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What information sharing means in cybersecurity
Cyber threat indicators (CTIs) describe activity or conditions that may indicate a cybersecurity threat. Defensive measures (DMs) describe actions that can help detect, prevent, or mitigate one. Organizations share this information with peers and government so others can assess whether it applies to their systems and act on it.
Sharing does not mean that every participant receives the same information, receives it immediately, or can use it without analysis. The value depends on the quality and context of the information, how well it fits the recipient’s environment, and whether systems and staff can put it to use.
How CISA’s AIS exchange works
CISA describes AIS as a federal and private-sector service for bidirectional, machine-readable exchange of CTIs and DMs. AIS uses STIX to structure threat information and TAXII to exchange it between systems. CISA encourages participants to use its bidirectional TAXII connection. The AIS 2.0 STIX Profile specifies submission requirements; CISA also publishes AIS 2.0 STIX Profile v1.0 and AIS 2.0 Submission Guidance v1.0.
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STIX and TAXII compatibility matters because the exchange is designed for systems, not just people forwarding prose. Organizations still need to judge whether an indicator or defensive measure is trustworthy, relevant, and appropriate to act on; machine-readable does not mean automatically validated or actionable.
Ways an organization can participate
The right route depends on the organization’s sector or community, existing technical capability, onboarding capacity, and information-sharing requirements. CISA describes direct AIS participation, participation through an ISAC or ISAO, and access through an AIS-integrated commercial product or service. The available sources do not establish a vendor-by-vendor comparison or guarantee any provider’s present coverage or timeliness.
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| Route | Fit and access | Technical and organizational considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Direct AIS participation | For organizations seeking a direct connection to CISA’s exchange. | CISA lists contacting the agency, agreeing to applicable terms, arranging STIX/TAXII capability, signing an interconnection agreement, and providing an IP address. An appropriate PKI certificate may be required; a certificate may need to be purchased. CISA describes AIS itself as a no-cost service. |
| ISAC or ISAO | ISACs are associated with critical-infrastructure sectors. CISA describes ISAOs as more flexible, potentially organized around a sector, region, or other affinity. | Check the organization’s current membership scope, operating status, information-handling rules, and whether its sharing fits your community. CISA’s FAQ describes an ISAO as a group that gathers, analyzes, and disseminates cyber threat information; the FAQ is archived. |
| Commercial AIS integration | May suit organizations seeking an existing product or service that connects with AIS. | Verify current AIS integration, STIX/TAXII support, what information is covered, how it is contextualized, onboarding needs, privacy handling, and contract terms. No specific provider or comparative product test is established here. |
What direct AIS onboarding involves
- Contact CISA and confirm applicable terms. CISA’s AIS page describes the service and participation steps.
- Arrange the technical connection. CISA lists an open-source TAXII 2.1 client or a commercial solution as possible routes. The organization needs a STIX/TAXII capability.
- Obtain a suitable PKI certificate if needed. Organizations that do not already have an appropriate certificate may need to obtain one; this possible certificate cost is separate from AIS’s no-cost service.
- Complete interconnection requirements. CISA lists signing an interconnection agreement and providing an IP address.
Privacy duties and conditional legal protections
Information sharing has handling obligations as well as potential legal protections. The Interagency Joint Report on Compliance with the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 says federal and non-federal entities must remove personal information that is not directly related to a cybersecurity threat. CISA also points to privacy and civil liberties guidelines governing government receipt, retention, use, and dissemination of information.
The report describes liability protections for private entities that share according to established procedures. These protections are conditional on compliance with the statute and applicable procedures; they are not blanket immunity for every disclosure. Organizations should review the governing requirements and their own privacy, security, and contractual obligations before sharing.
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What the latest federal oversight review found
The joint Offices of Inspectors General report, published in January 2026 and covering calendar years 2023 and 2024, found that agencies continued to share unclassified cyber threat information through AIS and top-secret information through ICOAST, as well as through email, written reports, websites, and in-person communications. It concluded that agencies generally implemented the Act and that CTI and DM sharing improved while accessibility expanded.
“The OIGs determined that CTI and DM sharing improved over the past two years, and they were expanding accessibility to information.”
The review also recorded reluctance to share and differing reports about timeliness. Its findings concern federal implementation and do not establish that every organization receives useful information quickly. The report does not provide a standalone, comparable headline statistic establishing the overall scale or effectiveness of sharing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to evaluate a sharing route
Before connecting or joining, compare the options against the needs of your organization rather than assuming that more feeds mean better protection.
- Fit and access: Is participation open to your organization, and does the community match your sector, region, or operational interests?
- Integration effort: Can your systems handle STIX/TAXII, or will you need a client, commercial service, or internal engineering work?
- Onboarding: What agreements, certificates, network details, staffing, and approvals are required?
- Coverage and context: What threats and defensive measures are included, and is there enough context to determine relevance?
- Timeliness and usability: How does the service communicate delays, updates, and confidence, and can your team operationalize what it receives?
- Governance and privacy: What are the terms for sharing, retention, access, and removal of unrelated personal information?
What changes for CISA 2015 in December 2026
As of October 4, 2026, the current preliminary U.S. Code states that the effective period for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 ends on December 11, 2026. The current codified provision reflects an amendment dated September 2, 2026. CISA’s AIS page still contains an older February 2026 note giving September 30, 2026; that earlier date was superseded by the later amendment. Under 6 U.S.C. §1510(b), the subchapter continues to apply to qualifying actions and information obtained before the date its provisions cease to have effect. This is a statement of the law as of October 4, 2026, not a prediction about any later legislative change.
For the statutory text, see 6 U.S.C. §1510, current preliminary U.S. Code. For CISA’s service information and onboarding details, see its AIS page.
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