Celebrating 5 Years of the Tribal-ISAC: Mid-Year Executive Director Update
Written by Toni Pepper, Executive Director, Tribal-ISAC in Agency Updates
Date: 08/24/2026
As I write this, it's hard to believe we're already halfway through 2026. It has been an exciting and incredibly busy year for Tribal-ISAC, and I'm grateful for the continued engagement and support from our members, partners, sponsors, Steering Committee, and the entire TribalHub community.
One of the things that has stood out most this year is the level of collaboration we're seeing across Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises. More organizations are participating in our monthly member discussions, sharing experiences, asking questions, and helping one another navigate an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape. That's exactly what Tribal-ISAC was created to do—provide a trusted community where members can learn from each other and strengthen their collective defenses.
We've also continued to expand the ways we support our members. Our Cybersecurity & Technology Leadership Scholarship Program has already helped members pursue valuable professional development opportunities, while our Tabletop Exercise Grant Program continues to give organizations the chance to strengthen their incident response capabilities through guided exercises. We're also preparing to launch our mentorship program, another member-driven initiative designed to connect experienced leaders with those looking to grow their careers in tribal cybersecurity.
Another exciting development has been the growth of our Sponsored Membership Program. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we're able to remove financial barriers for Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises that want to participate but may not have the budget to do so. Every new member adds to the strength of our information-sharing community and helps make us all more resilient.
This September will also mark an important milestone as Tribal-ISAC celebrates its fifth anniversary. Looking back, it's remarkable to see how far we've come—from an idea driven by a handful of passionate cybersecurity leaders to a national community dedicated exclusively to supporting Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises. While we're proud of what we've accomplished together, we're even more excited about where we're headed.
As we prepare for TribalNet in Dallas, I hope you'll take time to stop by, say hello, and join us for our Tribal-ISAC session. We will be releasing The Pulse, our members only report on the state of cybersecurity within Tribal Nations and playing an interactive game we designed specifically for this community! Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are just learning about Tribal-ISAC, I'd love the opportunity to hear what's working for your organization, what challenges you're facing, and how we can continue building a stronger cybersecurity community together.
Thank you for taking part in this journey. Together, we're proving that collaboration and community remain some of the most effective cybersecurity tools we have.
One of the things that has stood out most this year is the level of collaboration we're seeing across Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises. More organizations are participating in our monthly member discussions, sharing experiences, asking questions, and helping one another navigate an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape. That's exactly what Tribal-ISAC was created to do—provide a trusted community where members can learn from each other and strengthen their collective defenses.
We've also continued to expand the ways we support our members. Our Cybersecurity & Technology Leadership Scholarship Program has already helped members pursue valuable professional development opportunities, while our Tabletop Exercise Grant Program continues to give organizations the chance to strengthen their incident response capabilities through guided exercises. We're also preparing to launch our mentorship program, another member-driven initiative designed to connect experienced leaders with those looking to grow their careers in tribal cybersecurity.
Another exciting development has been the growth of our Sponsored Membership Program. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we're able to remove financial barriers for Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises that want to participate but may not have the budget to do so. Every new member adds to the strength of our information-sharing community and helps make us all more resilient.
This September will also mark an important milestone as Tribal-ISAC celebrates its fifth anniversary. Looking back, it's remarkable to see how far we've come—from an idea driven by a handful of passionate cybersecurity leaders to a national community dedicated exclusively to supporting Tribal Nations and tribal enterprises. While we're proud of what we've accomplished together, we're even more excited about where we're headed.
As we prepare for TribalNet in Dallas, I hope you'll take time to stop by, say hello, and join us for our Tribal-ISAC session. We will be releasing The Pulse, our members only report on the state of cybersecurity within Tribal Nations and playing an interactive game we designed specifically for this community! Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are just learning about Tribal-ISAC, I'd love the opportunity to hear what's working for your organization, what challenges you're facing, and how we can continue building a stronger cybersecurity community together.
Thank you for taking part in this journey. Together, we're proving that collaboration and community remain some of the most effective cybersecurity tools we have.