Cyber warfare awareness, guidance, and solutions.
The Cyber Security Forum Initiative is a non-profit organization headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and Washington, D.C., and a community of more than 700,000 cyber security and cyber warfare professionals.
To provide Cyber Warfare awareness, guidance, and security solutions through collaboration, education, volunteer work, and training to assist the US Government, US Military, Commercial Interests, and International Partners.
CSFI was born out of the collaboration of dozens of experts. Our members are the core of everything we do, and it is for them that we push this mission forward.
Built by a community.
Today CSFI is comprised of a large community of cyber security and cyber warfare professionals drawn from across four sectors. Their expertise, and their commitment, are what make the mission possible.
Government
Agencies and public servants defending national interests in cyberspace.
Military
Service members and units on the front lines of cyber operations.
Private sector
Companies and practitioners protecting commercial and critical systems.
Academia
Researchers, faculty, and students advancing the field.
Founded on the front lines.
CSFI was founded on March 6, 2009 by Dr. Paul de Souza, a Chief Security Engineer for AT&T who was looking to find answers about the shift in hacking toward more political and militaristic activity. Dr. de Souza was on the front lines of what history may call the first preludes to cyber warfare, and he continues to rally the community around cyber issues.
Independence and scope.
The Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI) is a privately owned and operated, independent, non-profit entity incorporated in Omaha, Nebraska. Although CSFI strongly supports the defense of the United States and U.S. allies through the provision of cyber security-oriented educational and training programs in the United States, in other NATO countries, and in countries that are identified as "non-NATO major allies," CSFI is neither a part of, nor represents in any capacity, any U.S. Government agency, including any of the agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), nor any other governmental entity in the U.S. or in any other country.
For purposes of clarification, the term "U.S. allies" is defined as other NATO countries and "major non-NATO allies," which are identified in 22 C.F.R. § 120.32. CSFI may, at its sole discretion, conduct cybersecurity educational or training programs in countries other than members of NATO or "major non-NATO allies" with which the U.S. trades freely, but which are not part of a defense treaty alliance with the U.S., such as Ireland and Switzerland. In no event, however, shall CSFI operate in countries, or in cooperation with persons or parties, for which a U.S.-based person or entity is required to obtain an export license or other approval, unless the required license or approval has been issued by the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, or the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Controls, whichever is applicable.