NetHope Announces the Launch of the Partner Collective for the Global Humanitarian ISAC at the 2024 NetHope Global Summit

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NetHope is proud to announce the launch of the Partner Collective for the Global Humanitarian Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Global Humanitarian ISAC) at the 2024 NetHope Global Summit. This initiative unites a powerful group of organizations that are dedicated to providing funding, expertise, tools, and technology to support the Global Humanitarian Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s mission of enhancing cybersecurity for global humanitarian and conservation nonprofits.

Okta and Cisco are leading this effort joined by BeyondID, the NGO-ISAC, SANS, and Slack, who will each play a vital role in delivering the necessary support for the Global Humanitarian ISAC impact.

About the Global Humanitarian ISAC

Cyber attacks on organizations have risen to alarming levels. Digital safety at international NGOs is essential for protecting the vulnerable populations they serve and their employees. As cybersecurity risks have become increasingly complex, solitary defense is no longer an option. We must enhance digital protection to address the threats endemic to all digital spaces. To address this gap in digital protection and increasing digital security threats, NetHope is committed to driving multi-sector, collaborative, and strategic approaches with an emphasis on insights and skills-sharing, global co-creation, and long-term commitment to protect digital rights.

The Global Humanitarian ISAC serves as the central platform that enables governments, funders, technology companies, and other trusted providers to support the spectrum of information security needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve. By addressing key gaps and barriers to nonprofit cybersecurity, the Global Humanitarian ISAC delivers stronger protection of sensitive information and effective cyber defense that reduces the likelihood of harm to beneficiaries, as well as the economic and/or reputational loss to nonprofits from cyber risks.

The Global Humanitarian ISAC provides a shared space and a platform for improved communication and collaboration on security issues. By facilitating greater information exchange and joint training initiatives, it promises to enable humanitarian, aid, and development organizations and the ecosystem of stakeholders they engage with to operate more securely in complex environments. Overall, strengthened coordination raises baseline capabilities and fosters a more unified approach to safeguarding critical humanitarian initiatives worldwide.

With a design validated by 30 organizations and 10 partners, the Global Humanitarian ISAC meets the specific needs of nonprofits and offers solutions for:

• Surfacing cyber threats and implementing context-specific defenses.
• Training and building capacity among nonprofit staff for digital threat response.
• Supplying tools and technologies to monitor and respond to cyber risks.

Strengthening Digital Resilience: The Global Humanitarian ISAC Partner Collective

The launch of the Partner Collective for the Global Humanitarian ISAC represents a fundamental step forward in fortifying the nonprofit sector’s digital resilience. Okta and Cisco, as lead partners, are instrumental in driving this collective response to digital threats. The Partner Collective is leading the way through the pooling of funding, resources, and expertise so that NetHope can empower nonprofits to scale their impact safely and effectively.

Transformative Partnership Announced

At the NetHope Global Summit, NetHope and Okta announced a USD $2.5 million commitment over five years to support the Global Humanitarian ISAC that will fuel a safer digital ecosystem for nonprofits worldwide. This new partnership will unlock more resources to protect these organizations to increase their confidence in their security posture for billions of vulnerable people they serve around the world.

The Global Humanitarian Information ISAC acts as a powerful force for cybersecurity, bringing together nonprofit contextually sensitive expertise to maximize efficiency, reach, and impact. The Partner Collective will provide vital support to advance the impact, safety, and security of nonprofits and those they serve around the world.

About NetHope

NetHope is a catalyst for collective impact that advances humanitarian, conservation, and international development efforts worldwide. For more than 20 years, we’ve enabled international nongovernmental organizations and leading technology partners to address the world’s most pressing challenges and advance global good through collaboration, collective action, and smarter use of digital technology. Over 60 nonprofit Members and 50 technology partners collaborate to leverage digital solutions for exponential impact. Collectively, NetHope Members deliver more than 60% of all annual international, non-governmental aid, serving over 1.67 billion people in 190 countries.