Over a year ago, during my time in Rwanda, I had a profound realization. My colleagues and I had recently concluded a successful Team Cymru Regional Internet Security Event (RISE). The event had been an extraordinary two days, and the memory that lingers most vividly is the incident that occurred during a break.

A large group of college-aged computer science students, predominantly young women, had gathered around my colleague, Allison Nixon. Their presence was marked by a mixture of awe and admiration. This was not an uncommon occurrence in Rwanda, as the country embodies a spirit of hope. Emerging from the devastation of unimaginable horrors, Rwanda has fostered a resilient community where individuals dedicated to a better future thrive.

Our mission was to conduct seminars, educating local researchers, students, law enforcement personnel, and other stakeholders on behalf of my organization, CAUCE. We had been sharing our expertise and insights for a decade, providing valuable knowledge and support to our colleagues in the developing world. The RISE concept, conceived by Team Cymru, aims to bring world-class cybersecurity experts to individuals who may not have the financial means to attend expensive online courses or travel to costly conferences in the Western world.

During the event, I had an epiphany: RISE could be significantly enhanced by implementing a structured curriculum and developing tiered, modular content. This approach would enable the dissemination of information both in-person and online formats.

I communicated this idea to Steve Santorelli, the chief of staff of Team Cymru, who expressed great enthusiasm for the concept (and subsequently tirelessly supported the idea).

A year later, we are pleased to announce the official establishment of the RISE Information Security Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable entity. To achieve this, we have assembled an exceptional board of directors comprising individuals with extensive experience in the field of cybersecurity education.

Our mission statement encapsulates our commitment to fostering a brighter future through the empowerment of individuals through cybersecurity education.

The Rise Infosec Foundation empowers cybersecurity professionals in developing nations by providing expert-led, complimentary training in cybercrime investigation, threat intelligence, and incident response. Through strategic collaboration, accessible education, and capacity development, we fortify and enhance global digital defences and cybersecurity by equipping frontline defenders in regions most susceptible to cyber threats.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be able to provide further details and share our immediate objectives, which I must admit, are very ambitious.

If you would like to contribute to this important and gratifying work, please do not hesitate to contact us. Let’s engage and discuss!