DHS S&T, Israel National Cyber Directorate detail cybersecurity collaboration

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) recently formed the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Cyber program-managed joint initiative, which would enhance critical infrastructure cyber resilience in the United States and Israel.

“Our department is committed to direct operational collaboration with our international partners and the private sector to address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges,” DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers said. “Through the BIRD Cyber program, DHS and INCD will harness the innovation and ingenuity of the Israeli and American technology sectors to drive security and resilience.”

BIRD Cyber is slated to promote the collaborative development of technologies of mutual benefit for both countries and expand the success of the BIRD Homeland Security (HLS) program established six years ago via the Israel Ministry of Public Security.

“We look forward to continuing to build the relationship between DHS and INCD to implement this new U.S.-Israel cybersecurity initiative that addresses security needs shared by both nations,” INCD Director General Gaby Portnoy said. “The joint investment in public-private partnerships should advance innovative and jointly developed technologies to bring the next generation solutions for national-level cybersecurity.”

The initiative will address areas to secure architecture for protecting core operational processes; explore real-time risk assessment solutions for small-to-medium-sized airports or seaports; and advance data fusion and analytics.

“We welcome the opportunity to cooperate with INCD and build on our work with the BIRD Foundation to develop innovative technologies that reduce risk to our cyber and physical infrastructure and that lead to enhanced safety for our nations,” DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology Kathryn Coulter Mitchell said.