FIRST launches CORE Fund to boost global cyber response skills
The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), an international non-profit organisation, has announced the formation of the CORE (Community, Operational capacity, Resilience, and Empowerment) initiative to expand the operational capacities of cybersecurity teams around the world. The programme is set to focus especially on regions that currently have limited resources to defend against growing cyber threats such as ransomware.
Programme objectives
FIRST CORE is designed as a strategic programme to enhance incident response capabilities by leveraging guidance and experience from the global incident response community. Recent efforts have begun in Africa and the Caribbean, and there are plans to expand activities into the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions.
The initiative includes several targeted measures such as the development of updated incident response training content, subsidising local training costs for partners from lower-income backgrounds, and expanding opportunities through the Suguru Yamaguchi Fellowship Programme. It will also focus on establishing a network of regional liaisons and mentors, aiming to deliver both practical and technical aid tailored to the needs of local security teams.
Statements from FIRST "Fortinet's leadership as our founding partner demonstrates their commitment to strengthening cybersecurity knowledge across industries and borders. Together, we're building communities grounded in internationally recognized best practices that will enhance incident response capabilities across the globe."
This was stated by Chris Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of FIRST. He further emphasised that the initiative aims to provide critical funding for expanding the Community and Capacity Building Programme (CCB), bringing additional educational and training resources to less-resourced areas.
According to FIRST representatives, building capacity in incident response teams is a necessary step given the rapidly changing nature of cyber risks. The organisation will use the CORE Fund to enhance its history of supporting community-informed initiatives and knowledge transfer.
Corporate support
Fortinet has committed as the founding sponsor of the CORE Fund. Derek Manky, Chief Security Strategist and Global Vice President of Threat Intelligence at Fortinet, commented on the company's involvement: "Fortinet has collaborated with FIRST for more than a decade and is deeply committed to driving public-private partnership efforts that address cybersecurity risk to society. FIRST CORE represents a unique opportunity to provide boots-on-the-ground support to security teams around the world, particularly in under resourced regions, and we're proud to be the founding partner of this important initiative. Creating new avenues for defenders everywhere to share knowledge and best practices ultimately give us more opportunities to collectively disrupt global cybercrime."
Fortinet's role as a founding partner reflects an industry shift towards more collaborative, community-guided approaches to building cybersecurity resilience, especially in areas that remain more vulnerable to attacks due to fewer available resources.
Community-driven model
A primary component of the CORE initiative is its adaptable, partner-focused approach. Klée Aiken, Director, Community and Capacity Building at FIRST, highlighted the objectives and strategy of the new fund: "FIRST CORE is designed to be responsive to the needs of our partners on the ground, with initiatives directly informed by the priorities of security teams worldwide. This adaptability is crucial in cybersecurity's evolving threat landscape. Together, with Fortinet's combined contribution, FIRST CORE's impact will grow, enabling us to better share expertise across the global incident response community."
Initiatives under the CORE Fund will be developed in response to ongoing communication with incident response groups active in various regions. These will be supported by both existing education programmes and newly designed training tailored to the context and needs of recipient teams.
Expansion and long-term aims
The work already underway in Africa and the Caribbean will be used as a template for efforts in other regions. CORE funding will allow FIRST to scale up partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and operational support in new areas, according to the needs identified by local security teams.
Future priorities for the initiative include the addition of further languages and cultural competencies within training materials, and extending the fellowship programme to benefit national-level security teams in underrepresented regions. The organisation also plans for the CORE initiative to serve as a model for international, community-driven cyber resilience projects beyond its initial phases.
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