Safeway, Target and Walgreens among retailers to form Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association, along with several of America's most recognized retail brands, on Wednesday launched the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center.
The R-CISC is an independent organization, the centerpiece of which is a Retail Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Among those companies participating with and supportive of the R-CISC are American Eagle Outfitters, Gap, J. C. Penney, Lowe's Companies, Nike, Safeway, Target, VF Corp. and Walgreens.
“We are highly focused on protecting our customers and maintaining their trust. That’s why we have joined the R-CISC and are committed to sharing best practices and information with our peers and other stakeholders in order to strengthen our collective defenses against potential threats,” stated Greg Wasson, president and CEO of Walgreens and vice chairman of RILA.
Through the R-CISC, retailers are sharing cyber threat information among themselves and, via analysts, with public and private stakeholders, such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The R-CISC will also provide advanced training and education and research resources for retailers.
“Retailers place extremely high priority on finding solutions to combat cyber attacks and protect customers," stated Sandy Kennedy, president 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.”
In order to create a structure tailored to the needs of the retail industry, the R-CISC was developed with input from more than 50 of America’s largest retailers, and in consultation with key stakeholders including federal law enforcement, government agencies and subject matter experts.
“We have seen a sharp increase in the number of malicious actors attempting to access personal information or compromise the systems we all rely on, in the retail industry and elsewhere,” commented Phyllis Schneck, Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Protection and Programs Directorate. “We continue to work with the private sector to create shared situational awareness of potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center will further enhance DHS’s collaboration with this important sector of the American economy with information and resources that can help companies keep their networks and the information stored on them safe and secure.”
RILA established partnerships with many federal agencies through the formation of the R-CISC and has support from U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.