CompTIA membership now includes free CompTIA ISAO access. This allows you to view the latest threat intelligence and analysis from a trusted group of security experts and much more. CompTIA recently announced that all solution provider and managed service provider members will be eligible for free membership to the CompTIA ISAO. This is an important part our strategy to increase the overall resilience in the IT industry. I hope it becomes a major part of our MSP member’s strategies.
It’s been a little more than a month since my CompTIA membership. Thanks to MJ Shoer and the entire CompTIA team for welcoming me so warmly, I’ve had a lot more conversations about how we can better engage our members and what they need to be more successful. It’s a great place for a start. The organization was built for information sharing, and it takes everyone to make that happen.
CompTIA members now have free access to the CompTIA ISAO (or Information Sharing and Analysis Organization) which provides the latest threat intelligence and analysis from a trusted group of security experts. It also includes peer-to-peer networking in Cyber Forum where you can ask questions and share best practices.
Sharing is Caring when it comes to Threat Information
We understand that new members might not know what to share or when, and that is perfectly normal. Our team and the CompTIA ISAO leadership boards will help clarify what we ask members to share and how. This information will be shared soon, but as more MSPs sign up for the CompTIA ISAO free membership, please remember to share any suspicious information immediately. It could be a phishing email, or a SMS text. Send it! If you are concerned about IP addresses and hostnames, please submit it to the TruStar portal on the CompTIA ISAO platform. It is fine to share it in the Threat Submission folder of the CompTIA ISOO Cyber Forum.
If you are hesitant to share information about a possible threat, think of it this way: You may be at the tip or one piece of the puzzle. Analysts can see the whole picture if everyone shares their piece. Businesses can be more protected if they can quickly put this puzzle together. Everyone has a role, even if you don’t feel your information is valuable. It could be the key that brings everything together.
MSPs have a privilege: Membership is a valuable one
CompTIA’s decision that all CompTIA MSP members can openly access the ISAO membership is a great move for the industry for a number of reasons. The CompTIA ISAO membership is subject to release guidelines, which we call traffic light protocol (TLP). Visit www.cisa.gov/tlp for more information about TLP.
TLP aside, we cannot allow any service provider from China, Russia or Iran to join the ISAO. This may seem obvious. We are obliged to protect the United States and all other countries from any attempt to harm the community. This policy helps to protect the integrity of the sharing community by providing a safe environment free from any potential nation-sponsored hacking groups. Ask me, a CompTIA team member or another CompTIA member ISAO member if you have any questions.
An Organization for Members, by members
Since joining CompTIA, there has been a misconception that CompTIA ISAO is driven solely by vendor sponsors and their goals. 100% is not true, I can assure that. The vast majority of members of the ISAO are MSP community members. That’s also what our vendors want and encourage.
We recently announced a change in the CompTIA ISAO executive committee structure to show our commitment to MSPs. The executive advisory and MSP councils of CompTIA ISAO have been combined to form an executive steering council. This puts 80% of the oversight in the hands of the community, not the vendors. The 20% remaining will go to our distributors, vendors, and associate members. The new executive steering committee will continue to include the subject matter expert council.
Your membership will allow us to continue to provide industry insight, member-only events and Technology Interest Groups, communities, councils, standards, and trustmarks as well as business services offerings. Tell your colleagues and friends! You have many privileges as a member.
You can expect more exciting changes in cybersecurity this year.
