A key aspect of the new program will be the ability of member companies to submit and receive information anonymously. Given the sensitive nature of this information, many companies, including the oil and gas industry, traditionally have been reluctant to share information about cyber-attacks. This lack of information sharing has resulted in inefficiencies as companies independently learn the same lessons again and again and fail to anticipate threats. Information-sharing hubs already exist in other industries, including the financial services industry and the electricity and water sectors.
All oil and natural gas industry companies and recognized trade associations in North America1 are eligible to join the group.
1 Trade association membership is subject to restrictions. See Oil and Natural Gas Information Sharing and Analysis Center, http://ongisac.org/ (last visited July 7, 2014).