When cybercriminals work together, they’re unstoppable. That’s exactly what happened when Scattered Spider—a hacker group infamous for tricking help-desk staff—went after big retailers like Victoria’s Secret and Belk.
The retailers didn’t fight back alone. Through the Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC), they pooled intelligence, compared notes, and came up with coordinated responses. Members shared indicators of compromise, real-time playbooks, and even worked with British counterparts under attack by the same group.
Here’s the kicker: collaboration isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies. Small and midsized businesses can—and should—tap into the same collective defense. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or face cyber threats alone.
The big question is: where do you find the right groups, what do they cost, and what do you get out of them?
Why Collaboration Matters
Cybercriminals share tips, tricks, and tools daily. They even sell “starter kits” for phishing or ransomware. Why should defenders go it alone?
Joining a collaboration group means:
- You hear about scams and attack trends before they hit the headlines.
- You get practical resources: playbooks, incident checklists, sample communications.
- You build a support network of peers who’ve been through the fire.
And if you’re a small business owner, the benefit is multiplied. You might not have a dedicated IT department, but you can plug into a group that does. That’s like having a team of virtual cybersecurity allies on speed dial.
The Different Types of Cybersecurity Groups
Not all groups are created equal. Some are highly structured with membership fees, while others are community-driven or free.
1. Industry-Specific ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers)
These are sector-focused groups created to share threat intelligence within specific industries.
- RH-ISAC (Retail & Hospitality) – Ideal if you run a retail store, restaurant, or hotel. Membership fees scale based on company size; for smaller retailers, entry can start around $5,000/year. Benefits include daily threat intel, incident collaboration, and access to playbooks.
- FS-ISAC (Financial Services) – The gold standard for banks, credit unions, and fintech companies. Membership starts around $10,000/year and goes up quickly for large institutions, but the intel is deep and constant.
- H-ISAC (Healthcare) – For hospitals, practices, and biotech firms. Costs vary based on revenue. Even small practices can benefit, especially with ransomware on the rise.
- IT-ISAC (Information Technology) – If your business is software, hardware, or services, this community focuses on supply chain threats and vulnerabilities.
Commitment: These groups often expect participation—attending calls, contributing observations, and following safe-sharing rules.
2. ISAOs (Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations)
ISAOs are like ISACs’ more flexible cousins. They can be industry-specific or regional, and they usually carry a lower price tag—sometimes as little as $500–$2,500/year. They’re a great entry point for smaller businesses.
3. Government-Sponsored Programs
You don’t always have to pay. Several government-backed groups are designed to help businesses of all sizes.
- MS-ISAC (Multi-State ISAC) – Focused on state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. Membership is free.
- InfraGard – A public/private partnership with the FBI. Membership is free, but you go through a vetting process. Great for connecting with local law enforcement and critical infrastructure players.
- CISA’s Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) – Usually geared toward larger organizations, but their reports and alerts are open to all.
- National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) – Offers free awareness campaigns, training resources, and tools especially relevant for small and midsize businesses.
4. Peer & Community Groups
Sometimes the most valuable intel comes from peers in your local area.
- Chambers of Commerce – Many now run cybersecurity roundtables or offer workshops for members.
- Vendor-Hosted Communities – If you use Microsoft, CrowdStrike, or Guardz, they have built-in communities or forums to share updates. These are typically free for customers.
- Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) or cyber-for-women entrepreneurs groups – Excellent for support and accessible education.
5. Informal Knowledge-Sharing Spaces
Think Slack channels, LinkedIn groups, or Discord servers. These can be hit-or-miss, but they’re often free and fast. The downside? You have to filter out bad advice and remember that not everyone is vetted. Hackers could be listening to what you are sharing, leaving you vulnerable.
What to Consider Before Joining
Before you write a check or hand over your business email, ask yourself:
- Relevance: Does this group actually cover your industry or needs?
- Commitment: Will you realistically have time to show up on calls or read daily bulletins?
- Cost: Is it worth $500, $5,000, or $10,000 a year? Sometimes yes—but you may get enough value from a free group at first.
- Trust: Are members vetted? Do they have rules around safe-harbor sharing? Trust is everything when people are swapping incident details.
The Benefits of Membership
Here’s what you really get when you join:
- Early Warnings – Know about new phishing tricks or ransomware campaigns before they hit your inbox.
- Collective Defense – When one company gets hit, everyone else learns what to look for.
- Training & Resources – Many groups provide free webinars, tabletop exercise guides, or employee awareness materials.
- Networking – You’ll meet peers who get it. Sometimes the best value is having someone to call when you’re not sure what’s happening.
The Challenges (Because Nothing’s Perfect)
- Cost: Some memberships are designed for Fortune 500 budgets, not small businesses.
- Time: You’ll get more out of these groups if you actually participate.
- Information Overload: It’s easy to get buried in alerts. You’ll need to decide what’s relevant.
- Trust: Sharing your own incidents can feel uncomfortable—but it’s what makes the group useful.
How to Get Started
If you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but where do I even begin?” here’s your roadmap:
- Identify your needs. A small retailer doesn’t need FS-ISAC, but RH-ISAC might be worth it.
- Start free. Check out InfraGard, NCA, or even your local chamber.
- Explore lower-cost ISAOs. Many have SMB-friendly tiers.
- Budget for time. Assign a point person in your business to participate.
- Level up. If you find the value, consider investing in a paid ISAC membership down the line.
A quick cheat sheet:
- Free: InfraGard, MS-ISAC, NCA, vendor forums, community groups.
- Low-Cost: ISAOs ($500–$2,500/year).
- Enterprise-Level: ISACs ($5,000–$10,000+/year).
Key Questions to Ask Before Joining
- What does it cost, and is it tiered for smaller businesses?
- How is information shared—daily feeds, weekly calls, Slack groups?
- What’s expected of me? Listening only, or active contribution?
- Who else is a member? Are there businesses like mine?
- What legal protections exist for sharing sensitive details?
Final Thoughts
Cybercriminals collaborate every day. They share their best tricks, their newest scams, and their step-by-step instructions. The only way to keep up is to collaborate, too.
You don’t need to be a Fortune 500 company to get in on the action. Whether it’s a free FBI-run program, a $500 peer group, or a $5,000 retail ISAC membership, there’s a level of collaboration that can work for your business.
So pick one. Try it out. Build your network. The cost of isolation is far higher than the cost of membership.
And one more thing: if you’re already part of a group and you’d like someone to come speak about cybersecurity in plain English, let me know. I’d love to join your conversation.
