The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is reportedly working on a new information-sharing agreement that will help its four members improve cyber resilience and response to critical infrastructure (CNI) threats.
According to the group’s four members – the US, Japan, India and Australia – they aim to reach an agreement by meeting in Australia by May. Nikkei.
According to Japanese newswires, each government’s cybersecurity agency will share information on CNI threats handed down by private sector operators of critical services.
Additionally, Quad aims to agree on common security standards to coordinate the procurement of security controls and data encryption systems. This will improve system interoperability, minimize basic security, and ensure that everything works well together in an emergency, the report claims.
Quad details: US-led Quad launches new cyber group.
The Information Sharing Initiative is noted as the first step in an ongoing cybersecurity cooperation process between Info-Pacific’s four countries.
A joint statement issued by Quad after its meeting in New Delhi in January 2023 highlighted further steps the group will take.
“Long-term, the group will also: Leverage machine learning and related advanced technologies to enhance cybersecurity; computer emergency response teams (CERTs) and private sector threats; “Establish secure channels for information sharing. Create frameworks and methodologies to ensure the security and resilience of supply chains for ICT and operational technology (OT) systems in critical sectors.”
“These goals form an important part of the Group’s forward-looking, state-of-the-art work plan.”
It mentioned telecoms as a particularly important part of critical infrastructure and emphasized the importance of using “trusted” vendors – definitely digging into China and Huawei.
The need for enhanced information-sharing to counter CNI risks has prompted the Russians in Ukraine to combine cyberattacks with mobile warfare on the ground to target energy infrastructure and other parts of the CNI. operations have given it an added urgency.
