NAM-CSIRT at Denver global cyber security conference
The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) represented Namibia at the 38th Annual Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) Conference, held from 14 to 19 June 2026 in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Convened under the theme “Peak Defense: Building Adaptive Systems for Modern Threats,” the conference brought together the global incident response and cybersecurity community to advance collaboration, resilience, and preparedness against evolving cyber threats. NAM-CSIRT was admitted as a FIRST member in December 2025 and is also participating in the Suguru Yamaguchi Fellowship Programme.
The conference provided a platform for Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), policymakers, technical experts, and industry partners to strengthen global cyber resilience. Through technical sessions, workshops, and high-level engagements, participants exchanged insights on emerging cyber threats, incident response, threat intelligence, digital resilience, and international cooperation.
Ahead of the main conference, the NAM-CSIRT delegation participated in the NAT-CSIRT Meeting, held on 12 and 13 June 2026. The meeting served as a dedicated forum for National CSIRTs to share information, tools, techniques, operational experiences, and strategies for addressing cybersecurity challenges at national and economic levels.
Cornelia Shipindo, Acting Executive: NAM-CSIRT, served on the NAT-CSIRT 2026 Programme Committee, contributing to the coordination of activities and key topic presentations.
During FIRSTCON 2026, Shipindo also participated in the FIRST Africa Regional Liaison initiative’s Africa Breakfast session, which created a platform for incident response teams and cybersecurity professionals across Africa to network, exchange best practices, and strengthen regional collaboration. She shared NAM-CSIRT’s establishment journey, including the challenges, milestones, and successes associated with operationalising Namibia’s newly established national CSIRT.
NAM-CSIRT contributed to a panel discussion titled “Tips and Tricks to Run a CSIRT in Low-Income and Fragile Contexts,” through Thank-You Hauwanga, Cybersecurity Specialist. The session explored practical approaches to establishing and sustaining effective national CSIRTs in resource-constrained environments, including defining a minimum viable CSIRT, leveraging open-source tools and shared platforms, building trust with national stakeholders, and developing sustainable funding models through government support, membership programmes, and private-sector partnerships.
