CHICAGO, ILLINOIS & PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA — The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh today announced the launch of SCN’s Embedded Analyst Program (EAP), an integrated threat management initiative designed to enhance security for the Pittsburgh Jewish community.

SCN’s EAP places expert analysts, who are vetted and trained to the highest standards, within Community Security Initiatives (CSIs) that are supported by and located within local Jewish Federations. These analysts are dedicated to identifying, managing and reporting on local threats. The EAP also enables CSI’s to cost-effectively “plug in” to SCN’s vast network of security professionals, knowledge base, training programs and AI technology for advanced threat detection, management and nationwide information sharing.

“The partnership that we have with Pittsburgh Federation is special and important, not only to SCN and JFNA, but to Federations and Jewish communities nationwide,” said Michael Masters, National Director & CEO of SCN. “When faced with the aftermath of the October 2018 shooting, Pittsburgh Federation’s leadership did not flinch, but rather rose to the occasion, asking  ‘What can we do to make sure that there is never a tragedy like the Pittsburgh shooting again?’ They were instrumental in envisioning and developing Project RAIN™, SCN’s national threat identification and mitigation technology. Today, they are again leading by strengthening protection in Pittsburgh, while leading fellow Federations in creating one national Virtual Shield, for the greater good of protecting the Jewish community everywhere.”

This initiative builds on the parties’ legacy of leadership and trusted partnership in Jewish security, following the tragic Pittsburgh shooting in October 2018 — the deadliest attack on Jews in America’s history. This collaboration has included the establishment of a joint command operations center during the federal trial of the offender responsible for the Pittsburgh shooting, as well as ongoing proactive training and information sharing that has directly led to the apprehension of individuals posing real threats to the community — actions that saved lives.

“Pittsburgh knows firsthand the importance of vigilance and collaboration in protecting Jewish life,” said Jeff Finkelstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “By embedding an analyst within our federation, we are taking an important step to ensure that our community is safer today and fully connected to a national system that will keep us safer tomorrow. This partnership with SCN is an investment in resilience and a clear statement that security remains a top priority.”

A National Virtual Shield Program

Over the past three years, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and SCN have worked together to support the establishment and growth of an umbrella of community security initiatives to ensure protection for every Jewish community across North America. 

Now, the Virtual Shield initiative is providing Federations, independent CSIs and other key partners with various integration options, such as the EAP with Pittsburgh Federation, to rapidly build one unified shared platform and national communication network, to better identify and address threats across all North American Jewish communities.

To meet communities where they are, SCN offers the following integration options:

• EAP Integration Option: Embedded Analyst Programs are designed for independent Federations and partners, offering them SCN expertly trained embedded analysts today, with the ability to integrate into Regional Threat Centers (RTCs) at a later date.
• RTC Integration Option: Regional Threat Centers are physical hubs within which several Federations and partners have joined forces and are collaborating to cost-effectively and efficiently plug into SCN’s national technology and networks to enhance threat management in their region.
• Established CSI Insight Program Integration Option: This option allows CSIs that operate mature, standards-based insight programs to rapidly join and plug into the national Virtual Shield network, while maintaining their existing resources and control centers.

What It Means for Pittsburgh
By hosting the EAP within the Federation, the Greater Pittsburgh area will:

• Benefit from a dedicated security analyst attuned to the unique needs of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania’s Jewish community.
• Gain direct access to SCN’s Project RAIN™ technology, communications, and reporting platform and 24×7 support through SCN’s Jewish Security Operations Command Center (JSOCC™).
• Benefit through SCN’s unique, trusted position to report directly to federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts, including the National Threat Operations Center.
• Receive real-time notifications and alerts of national, regional and local threats and events.
• Connect seamlessly with SCN’s network of over 130 security professionals serving 500+ Jewish communities nationwide.
• Help lead and shape the national rollout of the EAP by serving as a model city for resilience and innovation. 

Next Steps
SCN and Jewish Federations, vetted CSIs and other appropriate partners across North America, are working to rapidly expand the Virtual Shield program. Jewish Federations, CSIs, donors and other partners who are interested in helping to develop the Virtual Shield initiative should contact SCN today.

“Our security is strongest when we are united,” said Michael Masters. “The launch of this EAP in partnership with the Pittsburgh Federation not only strengthens protection in Pittsburgh and enhances the entire national network, ensuring that threats are identified and addressed more quickly and effectively. Our hope is that all Jewish security initiatives will follow the Pittsburgh Federation’s lead and collaborate to create a unified force against hate.”