Alright, let’s talk about something that should have every government CISO losing sleep right now. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) just expired, and if you’re in the public sector, you’re about to feel what it’s like to fight cyber threats with one hand tied behind your back.
I’ve spent over 20 years in offensive security, and I can tell you this: the bad guys don’t care about legislative calendars. They don’t take breaks when laws expire. In fact, they’re probably celebrating right now because the legal framework that made it safe for private companies to share threat intelligence with government agencies just vanished into thin air.
Here’s the brutal reality—without CISA’s liability protections, private sector organizations are going to think twice (or three times) before sharing critical threat data with government agencies. And that information gap? That’s exactly where the next major breach is going to happen.
But here’s the good news: if you’re reading this, you’re already ahead of the curve. Let’s dive into what this means for government cybersecurity and, more importantly, how to build information-sharing frameworks that don’t crumble when the legal landscape shifts.
Understanding the CISA Expiration Crisis
What CISA Actually Did (And Why It Mattered)
The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act was more than just bureaucratic paperwork—it provided the legal backbone for real-time threat intelligence sharing between private companies and government agencies. Think of it as the diplomatic immunity for cybersecurity collaboration.
CISA provided:
- Liability protection for companies sharing cyber threat indicators
- Legal safe harbor for good-faith information sharing
- Standardized protocols for threat data exchange
- Privacy protections for shared information
- Antitrust exemptions for collaborative defense efforts
Without these protections, companies face potential lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and competitive disadvantages for sharing threat intelligence. It’s like asking someone to jump into a pool without knowing if there’s water in it.
The Immediate Impact on Government Agencies
Let me paint you a picture of what’s happening right now in government cybersecurity operations centers across the country:
Before CISA Expiration:
- Real-time threat feeds from Fortune 500 companies
- Collaborative incident response with private sector partners
- Early warning systems for emerging attack patterns
- Shared indicators of compromise (IOCs) from multiple sources
After CISA Expiration:
- Legal teams blocking information sharing
- Delayed or sanitized threat intelligence
- Siloed incident response efforts
- Increased vulnerability to zero-day exploits
The information flow hasn’t stopped completely, but it’s like going from a fire hose to a leaky faucet. And in cybersecurity, timing is everything.
Building Resilient Information-Sharing Frameworks
1. Establish Alternative Legal Mechanisms
Just because CISA expired doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options. Here’s how to create legal frameworks that protect both parties:
Bilateral Information Sharing Agreements (BISAs):
- Draft agency-specific agreements with key private sector partners
- Include explicit liability limitations and indemnification clauses
- Define clear data handling and privacy protocols
- Establish incident response coordination procedures
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs):
- Create formal partnerships with critical infrastructure providers
- Outline mutual obligations and expectations
- Specify information classification and handling requirements
- Include sunset clauses and regular review cycles
Trusted Third-Party Models:
- Leverage Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs)
- Utilize sector-specific coordination bodies
- Engage neutral intermediaries for sensitive data exchange
- Implement anonymization and aggregation protocols
2. Leverage OSINT and Open-Source Intelligence
Here’s where tools like Kindi become absolutely critical. When traditional information-sharing channels dry up, you need to get creative with open-source intelligence gathering.
OSINT Strategies for Government Agencies:
- Dark Web Monitoring: Track threat actor communications, leaked credentials, and planned attacks
- Social Media Intelligence: Monitor for insider threats, social engineering campaigns, and disinformation
- Technical Infrastructure Analysis: Map adversary infrastructure, command-and-control servers, and attack patterns
- Vulnerability Intelligence: Aggregate public vulnerability disclosures and exploit development
The beauty of OSINT is that it doesn’t require bilateral agreements or liability protections. The information is already public—you just need the right tools and expertise to collect, analyze, and operationalize it.
3. Implement Zero Trust Information Sharing Architecture
The expiration of CISA is actually an opportunity to modernize how government agencies approach information sharing. Let’s build something better than what we had:
Core Principles:
Never Trust, Always Verify:
- Authenticate every information source
- Validate threat intelligence before operationalization
- Implement multi-factor verification for shared data
- Maintain audit trails for all information exchanges
Least Privilege Access:
- Compartmentalize threat intelligence based on classification
- Implement role-based access controls (RBAC)
- Use need-to-know principles for sensitive data
- Regularly review and revoke unnecessary access
Assume Breach Mentality:
- Encrypt all shared information in transit and at rest
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) controls
- Monitor for unauthorized data exfiltration
- Maintain incident response plans for compromised intelligence
4. Develop Public-Private Partnership Programs
The CISA expiration doesn’t mean the end of collaboration—it just means we need to be more intentional about how we structure these relationships:
Sector-Specific Collaboration Models:
- Critical Infrastructure Protection Programs: Partner with energy, water, transportation, and healthcare sectors
- Financial Services Coordination: Establish dedicated channels with banking and financial institutions
- Technology Sector Engagement: Create innovation partnerships with cloud providers and software vendors
- Academic Research Collaboration: Leverage university research programs for threat analysis
Incentive Structures:
- Offer regulatory benefits for participating organizations
- Provide access to classified threat intelligence
- Create fast-track procurement processes for security solutions
- Recognize and publicize successful partnerships
5. Invest in Automated Threat Intelligence Platforms
Manual information sharing is too slow and too risky in the post-CISA environment. You need automation:
Key Capabilities:
- Automated IOC Collection: Aggregate threat indicators from multiple sources
- Machine Learning Analysis: Identify patterns and anomalies in threat data
- Real-Time Alerting: Push critical threats to security teams immediately
- Integration with Existing Tools: Connect with SIEM, SOAR, and EDR platforms
This is where platforms like Kindi excel—automating the collection, analysis, and operationalization of threat intelligence without requiring manual information-sharing agreements.
Practical Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1: Immediate Actions (0-30 Days)
- Conduct Legal Review: Assess current information-sharing agreements and identify gaps
- Inventory Intelligence Sources: Document all current threat intelligence feeds and partnerships
- Implement OSINT Capabilities: Deploy automated OSINT collection tools
- Establish Communication Protocols: Create secure channels for continued collaboration
Phase 2: Short-Term Initiatives (30-90 Days)
- Draft Alternative Agreements: Develop BISAs and MOUs with critical partners
- Enhance OSINT Operations: Expand dark web monitoring and social media intelligence
- Deploy Automation: Implement threat intelligence platforms and SOAR solutions
- Train Personnel: Upskill teams on new information-sharing protocols
Phase 3: Long-Term Strategy (90+ Days)
- Build Sector Partnerships: Establish formal public-private partnership programs
- Develop Incentive Programs: Create frameworks to encourage private sector participation
- Implement Zero Trust Architecture: Deploy comprehensive zero trust information-sharing models
- Measure and Optimize: Track metrics and continuously improve processes
The Role of Advanced OSINT in Government Cybersecurity
Let me share something from my years in offensive security: the best intelligence often comes from sources you’re not expecting. Government agencies need to embrace advanced OSINT techniques to fill the intelligence gap left by CISA’s expiration.
Advanced OSINT Techniques:
- Credential Monitoring: Track leaked government credentials on paste sites and dark web forums
- Infrastructure Mapping: Identify government assets exposed to the internet
- Threat Actor Profiling: Monitor adversary groups targeting government agencies
- Supply Chain Intelligence: Assess third-party vendor security postures
For more on how OSINT transforms government operations, check out our guide on OSINT strategy frameworks for government agencies.
Addressing the Compliance and Privacy Challenge
One of the biggest concerns with alternative information-sharing frameworks is maintaining compliance with privacy regulations and data protection laws. Here’s how to navigate this:
Privacy-Preserving Information Sharing:
- Data Minimization: Share only necessary threat indicators
- Anonymization: Remove personally identifiable information (PII)
- Aggregation: Combine data from multiple sources to protect individual privacy
- Differential Privacy: Add statistical noise to prevent re-identification
Regulatory Compliance:
- Align with NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Comply with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
- Adhere to Privacy Act requirements
- Follow OMB guidance on information sharing
Learning from International Models
The United States isn’t the only country grappling with government-private sector information sharing. Let’s look at what’s working elsewhere:
European Union NIS2 Directive:
- Mandatory incident reporting requirements
- Sector-specific information-sharing obligations
- Coordinated vulnerability disclosure programs
- Cross-border threat intelligence exchange
UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC):
- Active Cyber Defence program
- Automated threat intelligence sharing
- Public-private sector coordination
- Proactive threat hunting initiatives
Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC):
- Joint Cyber Security Centres with private sector
- Automated malware analysis and sharing
- Sector-specific threat intelligence reports
- Collaborative incident response
For insights on how other governments are handling intelligence operations, read our article on legislative changes reshaping intelligence operations.
Measuring Success: KPIs for Information-Sharing Programs
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Here are the key performance indicators every government agency should track:
Operational Metrics:
- Time to detect threats (TTD)
- Time to respond to incidents (TTR)
- Number of threat indicators shared/received
- Quality score of threat intelligence
- False positive rate reduction
Partnership Metrics:
- Number of active information-sharing partners
- Frequency of information exchanges
- Partner satisfaction scores
- Incident response collaboration success rate
Impact Metrics:
- Prevented security incidents
- Reduced dwell time for threats
- Cost savings from early threat detection
- Improved security posture scores
Conclusion: Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it—the CISA expiration is a significant setback for government cybersecurity. But here’s what I’ve learned from two decades in this field: the best security programs are built during times of adversity, not comfort.
This is your opportunity to build something better. Instead of relying on a single legislative framework, you can create a resilient, multi-layered approach to threat intelligence sharing that’s more robust, more automated, and more effective than what we had before.
The key is to act now. Don’t wait for Congress to pass new legislation. Don’t hope that everything will go back to the way it was. Build alternative frameworks, invest in OSINT capabilities, automate your threat intelligence operations, and create partnerships that transcend legal requirements.
The adversaries aren’t waiting. Neither should you.
Want to see how advanced OSINT automation can fill the intelligence gap in your agency? Check out Kindi and discover how automated threat intelligence can transform your security operations—no bilateral agreements required.
For more insights on government cybersecurity challenges, explore our articles on election forensics and social signals and how OSINT powers geopolitical strategy.
