The Gate 15 Podcast Channel

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour speaks with Ben Taylor, Executive Director for the Cannabis ISAO. Ben Taylor is the Executive Director of the Cannabis-ISAO. Ben also serves as a Risk Analyst to several Information Sharing & Analysis Centers and has previous security and operations experience as an Army Officer as well as working through the Department of Homeland Security’s (then) Office of Infrastructure Protection (now part of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency [CISA]). Ben has also spent several years in marketing and partner development roles within the tourism industry, to include working to promote Cannabis tourism in Oakland, California. To learn more about Cannabis ISAO, visit the Cannabis ISAO website, or on Twitter: @CannabisISAO and LinkedIn. 

In the discussion we address: 

• Ben’s background and the work he’s doing with Cannabis-ISAO today 
• Some background on the development of Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) and Organizations (ISAOs) 
• Physical security challenges for the Cannabis Industry 
• Cybersecurity threats and issues facing the sector Scams, and other threats facing the community 
• Among other topics, Ben plays three questions with Andy to discuss dogs, favorite books, and more!

A few references mentioned in or relevant to our discussion include: 

• Cannabis ISAO website https://cannabisisao.org
• Cannabis ISAO Security Town Hall https://cannabisisao.org/2022/03/cannabis-security-town-hall/
• Cannabis ISAO blog and Director’s Cut posts https://cannabisisao.org/home/blog/
• Cannabis ISAO Director’s Cut: December 03, addressing a ransomware incident in the Cannabis Industry https://cannabisisao.org/home/report-incident/
• Report an Incident - Cannabis ISAO https://cannabisisao.org/home/report-incident/
• Get Involved - Cannabis ISAO https://cannabisisao.org/home/get-involved/
• Executive Order -- Promoting Private Sector Cybersecurity Information Sharing (13 Feb 2015) https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/13/executive-order-promoting-private-sector-cybersecurity-information-shari
• Executive Order -- Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (12 Feb 2015) https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/executive-order-improving-critical-infrastructure-cybersecurity
• Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (12 Feb 2015) https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil
• PDD-63 - Critical Infrastructure Protection (20 May 1998) https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/12762
• Nerd Out Security Panel Discussion: EP 13. Cannabis ISAO! (18 May 2021) https://gate15.global/nerd-out-security-panel-discussion-ep-13-cannabis-isao/
• The Cybersecurity Evangelist: EP 8 – The ISAC Series, Part 4 – Faith-Based ISAO (10 Mar 2021) https://gate15.global/the-cybersecurity-evangelist-ep-8-the-isac-series-part-4-faith-based-isao/
• Blog Post: So why a Cannabis ISAO? (02 Apr 2021) https://cannabisisao.org/2021/04/blog-founder/
• Tucky Blunt Twitter https://twitter.com/BluntTucky
• Uncle Ike’s https://ikes.com/locations/white-center/