Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 19 January 2024

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Ransomware Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies for the Faith-Based and Non-Profit Communities Webinar on 6 February 2024

In 2023, FB-ISAO, along with our information sharing partners, tracked 77 ransomware incidents that have directly or indirectly affected the faith-based and non-profit community. The increase in incidents is dramatic. In that light, the FB-ISAO is hosting a ransomware webinar to address preparedness activities and mitigation strategies for the faith-based and non-profit communities.  Join us on 06 February at 1pm ET to learn about what, as a leader of a faith-based organization or non-profit, can do to help protect your organization and digital assets. This session is open to all faith-based organizations and charities. 

Faith-based organizations and charities can register here for the 6 February 2024 ransomware webinar.

Current related article:

• Ransomware attacks leave small business owners feeling suicidal, report says
• RUSI: The Scourge of Ransomware Victim Insights on Harms to Individuals, Organisations and Society
• TeamViewer abused to breach networks in new ransomware attacks

Articles from earlier this month:

• Ransomware attack disrupts Word Council of Churches communications’
• Ransomware gang targets nonprofit providing clean water to world’s poorest
• Auburn Food Bank Hit by Ransomware
• Check Point Research: 2023 – The year of Mega Ransomware attacks with unprecedented impact on global organizations
• The State of Ransomware in the U.S.: Report and Statistics 2023

Justice Department Releases Report on its Critical Incident Review of the Response to the Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas

“The report is intended to provide the most comprehensive assessment available of the law enforcement response to the horrific incident on May 24, 2022, as well as the emergency medical response, communications, and trauma services in the wake of the tragedy… The report, in both English and Spanish, as well as profiles of the victims and additional resources, is available on the COPS Office website at cops.usdoj.gov/uvalde.” 

• Full Report
• Executive Summary

Related articles:

• Critical Incident Review: Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School
• ‘Cascading failures’ in police response to Uvalde school shooting, DoJ report finds
• Uvalde shooting report sharply critical of police response, leaders

Analyst Comments:

While there have been many exemplary law enforcement responses in the past, the report, which is highly critical of the response at Robb Elementary, highlights the need for thorough planning by Faith-Based Organizations. Law enforcement response times vary from community to community. Also, once on the scene, law enforcement operations may take a long time to complete. No matter how well law enforcement responds, for the best outcome, victims of a hostile event may have to rely on their own preparation, training, and plans.

The following articles describe an incident that took place on 18 January, on the University of Central Florida campus. Campus police responded immediately, apprehended the gunman, and there were no deaths or injuries. Videos show patrol officers making entry and searching for the gunman in dorms, without waiting for heavily armed SWAT members in body armor.

• UCF police respond to armed gunman on campus
• UCF police respond to reports of ‘armed intruder’ on campus
• Gunman threatens bus driver on UCF campus, prompting lockdown

CISA is presenting a Region 9 Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar on 7 February 2024

“This training webinar was created by CISA to enhance awareness of, and response to, an active shooter incident.

Preparing employees for a potential active shooter incident is an integral component of an organization’s incident response planning. Because active shooter incidents are unpredictable and evolve quickly, preparing for and knowing what to do in an active shooter situation can be the difference between life and death. Every second counts. “

Register here

Live Virtual Presentations on Targeted Violence Prevention

In a related topic, the US Secret Service (USSS) is offering a Live Virtual Presentations on Targeted Violence Prevention program.

“The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) is pleased to offer new opportunities to attend live virtual presentations on preventing targeted violence. In these presentations, our expert researchers will share findings and implications from decades of research on targeted violence and offer strategies for preventing acts of violence impacting the places where we work, learn, worship, and otherwise live our daily lives. This list of available virtual training events is regularly updated, and presentation topics change from month to month. To learn more about this series of live virtual presentations, or to register for one or more of these events, please follow the link below.”

Register Here

The following are upcoming USSS presentations:

Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment (intended for school administrators, educators, and other school safety stakeholders).

• Friday March 8, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST
• Wednesday May 8, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST
• Thursday July 11, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST

Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities (intended for law enforcement and other community safety stakeholders).

• Monday February 5, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST
• Thursday April 4, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST
• Wednesday June 5, 2024 | 12:00 – 2:00 PM EST