Joint Message From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Regarding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a private meeting with a group of CEO’s to hear Eric Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Cleveland, Ohio office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, talk about cybersecurity.

The main takeaway was this plea:  If your organization is hacked, you should immediately notify the FBI and CISA.  Even if you think your situation is minor and hardly noteworthy in comparison to the kind of cyberbreaches against hospitals, schools and power utilities that make the news.

Agent Smith told the audience that even “small” breaches can provide information that helps the FBI down the line.  He assured the audience that when private companies share information about a breach, the FBI does not look for other information that could be used by another law enforcement agency.  In answer to a pointed question about whether information gathered by the FBI in these circumstances might be shared with, for instance, the FTC, he was adamant that was not the case.

On February 8, 2020, two years ago, we published a piece in Crain’s Cleveland Business warning that something called COVID-19 was likely to cause an enormous business and societal disruption (truth be told, we had a very good source in D.C.), suggesting that businesses and individuals quickly make preparations for such a situation.  One month later, much of the world went into shut-down.  We are again sounding the klaxon horn and asking you to heed the warning below.

For more information about the FBI’s efforts to combat cybercrime along with tips for protecting yourself and your organization, click here:  https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber

Bruce Hennes, CEO
Hennes Communications