The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) last week represented the country at the 38th Annual Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) Conference in Denver, in the United States.
NAM-CSIRT was admitted as a FIRST member in December last year and is also participating in the Suguru Yamaguchi Fellowship Programme. The NAM-CSIRT was represented by its acting Executive, Cornelia Shipindo and Thank-You Hauwanga, Cybersecurity Specialist at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia.
Convened under the theme “Peak Defense: Building Adaptive Systems for Modern Threats,” the conference provided a strategic platform for Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), policymakers, technical experts and industry partners to strengthen global cyber resilience.
Ahead of the main conference, the NAM-CSIRT delegation participated in the NAT-CSIRT Meeting, held from 12 to 13 June. The meeting served as a dedicated forum for National CSIRTs to share information, tools, techniques, operational experience and strategies for addressing cybersecurity challenges at national commercial levels.
Shipindo served on the NAT-CSIRT 2026 Programme Committee, contributing to the coordination of activities and key topic presentations. She also participated in the FIRST Africa Regional Liaison initiative’s Africa Breakfast session, which created a platform for incident response teams and cybersecurity professional across Africa to network, exchange best practices, and strengthen regional collaboration.
NAM-CSIRT contributed to a panel discussion titled “Tips and Tricks to Run a CSIRT in Low-Income and Fragile Contexts,” through Hauwanga. The session explored practical approaches to establishing and sustaining effective national CSIRTs in resource-constrained environments, 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.
The NAM-CSIRT’s said their participation at the conference highlights the country’s commitment to strengthening national cybersecurity capabilities, deepening regional and international cooperation, and contributing meaningfully to the global cybersecurity ecosystem.
Thank-You Hauwanga (left), Cybersecurity Specialist at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and Cornelia Shipindo, NAM-CSIRT acting Executive.
