The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has assembled a panel of executives from a number of major retailers, including J.C. Penney and Target, to launch the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC), which is designed to strengthen defenses against cyber attacks.
The R-CISC is an independent organization, the centerpiece of which is a Retail Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Retail-ISAC). In addition to J.C. Penney and Target, other companies participating with and supporting the R-CISC include: American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc., Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Nike, Inc., Safeway, Inc., VF Corp. and Walgreen Co.
“Retailers place an extremely high priority on finding solutions to combat cyber attacks and protect customers,” said Sandy Kennedy, President of RILA. “In the face of persistent cyber criminals with increasingly sophisticated methods of attack, the R-CISC is a comprehensive resource for retailers to receive and share threat information, advance leading practices and develop research relevant to fighting cyber crimes.”
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There are three components of the R-CISC, including:
- The Retail Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Retail-ISAC), which allows retailers to share cyber threat information with each other and share anonymous information the U.S. government via a cyber analyst and technician.
- Education and training that will provide the retail community with best practices for information sharing and deterring cyber criminals.
- Research created in collaboration with academia, spotlighting emerging technologies and potential threats.
To create the R-CISC, RILA collected feedback from more than 50 of the largest retailers in the U.S., and consulted with personnel in federal law enforcement, government agencies, third-party cyber specialists and subject matter experts. The R-CISC also has established partnerships with several federal agencies, and garnered support from U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
“The Secret Service actively supports information sharing initiatives such as the R-CISC,” said Paul Morrissey, U.S. Secret Service Assistant Director for Investigations. “The Secret Service also continues its commitment to promote public/private partnerships through its 33 nationwide Electric Crimes Task Forces (ECTFs) and two international ECTF’s, which bring together over 6,100 private sector partners, members of academia and local, state and federal law enforcement.”
