Striving to improve the cyber resiliency of the Puget Sound region, the NorthWest Alliance for Cyber Security (NWACS) helps maximize communications between local, regional and federal organizations and enterprises.
This mission is accomplished by means of a round table format bringing the various cyber-centric organizations in the region together and using various means of information exchange, coordination and training through such means as:
- Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security
- Resource Portal
- Cyber Security Community
- Best Practices Exchange
- Joint Projects and Policy Analysis and
- Development Activities
- Funding and Grant Reviews
- Training and Education Coordination
- Participation in Regional and State decision-making bodies (e.g. King County RHSS).
The ultimate goal of NWACS is to ensure that the various organizations in the Puget Sound region, as well as those international, federal, regional and local organizations that interface with the region, are provided information, tools, concepts and good practices to help them be better prepared for cyber incident defense and response.
History
The NorthWest Alliance for Cyber Security was created after the Blue Cascades II exercise.
Blue Cascades II was a collaborative initiative led by the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) in cooperation with the King County Office of Emergency Management (Region 6, Washington Homeland Security District), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA region X), Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), and the Washington State Military Department.
BC II raised awareness of infrastructure interdependency issues with a particular focus on cyber-security and examined cyber security vulnerabilities that could impact operations, business practices, response and recovery. The Exercise also identified ways to make infrastructure providers and organizations aware of disruptions. It promoted mutual understanding of interdependent infrastructure service restoration priorities, challenge and time lines and highlighted roles, responsibilities and authorities (local, county, state, federal) for responding to and recovering from infrastructure attacks and disruption.