The city of Los Angeles and its L.A. Cyber Lab have tapped IBM Security for a new program geared toward helping local businesses collaborate to tackle cybercrime, and launch new, complimentary services to boost cyber preparedness training. IBM Security will provide technologies and data geared toward helping local businesses defend against cyberattacks, with the nonprofit L.A. Cyber Lab offering new, free tools, including a threat information sharing platform, and a mobile application for filtering suspicious emails, both using IBM Security threat intelligence.
The partnership allows local businesses to share threat information, and then access that information for use in cyber defenses.
“Public safety in the 21st century isn’t just about protecting our physical streets and neighborhoods — we need to protect the digital presence that is part of everyday life for our residents and businesses,” said L.A. mayor Garcetti. “The Threat Intelligence Sharing Platform and mobile app will advance the L.A. Cyber Lab’s work that has made our city a national cybersecurity model, all while better defending Angelenos from cyber threats.”
IBM Security also shared that it’s ramping up efforts to help cities equip local businesses with cyber defenses using the technology and threat intelligence being deployed by Los Angeles, and to help cities prepare for cyberattacks, IBM is hosting complimentary training sessions for municipalities in the IBM X-Force Command Cyber Range in Cambridge, Mass.
“Cities need to be looking at the root of the problem rather than dealing with threats such as ransomware as one-off situations,” said Wendi Whitmore, VP of X-Force Threat Intelligence for IBM Security. “Taking preventative steps to strengthen cybersecurity in cities now, can help them prepare for, and protect against, issues in the future. These attacks have reached the point where governments need to place an importance on them and develop response plans, similar to how they handle state of emergencies.”
For Los Angeles, businesses now have access to the L.A. Cyber Lab Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing Platform (TISP), which makes it simple for citizens to share spear-phishing concerns and educate themselves on ransomware campaigns and more. The platform reviews threats, and correlates key information to the associated threat group, along with their latest attack campaign.
The mobile application designed by the L.A. Cyber Lab allows citizens to submit and analyze suspicious emails to determine their risk, and to see if those risks are phishing related. The app is available for download on Google Play and via the Apple App Store.