between the FBI and the private sector has proven effective, it also faces challenges. These include:
- Privacy concerns: Information-sharing between the FBI and private companies raises concerns about user privacy and data protection.
- Legal barriers: Certain cybersecurity practices may involve navigating complex legal frameworks, especially when cross-border data sharing is involved.
- Coordination issues: Ensuring seamless collaboration between agencies, industries, and companies with different objectives can be difficult.
Despite these challenges, the benefits of these partnerships far outweigh the risks, leading to stronger cybersecurity defenses for both private and public sectors.
FAQs
1. Why is the FBI collaborating with the private sector on cybersecurity?
The FBI collaborates with the private sector to enhance its ability to identify, prevent, and respond to increasingly complex cyber threats, leveraging private companies’ data, technology, and expertise.
2. What is the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC)?
The JCDC is a public-private initiative that brings together government agencies and private-sector organizations to strengthen cyber defenses, share threat intelligence, and respond to incidents quickly.
3. How does the FBI share intelligence with private companies?
Through programs like InfraGard, the FBI facilitates direct information-sharing with private companies to detect emerging threats and protect critical infrastructure.
4. What are the benefits of the FBI-private sector partnership?
These partnerships lead to faster response times to cyber threats, enhanced protection of critical infrastructure, improved defense capabilities, and greater trust in cybersecurity measures.
5. What are the challenges of FBI-private sector collaboration?
Challenges include privacy concerns, legal barriers, and coordination issues between different sectors with varying priorities and objectives.
6. How can private companies get involved with the FBI in cybersecurity?
Companies can join programs like InfraGard or the JCDC to collaborate with the FBI in addressing cyber threats and enhancing national cybersecurity.
Conclusion
The FBI’s partnerships with the private sector are a critical aspect of modern cybersecurity defense. By combining government expertise with private-sector innovation, these collaborations create a more resilient, responsive defense system capable of tackling even the most sophisticated cyber threats. As cyberattacks continue to evolve, the strength of these public-private partnerships will be essential in protecting our critical infrastructure and ensuring the security of our digital world.
