The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has launched the AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook, a voluntary framework to enhance collaboration and information sharing across the AI ecosystem.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has introduced a free AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook, a guidance document to foster collaboration across the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem to counter cybersecurity threats. This voluntary framework encourages AI providers, developers, and adopters to share critical cybersecurity information with CISA and its partners through the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). By doing so, CISA hopes to enhance the resilience of AI systems—an increasingly vital component of modern infrastructure.
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The AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook emphasizes proactive and reactive information sharing to address the sophisticated challenges posed by AI-related cybersecurity risks. Its key objectives include:
The playbook provides a proactive framework for organizations to share insights on malicious activities and emerging trends. In the event of an AI-related cybersecurity incident, CISA offers secure channels, such as encrypted web forms, for reporting. This data is then analyzed and anonymized to guide defensive actions.
CISA underscored its commitment to enabling organizations to take a unified stance against these risks. “The AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook provides guidance to organizations across the AI community—including AI providers, developers, and adopters—for sharing AI-related cybersecurity information voluntarily with CISA and other partners through the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC),” the agency stated in its announcement. They were also clear about the boundaries of the playbook: “AI safety topics, such as risks to human life, health, property, or the environment, are outside the intended scope of the JCDC AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook.” Similarly, the document does not address issues related to AI fairness or ethics.
Despite these exclusions, the playbook is positioned as a dynamic tool. “This playbook will undergo periodic updates, evolving to address these challenges through active collaboration among government, industry, and international partners,” CISA explained.
CISA is a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security, tasked with strengthening the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Established in 2018, CISA works to safeguard infrastructure sectors—including energy, transportation, healthcare, and more—against a growing range of cyber and physical threats.
The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), CISA’s hub for collaboration, brings together federal agencies, private companies, and international partners to enhance collective defenses. By integrating efforts across sectors, JCDC seeks to proactively address the evolving threat landscape.
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The AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook can be relevant for healthcare organizations relying on AI-driven systems. By adopting its recommendations, healthcare providers can strengthen their cybersecurity postures, mitigate risks, and protect sensitive patient information. A collective defense approach ensures that AI technologies can continue to drive innovation without compromising safety or security.
See also: Artificial Intelligence in healthcare
No, participation in the AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook is entirely voluntary. It does not create policies, impose requirements, or override existing legal or regulatory obligations.
Organizations that share information with CISA gain access to enhanced coordination, government support, and the ability to collaborate on AI cybersecurity issues in a trusted environment. Protections outlined in the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) safeguard proprietary information and shield participants from liability when sharing cyber threat indicators and defensive measures.
CISA aggregates, validates, anonymizes, and enriches shared data to determine appropriate defensive actions. Depending on the Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) classification, CISA may share the information with government, private sector, and international partners to support coordinated defenses.