CISA Establishes New Advisory Council To Strengthen Critical Infrastructure

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced Wednesday the creation of a new advisory-body framework called the Alliance of National Councils for Homeland Operational Resilience – Critical Infrastructure (ANCHOR-CI).

According to CISA’s press release, ANCHOR-CI will incorporate lessons learned from the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council and engage with a wider range of public-private critical infrastructure stakeholders to strengthen information-sharing and address threats in real time.

Members of ANCHOR-CI include critical infrastructure owners and operators; organizations responsible for critical infrastructure cybersecurity and physical security; federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government entities; and entities in emerging industries deemed necessary by the council.

The framework was built by CISA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but CISA will take on the role of managing ANCHOR-CI’s councils, which include critical infrastructure sector, cross-sector, industry and regional coordinating councils. The hope is for these councils to represent broader public-sector perspectives, openly discuss current and emerging threats, and deliver actionable recommendations to DHS to help secure the nation’s critical infrastructure, the release said.

“The new and innovative ANCHOR-CI framework will be a game changer in how the public and private sectors collaborate and share information,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “In a rapidly evolving threat environment, ANCHOR-CI will ensure we have the right people in the room working together to keep the critical infrastructure Americans rely on secure and resilient. This is just another example of the partnership needed to confront the threats of today and tomorrow.” 

Since the councils will discuss sensitive information, ANCHOR-CI is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act and will not open council meetings to the public. However, CISA is required to post agendas for each meeting, according to CISA’s website.

John Harmon, regional vice president of Cyber Solutions at Elastic, a software company that specializes in enterprise search, observability and cybersecurity, said ANCHOR-CI is a step forward in outpacing adversaries.

“What makes CISA’s ANCHOR-CI framework so promising is its emphasis on real-time information-sharing,” Harmon said. “The reality is that no single organization, public or private, can defend critical infrastructure alone. When government and industry share intelligence openly and act on it together, the entire ecosystem becomes more resilient.”

According to the release, ANCHOR-CI will operate for two years and may be extended by the secretary of homeland security.

“As the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience, CISA is dedicated to actively engaging partners from the critical infrastructure community in every step of our work,” said Nick Andersen, CISA acting director. “This framework was developed to address the unique challenges our partners face, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. By establishing ANCHOR-CI, CISA is not only fulfilling its core statutory mission but also strengthening our collective ability to safeguard the vital services Americans rely on every day.”