Staff Writer
Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) represented Namibia at the 38th Annual Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams Conference (FIRST Conference), held from 14 to 19 June 2026 in Denver, Colorado, United States.
The conference, convened under the theme “Peak Defense: Building Adaptive Systems for Modern Threats,” brought together global cybersecurity experts, Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), policymakers, and industry stakeholders to strengthen international cooperation and improve resilience against evolving cyber threats.
NAM-CSIRT, which was admitted as a FIRST member in December 2025 and is also participating in the Suguru Yamaguchi Fellowship Programme, used the platform to engage with global peers on incident response, threat intelligence, and digital resilience.
Ahead of the main conference, the delegation participated in the NAM-CSIRT meeting held from 12 to 13 June 2026, a forum for national CSIRTs to exchange operational experiences, tools, and strategies for strengthening cybersecurity at national and regional levels.
During the meeting, Cornelia Shipindo, acting executive of NAM-CSIRT, served on the 2026 programme committee, contributing to the coordination of sessions and thematic discussions.
At the main conference, she also took part in the FIRST Africa Regional Liaison Africa Breakfast session, which provided a platform for African cybersecurity professionals to share best practices and strengthen regional collaboration.
She outlined NAM-CSIRT’s establishment journey, highlighting key milestones, challenges, and achievements in building Namibia’s national cyber incident response capability.
NAM-CSIRT also contributed to a panel discussion titled “Tips and Tricks to Run a CSIRT in Low-Income and Fragile Contexts,” presented by cybersecurity specialist, Thank-You Hauwanga.
The discussion focused on practical approaches to establishing and sustaining CSIRTs in resource-constrained environments, including minimum viable structures, use of open-source tools, stakeholder trust-building, and sustainable funding models.
The team said its participation reflects Namibia’s commitment to strengthening national cybersecurity readiness, deepening international cooperation, and contributing to the global cyber resilience ecosystem.
