This DAP highlights Weekly Security Sprint EP 108. Scams, 3rd party diligence, cyber reports, hurricanes and more, FB-ISAO’s Collaboration With Those Who are Lone Defenders, Antisemitic Incident Data Breaks All Previous Annual Records in 2024 for the Fourth Year in a Row, and Security spending at many US Jewish schools has soared since Oct. 7 — study. The DAP also has More Faith-Based Stories and Select All-Hazard Stories. 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.
FB-ISAO’s Collaboration With Those Who are Lone Defenders
On 02 April, 2025, The Faith-Based Information Sharing And Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO) hosted the last in a series of discussions on Standing Up Teams. The session specifically addressed the topic of “When You Can’t / Don’t Have a Team.” For various reasons, many houses of worship are devoid of a formal team. Though that is a difficult reality, there are things that can be done to help mitigate. We explored ideas around a bottom-up approach to protecting the house of worship and its members. This includes investing in skills to beef up the sole practitioner’s knowledge and skills, and considered ways to leverage community-based resources. Below are the key take-aways from the discussion.
- Know that you are not alone. In fact, many FB-ISAO member organizations are in a similar situation.
- Consider reaching out to others on FB-ISAO Slack and forming a group where you can exchange ideas and best practices (we are happy to help!)
- A bottom-up approach could be valuable in this situation though know you’re alone in the fight. Finding and cultivating allies will help you build your program from within.
- Invest in yourself! Right now, you are your house of worship’s best asset.
- Be mindful of burn-out. Know the signs! Though loneliness can set-in, you’re not likely to be alone for too long.
Out of that discussion, the idea was born to start a community of interest for lone defenders. Lone defenders are encouraged to join, but so is any member who would like to help support lone defenders. The community of interest is hosted on FB-ISAO Slack. The channel is #coi_lone_defenders. Look for the channel and self-join by following these instructions. If you are not a member, please visit our membership page for more information. Our lone defender community of interest will band people together to share ideas, concerns and to work together to develop some guidance and best practices. If you like this idea, let’s work together, to Protect and Secure the Free Practice of Faith whether a house of worship serves 10,000+ 1000+ or 100+.
As the Safety/Security Manager for both my synagogue and our religious school, I am extremely appreciative of the admin crew of the FB-ISAO and its many contributors. As the primary guardian against threats that may be approaching our “gate”, the FB-ISAO also keeps me apprised of what is happening in our “backyard” and, as is said, “fore-warned is fore-armed” so that my situational awareness is greatly enhanced.
– An FB-ISAO member and lone defender
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