The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is excited to announce renewed support for 2025 from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to carry out a multi-pronged approach to protect, empower, and improve overall digital security preparedness and resilience, especially that of state and local governments and small- and medium-sized businesses.
Cyber threats increasingly come in all shapes and sizes: ransomware actors extort victims by encrypting, stealing, and threatening to release data; business email compromise actors use social engineering tactics like phishing to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems; and nation-state adversaries put our national security at risk through coordinated, sophisticated cyber attacks. Too often, the targets of these attacks–including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTTs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)–are left under-prepared and under-resourced.
This crucial investment from Craig Newmark Philanthropies will enable the non-profit IST to help provide tailored cyber hygiene guidance and resources for the “target rich, cyber poor”; drive operational collaboration with industry, working with governments and law enforcement; clarify and advocate for incentives to promote better preparation and response; and support the protection of critical infrastructure through sector-specific efforts, including K-12 schools.
In collaboration with experts and organizations from across the Cyber Civil Defense ecosystem, IST will leverage Craig’s support to get tailored guidance to those who need it most, in a language they understand.
“Cyber Civil Defense is about safeguarding our families, homes, our jobs, and infrastructure, and that requires many non-profits working together,” said Craig Newmark, founder of Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “The Institute for Security and Technology is one of those vital non-profits, working to help protect, empower, and improve cyber preparedness and resilience of the most vulnerable groups in our society. They contribute a lot to our shared defense, and I seriously support them in their efforts.”
“Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ continued support to IST is foundational to our efforts to advance a more secure and trustworthy digital future,” said Chief Strategy Officer Megan Stifel. “We are too over-dependent on insecure technologies, putting individuals, businesses, and organizations at risk. IST aims to change this by advocating for incentives, equipping organizations with the right resources to prepare for cyber incidents, and bolstering industry and law enforcement efforts to stop these bad actors from deriving financial gains.”
Bolstered by generous support from philanthropies, corporations, and individuals like Craig, the Ransomware Task Force (RTF) has achieved global impact and tangible results since its launch in 2021.
- The RTF’s recommendations have substantively impacted legislation, policy, and practice across governments in the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil, and more.
- Since launch, at least 50% of the original 48 recommendations have seen significant progress, including through public-private and government-to-government collaboration on disruptive activity, increasing focus on reporting and information sharing, and ongoing efforts to reduce some of the risks posed by cryptocurrencies.
- Demonstrating our role as a trusted convener and source of expertise, IST team members have testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives four times on the topic of ransomware.
- The RTF regularly convenes stakeholders from over 60 organizations from across government, industry, and civil society in working groups, large-scale task force gatherings, and roundtable discussions, enabling conversations that are at the heart of complex, ongoing policy decisions.
- In 2024, IST became the only U.S.-based member of the international Counter Ransomware Initiative’s Public Sector Advisory Panel.
- The RTF produced the Blueprint for Ransomware Defense, an actionable framework with 40 controls to help small- and medium-sized enterprises mitigate, respond, and recover from ransomware. In a study of claims with one cyber insurance provider, IST found that the Blueprint’s Safeguards, if implemented correctly, would defend against 70% of the most common attack vectors associated with ransomware. The Blueprint has since been translated into Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
About the Institute for Security and Technology
The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is the 501(c)(3) critical action think tank that unites technology and policy leaders to create solutions to emerging security challenges. IST stands at the forefront of convening policymakers, technology experts, and industry leaders to identify and translate discourse into impact. We take collaborative action to advance national security and global stability through technology built on trust, guiding businesses and governments with hands-on expertise, in-depth analysis, and a global network. Since its foundation in 2020, IST has launched a vast array of impactful initiatives addressing challenges such as ransomware, the resilience of lifeline critical infrastructure, trust and safety, nuclear risk reduction, the role of artificial intelligence, and more. Visit us at https://securityandtechnology.org/.
About Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer best known for creating craigslist, which he stepped away from running day-to-day two decades ago. Craig’s full-time philanthropic work focuses on supporting organizations protecting America’s security and democracy. He has given more than $300 million in support of veterans and military families, trustworthy journalism and civic engagement campaigns, cyber security education programs, hunger relief, and pigeon rescue. Craig was influenced by his Sunday School teachers who escaped the Holocaust, set his moral compass, and taught him to treat people like you want to be treated – and how to know when enough is enough. He’s not as funny as he thinks he is.
