Electric cooperatives nationwide now have broader access to real-time, tailored cybersecurity intelligence as the NRECA Threat Analysis Center opens to all NRECA members through a subscription-based model.

The technology platform’s chief objectives to help co-op cyber staff are threefold: reduce alert fatigue by helping co-ops focus on threat information relevant to their environments, provide triage assistance through centralized access to cybersecurity expertise and resources, and facilitate communication among peers and with the broader intelligence community.

Years in the making, the center moved out of its beta phase in April with subscription rates based on a co-op’s revenue.

“It’s been exciting to see co-ops of all sizes subscribing to the NRECA Threat Analysis Center to stay on top of the cybersecurity threats that their utilities are facing and join the collaborative community,” said Meredith Miller, NRECA principal data scientist and lead on the center.

The center allows participants to securely collaborate on their cyber observations with other co-ops and NRECA analysts, and early subscribers say its specificity for electric co-ops is unique to the industry and helpful for co-ops at any cybersecurity maturity level.

“It is a complete platform that helps to bring the cooperative community together to share accurate, timely, relevant and actionable cybersecurity information,” said Ben Galvacky, information security manager at Greenwood-based Delaware Electric Cooperative.

Jason Kirby, security and network systems specialist at Homer Electric Association in Alaska, said the center is his “favorite source of information.”

“It pulls the most relevant data into one place and gives us a platform as security professionals in our industry to cooperate as threats emerge,” Kirby said.

Galvacky said he encourages more co-ops to subscribe for a stronger cyber front.

“Unlike other commercial products, this platform has been built by co-ops, for co-ops, and will continue to evolve and grow with co-ops at a fraction of the cost of similar products,” he said.

Subscribers also have access to a mobile app, which is “now my first go-to when looking for incidents happening in cybersecurity across our industry,” said Dwayne Long, vice president of information technology at Chase City, Virginia-based Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative.

“It is a game changer for viewing multiple sources of information and allowing real-world connections to real people packaged in an easy-to-use app.”